Today we adjusted our sails and steering pilot for the first time in three or four days. We don't think any of us can remember a time in sailing when we have travelled so far without touching anything. The wind had been on a broad reach at around 20 kts - we had one reef in the genoa and three reefs in the main and we were doing an average of just above 6 kts - safe and steady - just the way we like it. No need for more sail and more stress.

But today all that changed and we finally altered course a bit. We are now running goose winged, taking us slightly to the north to get round a large tuna fishing fleet that is working between us and the Marquesas Islands. Alasdair is keeping us posted on the location of the fleet to help guide us round it in a couple of days' time when we are at its location. BTW - in English we use the term goose winged to describe having one sail on either side of the boat. Some Spanish friends we sailed with many years ago said in their language it was known as Donkey's Ears. With the wind pretty much behind us we also have the waves coming up our stern and are enjoying a bit of surfing down the large ocean swell.

One of our friends from the Santa Cruz anchorage has just arrived in Nuku Hiva and has been able to tell us about their experience with arrival processes etc… very helpful. Things in FP seem to be gradually easing and other friends who are in Tahiti now have a lot more freedom to do things on the island.

As we write we have 850 miles to run to Nuku Hiva and we are savouring life at sea whilst we have it.