Fw: 17:32.39S 149:34.21W

Frenchkissv
Wed 28 Jul 2010 08:18
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:05 PM
Subject: 17:32.39S 149:34.21W

We arrived at Papeete on Monday June 28 at 0130AM local time. The passage down from Manihi was quite different from wha the forcast suggested. Instead of light wind we had progressively stornger wind. With 50 miles to go we had a 2nd reef in the main and still the #3 headsail. When the wind got to 25kts true, the autohelm was struggling, so I took over on the helm. We dropped the main and continued with the #3. Saw nearly 31kts at some stage as we surged down the 4-5m swells reaching nearly 15kts. Tahiti was a welcome relief, and getting into the lea of the island saw the wind all but disappear. The passage into the Yacht Quay was exactly where the electronoc chart said and the passage in was well marked. We were safely tied up and into our bunks by 0300hrs.