Tropical Sailing Adventures
| Vessel Name: | Maestro |
| Vessel Make/Model: | 72' Custum Irwin Ketch |
| Hailing Port: | Dover, Delaware |
| About: |
18 February 2016 | Mexico - Puerto Vallarta
19 months & counting
Trenten Reef Paul turned 19 months yesterday and I can hardly believe how quickly the time has past since his birth in Papeete, Tahiti. We have been on quite an adventure, as always.
23 October 2013 | Phuket, Thailand
Up on dry land
(Above photo flying into Sydney, AUS on our way to Phuket, Thailand)
26 June 2013 | French Polynesia
Moorea
We have, (sadly), just dropped Christina and Nicola off at the airport in Tahiti after a week out anchored off the island of Moorea. What a wonderful week full of fun. The ladies hit the spa!, hiking and swimming with Sting Rays and Sharks. The water in Moorea is really clear blue hues. We had a [...]
01 June 2013
Surfs Up Tahiti
http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/8812-big-wave-madness-continues-in-teahupoo (10 days ago we had another big southern swell)
25 May 2013
Papeete, Tahiti
We are anchored off marina Taina in Papeete, the main city on the island of Tahiti. This is the only 'big city' (250,000) we have seen in several months. It is a mix of European French & casual islander. The large verdant island soars into the sky and is mostly surrounded by a coral barrier reef. [...]
Isla Contreras
We have moved another 15 miles to the Isla Group called Isla Contreras which are part of the National Park Of Coiba. They call this area the Panama Galapagos and in the two short days that we have been here i am beginning to understand why. Snorkeling has been the best we have seen on the entire west coast. We have seen a spotted eagle ray, manta rays, we swam with two sea turtles, starfish, angelfish, large schools of at least 25 different tropicals and beautiful coral reefs. The water is crystal blue with a mixed sand coral bottom and the island has 5 trickling waterfalls dropping into the ocean. Noone wants to leave!
On the way into the island we caught a Dorado! Finally! We have been working really hard at it and finally i caught a nice one. It was at least 30 lbs. We were trollIng on the way to the anchorage and I couldnt seem to get a bite. Our friends on s/v P.Wave called us on the radio and AGAIN hollered "FISH ON - DORADO". I was lIke .... what the heck? ThIs Is theIr thIrd Dorado to my nothIng Dorado! In preparatIon, the prevIous day I had changed my baIt to the large squId, so It had to be the lIne? The lIne I have on the reel Isnt long enough to sInk the lure very deep and when I put It In the holder It shortens the lIne even further. Len suggested that I hand hold the pole to lower the lure Into deeper water. He saId "If you get one - Hold on!" I was determIned and was not goIng to reel that lIne In untIl we dropped the hook If I had too. I was catchIng a Dorado TODAY. WIthIn about 8 mInutes I felt a lIttle nudge but wasn't quIte sure? Then another... and then a strange slow drag followed by a heavy pull. I quIckly yanked back and the fIsh started to run. "FISH ON!" Len posItIoned the boat and hIt neutral whIle I trIed to keep her as close to the boat as possIble. I had paId out all the lIne but 40 feet so It could have gone eIther way but fortunately she pulled In relatIvely easIly.
We are about 12 miles from the mainland and 15 from the Island group of Secas but we are getting a fantastic internet signal. There is noone around here - we havent seen a local fishing boat or a tour boat a few days.
