Better late entered than never, confirming that we are all safe and sound, back in Vancouver last night, boat tied up back in her spot in Papeete. Hands were full getting back, cleaning up, devices out of charge, and some crucial last minute snorkeling, photo shooting, and monopoly playing during our last 24hrs.

Also re-posted a couple from Annika which didn't send properly so look for those. Although one of those makes reference to a Pyrrhic victory, which we argued about the meaning of. Jonathan had the reference right, but I still reject that our Bora Bora sail is a legitimate example!

Pyrrhic or not, it was no lightweight sail and this crew held up amazingly. Katrina in particular is a rock. Hour 12: "you OK?" "yep". Hour 32 "you OK?" "uh huh. I wonder how the dogs are?". Totally unfazed.

So many highlights I don't think we've recorded here; Alec's tuna off Bora Bora, pulled in and cleaned as we pounded upwind in 25 kts; Jonathan's long distance swim after abandoned snorkeling efforts off Tahaa (clearly still has some cardio under there). Madeline and Annika as always ready to step up and help out, while making everything both fun and funny. Alec, and then Annika, coming up to relieve me on watch as the sun came up. Alec fielding the halyards and sheets so we could fight down the genoa after the furling line snapped...

Our last stop, Cook's Bay on Moorea, was probably the best. Most beautiful anchorage I've seen (and it's hard to be impressed coming from the Pacific NW). Snorkeling was great, and we just had a totally nice last night together watching the sun go down. Smoking fast sail in the morning til we were back in the lee of Tahiti, about 3 hours, and then in through the reef, to the fuel dock, and back to Marina Taena.

Wish we could spend a month rather than a week; amazing archipelago, lovely people, great sailing... can't believe we had the chance to do this, all 5 kids together on the boat again! A memorable additional chapter to our years of sailing together.