04/05/2008 0325UTC 14 53.753S 147 53.138W Day 329 Up this morning at 0630, 26C, Partly Cloudy, Wind ESE 5-15 Knots.

It's tough to leave the beauty of a place like Rangiroa atoll, but it's also refreshing to be back at sea on passage again. We weighed anchor and ran Passe Tiputa at 1300 this afternoon. There was a minor struggle against the flood current which was still setting against us at about 4 knots. But, because the switch to the really nasty ebb current is almost instantaneous, we made our escape while the getting' was good.

The SE tradewinds appear to be more developed now and are actually coming from the right direction. Wind Dancer tacked offshore a few miles then sailed along the N shore of Rangiroa. We're just about to go between Rangiroa and its adjacent atoll, Tikehau, before turning SW for Tahiti. The sailing has been extremely pleasant today -- right now we have a breeze of about 12 knots with following seas.

The watch schedule is set; we're using our standard routine now and find that it is very easy to slip back into passagemaking from being at anchor. I expect we'll be in Papeete, Tahiti, around noon on Monday, so as passages go, this is a short one for us. Papeete -- the largest city in French Polynesia -- will provide an opportunity for a minor refit. I already have a boat list going, and I know 1st Mate needs a few things for the galley. Our hope is to anchor for a couple of days off the Tahiti Yacht Club which features the only hot water showers and laundry in French Polynesia.

Well, we're about to pass between the atolls and I better pay attention. More tomorrow...

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