We've been in Rangaroa for 2 weeks now, anchored in front of a beautiful Tahitian Resort with cabinas perched over the water and along the shore. Running the watermaker here in the anchorage locked up our 2nd alternator using too much amperage. Our starter battery had run completely dry, so we turned off the refrigerator and hunkered down until we could get a new alternator from the States as well as find out why we were having such serious electrical problems.

Meanwhile, we're here one of Earth's gorgeous South Pacific islands with the prettiest blue water you can imagine, palm trees swaying in the breeze on the shores of white sand beaches, fish swimming around the boat and in the shallows along the shore. We went SCUBA diving 4 times and snorkeling whenever we felt like it along a little motu island just inside the pass. No current there and lots of fish to watch. Saw sharks on all our dives in the pass, Hawksbill Turtles, and swam with dolphins that magically appeared on our first dive and swam right up to us, as curious about us as we were about them. We could hear the dolphins squeaking as they bounded up to us close to the surface. They wouldn't let us touch them, but they came within arm's reach. What a thrill!

During this time, boats we knew came and went. We were never without people to talk to and visit, people concerned about our electrical issues and wanting to help. S/V "Thumbs Up" with Ivan, Cheryl, and Devon Orgee and Carlee aboard left for Papeete so they could get our alternator from Portland rerouted to Rangaroa after it arrived in Papeete. Ivan and Cheryl speak French fluently and could go through all the necessary hoops for us without the language barrier. (Sue speaks enough French to get by, but understands only about half of what she hears, enough to get into trouble probably.)

With the new alternator installed as of today, the refrigerator turned back on, and batteries at full charge from lots of wind and solar generation, we're ready to depart tomorrow morning, June 2nd for Papeete. Should be a nice sail in 15-20 knot winds.