Well, a first for a while. I think the last time we were on the wind (i.e. going uphill) was back in the Caribbean en route from Jamaica to Colombia. So, after 4500 miles of easy downwind cruising we upp'd and off'd at 06:00 this morning to try and make Fatu Hiva before the wind got too much south in it to make the trip non viable. 40 miles later after bashing into reasonably sized, but comfortable seas The Bay of Virgins lies ahead. Ever hopeful! I need to check but I think Fatu HIva is, or was, Bali Hai from the musical/film South Pacific. (Might have that wrong. Maybe it was Bora Bora.)

We spent 2 days in the beautiful bay of Hane Moe Noa on Tahuata. If only I'd known these names last Scrabble match. A sheltered golden sand crescent beach lined with palm trees with the mountains rising up behind. Two days spent cleaning the hull, or bits I can reach. Our Coppercoat antifouling isn't cutting it and we have an encrustation problem and only one tank of air to get down and scrape it off. The water is so warm I guess anything grows.

Back on Hiva Oa eight of us went on an island tour. 6 hours in the back of a jeep bouncing around unmade roads. oooo me bum. However, we got to see a good area of the island, some of its 200BC Polynesian temples and their carved Tikis. $3 per head to get into the site and out guide thought it was a complete rip off. He therefore "balanced the books" by climbing the trees and knocking down a couple of dozen grapefruit, or pampelmousse as they call them here which we shared out. The size of footballs and soooo juicy.

Not much happens in Hiva Oa and our Net party was a local highlight. Watch out for the video if or when we ever get wifi.