10,000 miles: (95% sailing)!!!! 250 hours on each engine equating to approximately 400 total hours motoring as sometimes both engines were run simultaneously but more often individually. Most of this was around the islands once we arrived although two of our passages had windless portions. The generator saw 550 hours of use. It was used for one to two hours each morning primarily to make water but also to supplement the power derived primarily from solar panels.
10 countries: USA, Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama (San Blas, Colon, the Canal, Panama city), Ecuador (Galapagos), French Polynesia (Marquises, Tuamotus, Society islands), Cook islands (Rarotonga, Aitutaki), Niue, Tonga and New Zealand).
Maximum wind: 35 knots (mainly after French Polynesia).
Most common wind direction: from behind, we love it that way.
Longest time with no wind: leaving the Galapagos (2 and a half days) and from Tonga to New Zealand (also 2 and a half days).
Most regular wind: (After those two and a half days) between the Galapagos and Fatu Hiva between 15 and 25 knots south east, the beautiful trade winds. At one point we flew the spinnaker continually for 5 days and 3 nights.
Highest waves: 5.2 meters- 17 feet (between Aitutaki and Niue, it had been blowing 40 knots for over 4 days and still blowing 30 knots when we left.
Longest passage: 16 days between the Galapagos and the Marquises (Fatu Hiva). Typically 22 to 30 days on a monohull.
Most common question: Did we hit a storm? Not while underway, we had one at anchor in Tonga of 45 knots or so.
Breakdowns: Almost nonexistent. The generator impeller, the tiller on the dingy outboard, we bent the whisker pole track. This was contrarily to most of the boats we met which had many more problems. Typical problems were engines, generators, water makers, and refrigeration. The definition of cruising is: repairing your boat in exotic places. Our good fortune can be attributed to the right choice of boat, good decisions made during the fitting out process and luck.
Gas price: from $1.04/gallon in Galapagos (Ecuador) to $11.00/gallon in French Polynesia.
Favorite anchorage: Toau (Tuamotus)
Favorite islands (impossible to stick to just one!): Fatu Hiva (Marquesas), Niue and Bora Bora.
Most amazing exploring ground: New Zealand (North and South islands, what a country!!!!)
Best dive/snorkeling: Fakarava, South Pass in the Tuamotus
The most welcoming people have to be the Marquesians and the Niuans.
The best tastes: The Grapefruit from the Marquises, Lobster from the Tuamotus, the Baguette-bread- and patisseries from Papeete, the Vanilla from Tahaa, coffee or "Flat white" and the green mussels from New Zealand!!!
I forgot, the simplest country to do any kind of transaction (simplest and down to earth/trust/no lawsuit): definitely New Zealand....
I was always (and still am) a little apprehensive about long passages, I do not like big winds and big seas (the guys probably think it is challenging for a moment anyway) but on the "Coconut Milk Run" especially with a catamaran like O'Vive which is a very big stable platform, it was not scary at all and it outlast everything when you arrive on an island like Fatu Hiva after 16 days at sea, it is magical because of course it is so picturesque but even more because you went out there and arrive in a very special place , so remote in this vast ocean (only accessible by boat). The people in the Pacific are like no others, are they so nice and open because they live in such a beautiful and remote place? I have never seen a Marquesian with a frown on their face! The Marquises will be for me the most amazing island I have ever been in my life and I would have never reached them if it wasn't for this trip on a sailboat. Besides the beauty of the Pacific, we met some cruisers who became really good friends, they will stay dear to me and I will keep them close to my heart and hope to have the occasion to see them again on land.
I am happy back home; it is a lot less stressful in some ways (no more of "is the anchor going to drag tonight? Is the wind going to pick up over 35 knots? Is one of those freak waves going to cross our path? But it is out there that I saw my husband truly happy, in the wind and on the ocean. I love you David and thank you for taking us in this truly amazing adventure as well as safely back home.
Ovive is now looking for a new owner to take her back accross the oceans.
