Vessel Name: | Pamela |
Vessel Make/Model: | Crealock 37 by Pacific Seacraft |
Hailing Port: | San Francisco, CA |
Crew: | Dennis Maggard and Pamela York |
About: | We're searching for a quiet mind on an endless sea. |
Extra: | Our passions: playing guitar, sailing in the tropics, mentoring kids |
Home Page: | http://www.quietmindendlesssea.com |
After spending 2 weeks at a tiny island in Tonga, we are now approaching the Vava'u group of islands. Cold beer and wifi awaits, and swimming with humpback whales! 58 miles to go ...
We're anchored in the protected lagoon of Niuatoputapu, a tiny island in the Kingdom of Tonga, 150 miles north of the Vava'u group. Yesterday the Bishop visited and there was a pig roast and lots of dancing in the village.
Our 700-mile journey looks like it will take 6 or 7 days. We're 5 days into it and the seas have gone from flat calm to rollicking wet. Last night was full of 25-knot squalls, but the half-moon managed to squeeze itself in between some of the blacker clouds and provide some illumination of the 8-foot seas while I listened to "Revolution 9" (the closing sequence on the Beatles' White Album). I'm proud of how Pam is handling these heavy squalls by herself during her nightly watches. Three more days until Suwarrow ...
"Come get your duds in order 'cause we're bound to leave tomorrow, heave away! Me jollies, heave away!" Our last days in French Polynesia are winding down, and we're bound for Aitutaki in the South Cook Islands, 550 miles southwest. I'm looking forward to sailing a long passage again, aaaarrrgghhh! Life upon the sea is wonderful, uncomplicated, although a bit rolly from time to time. Alas, we're going to miss the pamplemousse and freshly baked baguettes of French Polynesia. But maybe the Cook Islands will have some British ale .... Heave away, me jolly boys, we're all bound away!
After 27 days of sailing to the Marquesas and two weeks sailing around Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva, and Ua Huka, we have finally arrived in Nuku Hiva where there is … WIFI and bandwidth! Not that there's anything wrong with being off the grid with an abundance of bananas and pamplemousse.
We were accompanied by a huge pod of dolphins today as we crossed the equator. What a beautiful day!