Day 3. En Route: from Bora Bora, French Polynesia to Tonga
28 August 2007 | Coordinates: 17 17S, 156 21W
Steen
Conditions: Wind/weather - 15 knts ESE, Mostly sunny. 82 dgr F. Sea state - SE Swell 8ft at 10sec. Boat speed/course 5 knts under jib, winged-out staysail and dbl reefed main. Course 260
Not much to report today from our vantage point in this great Pacific Ocean. This passage between two island nations is 1350 nm long. That is the same distance as from New York City to Jamaica or from Nyborg DK to Scoresby Sund Greenland. The Pacific Ocean looks big when seen on a globe or a world map, but it is not until now, when we have sailed on it, that we really understand how vast it is. You go for days and weeks without seeing anything but water. Thankfully, the Pacific Ocean really is 'pacific' most of the time in the latitudes we sail. You would have to be crazy to cross if it wasn't. Although at the moment, Angela doesn't think it is so pacific...she's dreaming of spending a night or two in a land-based hotel.
Malou is looking forward to getting to Tonga. She is convinced that she will meet the king and his blue dog.? Tonga does have a king, but we have no idea where she got the part about the blue dog. At least SHE knows what she is going to see; we have still not read the travel books for Tonga, but we have a few days before we get there to study. (We may make a couple stops along the way; to Palmerston and Niue, if weather allows.)
That's all folks. It is time to put most of the crew to bed and begin our night watch routine.
Take care, Steen