After the nice sunny day under the Equator, we went from the spring season to the fall.. The consequence was immediate as we spent 2 days under heavy clouds with rainy squalls chasing us up ! Yesterday afternoon we reached the real south easterly trade winds : about 15/20 knots on a beam reach that push Chinook at a good speed right on course towards Fatu Hiva. Fatu Hiva is the most southern island of the Marquesas. Once at anchor, surrounded by relative high peaks, we are not sure if the radio waves will be easy to catch.. A few days later we`ll be in an other island, with an internet connection, where we`ll try to insert some pictures..? If all goes well, our next update will be at anchor or, better yet, at an internet cafe.

Yhe experience is difficult to absorb all at once we will have more to say once we have a chance to reflect back on the passage, particularly after a big steak and heavy night of drinking.

Nous voila a 130 miles de l`arrivee, cet apres midi est ensoleillee avec une bonne brise, un changement agreable apres deux jours et demi de temps gris et pluvieux avec des grains subits ! Nous devrions arriver demain dans la matinee dans un mouillage entoure de montagnes ( la classique `Baie des Vierges` connue des navigateurs); Notre traversee a ete bcp plus ventee et rapide que la moyenne ! Nous allons essayer de mettre des photos sur ce blog a Hiva Oa l`escale suivante ou il devrait y avoir un cybercafe..a cote des pains au chocolat ;-)

---------- radio email processed by SailMail for information see: http://www.sailmail.com