Et en Francais:
Presque 10,000 miles (95% a la voile)! )!!!! Environ 400 heures de moteur, principalement aux alentours des iles et lors des deux passages sans vent qui seront mentionne plus tard. Nous avons utilize le generateur pendant 550 heures, presque chaque matin, 1 a 2 heures de generateur pour le desalinateur et pour complementer les panneaux solaires
10 pays: USA, Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama (San Blas, Colon, the Canal, Panama city), Ecuador (Galapagos), French Polynesia (Marquises, Tuamotus, Society islands), Cook islands (Rarotonga, Aitutaki), Niue, Tonga and New Zealand).
Vent maximum: 35 noeuds (surtout après la Polynesie francaise.
Direction du vent la plus frequente: vent arriere, super en catamaran!
Temps le plus long sans Vent: en partant des Galapagos (2 jours et demi) puis de Tonga en Nouvelle Zelande (aussi 2 jours et demi).
Vents les plus reguliers: (après les deux jours et demi sans vent) entre les Galapagos et les Marquises, entre 15 et 25 noeuds toujours du sud est, les fameux Alizes. Nous avons pu laisse le spi pendant 5 jours et 3 nuits d'affiler!!!
Les plus hautes vagues: 5.2 m (entre Aitutaki et Niue, il soufflait 40 noeuds depuis 4 jours!).
Le plus long Passage: 16 jours entre les Galapagos et Fatu Hiva (Les Marquises). Typiquement de 24 a 30 jours en monocoque.
Question la plus courante: Avez- vous eu une tempete? Non, pas en route, une fois dans un mouillage a Tonga, autrement, en passage juste quelques grosses mers.
Prix du gasoil: de 1$ en Ecuador a 11$ en Polynesie Francaise.
Mouillage Favoris: Toau (Tuamotus)
Iles favorites (impossible de n'en citer qu'une)): Fatu Hiva (Marquesas), Niue and Bora Bora
Pays le plus interessant a explorer: la Nouvelle Zelande, L'ile du nord et du sud, quel beau pays!!!!

Meilleure plongee: Fakarava, la Passe sud, dans les Tuamotus
Les gens les plus acueillants sont sans hesitation les Marquesiens et les Niuens.
Les meilleures saveures: le Pamplemousse des Marquises, la langouste des Tuamotus, la baguette et petits gateaux de Papeete, la Vanille de Tahaa, le café ("flat white") et les moules vertes de Novelle Zelande.
J'ai toujours ete un peu apprehensive des grandes traversees, je n'aime pas les grands vents et grosses vagues (certains pensent probablement que c'est actuellement quand cela devient interessant!) mais sur cette route du "Coconut Milk Run" et surtout avec O'Vive qui est un grand catamaran tres stable, je ne me suis jamais sentie en danger et puis l'arrivee a Fatu Hiva dans les Marquises après 16 jours de mer restera a jamais ancree dans ma memoire. Les gens du Pacifique sont si gentils et acueillants, est-ce parce qu'ils sont si loin de tout et sont nes dans ces iles paradisiaques? Je n'ai jamais vu un marquesien sans un sourire aux levres! Les Marquises resteront pour moi les plus belles iles du pacifique et je ne les auraient jamais vues (de cette facon) si nous n'etions pas arrives en voilier. Et puis après la beaute du Pacifique et ses habitants, je dois dire que nous avons rencontres des gens super de tous les pays , J'espere ne pas perdre contact une fois a terre avec ceux qui sont devenus des amis, nous pensons aller a Vancouver l'ete prochain pour voir nos chers canadiens...
Je suis tres heureuse d'etre a la maison, beucoup moins de stress du genre: " est-ce que l'ancre va bien tenir cette nuit? Ou est-ce que le vent va forcir au dela des 35 noeuds? Est-ce que l'on ne va pas rencontrer une de ces "crazy" vagues?) mais c'est sur ce grand ocean que j'ai vu mon mari totalement heureux . Je t'aime David, merci de nous avoir fait vivre cette aventure (il y en a si peu dans notre monde moderne ou tellement de choses sont regulees!) et merci de nous avoir ramene a la maison sain et sauf alors que tu aurais voulu continuer bien plus longtemps...