Tuesday, 7th April, 2015

Luna Quest
W. Eric Faber
Tue 7 Apr 2015 23:03
Noon Position: 16.04S 148.10W

Daily run: 104 miles

A lack of wind accompanied by a worked-up, irregular sea is probably one of the most frustrating aspects of cruising in a small boat. A larger boat does not have to take on every wave individually and can ride over them faster as it has a longer waterline and more sail. So we have to content ourselves with less progress and more bouncing around, but it has not stopped Julia from producing one wonder after another from the galley or making necklaces with tiny beads and pearls.
Papeete (capital of Tahiti) is 120 miles away, which we could reach tomorrow during the day if our speed averaged 5 knots. Tahiti is surrounded by outlying reefs with navigational channels through them. The biggest is open to the port of Papeete and well buoyed, but we are having to aim for a smaller one that leads amongst other reefs to a marina. It is well demarcated on our chart plotter, so that we should be able to navigate to it in the dark under power. Luckily, the moon is near enough full.

Eric