Landfall
Vega
Hugh and Annie
Sun 14 May 2017 04:18
After a beautiful sunset last night we settled into a slow sail under just a small genoa so as to arrive at Fatu Hiva at daybreak. Needless to say at 0030 the wind died and we had to motor in order to get here at all.
Dawn revealed the island, covered in a thick layer of cloud and looking very green. From a distance the steep cliffs are reminiscent of south Devon and the entrance to Salcombe in particular. Which is not surprising given the high rainfall enjoyed by both places. However, closer up the similarity is less. Here there are palm trees and dramatic volcanic rock formations that rise up steeply and magnificently. Paul Theroux thought the Marquesas the most beautiful place in the world. From what we have seen so far it is pretty spectacular, in a tropical paradise sort of way.
There are distinctive rock formations that gave this bay its original name. The story goes that the early explorers called it the Bay des Verges (Bay of Penises) after the phallic shaped rocky pillars around the bay, but the missionaries disapproved, added an "i" and it was renamed Bay des Vierges (Bay of Virgins).
We are now shattered and have three weeks of broken sleep to catch up on. In the meantime some photos to give a flavour of the landfall and our anchorage.
