Fwd: Catch-up on Ocean Pearl
Oceanpearl
Thu 18 Aug 2022 01:00
>>> A major catch -up
>>> My last blog was in May, and a lot has happened since then. For much of that time we have had little or no communication and we have been very busy, both of which limits reporting opportunity.
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>>> In this time we have had some great times and some tough times so no blogs for all those reasons!
>>> We have snorkelled and dived in the amazing Tuomoto islands. These are atolls, originally volcanos, where in past centuries the centre had sunk deeply leaving a lagoon surrounded by coral reefs with a few gaps which have become the one or two passes to enter each lagoon. All the atolls have different characters, features, diving areas and degrees of habitation. Mostly with no shops so tricky to provision for 4-5 people , 3 meals a day with no certainty of stocking up en route. We visited a number of Tuomoto atolls including Rangiroa , Fakarava, Apataki.
>>> One memorable day was a visit to a pearl farm, founded and operated by a Frenchman , now approaching 80. He invited us to spend the day with them , including lunch. Patrick himself cooked a huge fish in a huge oven with a selection of roasted vegetables and a huge pan of rice for all his team and our crew of 4.
>>> We watched the process of extracting the pearls from the oyster shells. Patrick’s grandson in his 20s, has developed some brilliant videos describing the process and showing some pearl jewellery designs which he shows on TikTok and they are now working on how to monetise their TokTok!
>>> We ended the day by buying a large grey pearl!
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>>> We then spent a week or so in Tahiti, where we had a change of crew - a departure of two, one at our invitation.
>>> With new crew - a 32 year old German sailor / free diver/ fisherman / engineer / fixer of everything called Marius and his French girlfriend who left for France from Fiji for a planned 8 month acrobatics course! Marius will continue with us all the way to Cape Town.
>>> Marius is a great fisherman and we have enjoyed tuna, mahi mahi, large 4kg mackerel, sword fish and other fish so a very healthy diet.
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>>> Our next stop was Fiji with lots of extraordinary experiences amongst the lovely friendly people . We visited s number of spectacularly beautiful Fijian islands, notably Felagu where we snorkelled amongst amazing coral and swam with huge manta rays at Buliya where Roger swam above a 2.5 metre Manta ray for 28 minutes!
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>>> Our last stop in Fiji was Musket cove, stunning resort who welcomed the Oyster fleet of 20 yachts and hosted a great party for all of us.
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>>> Tonga and Vanuatu were the next planned stops on our circumnavigation itinerary but sadly
>>> Tonga remains closed to visitors and Vanuatu has only just opened its maritime borders but apparently not quite ready to welcome foreign seafarers yet.
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>>> So we set off post party from Fiji to New Caledonia as a stopping point to break the long sail to Australia
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>>> It was a tough passage of 6 days of inclement weather , not helped by post party positive Covid tests on day 1 for Roger and Mary. There were several other victims of Musket Cove Covid! This was the first time either of us succumbed to the dreadful Coronavirus , but we had it fairly mildly and survived!
>>> Quarantining was not a problem setting off on. 6 day passage - and fortunately neither of our crew caught it from us
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>>> We arrived in New Caledonia on Bastille Day, so everything was closed . We were faced with really bad weather forecasts for the next 5-6 days with another 1000 nautical miles to cover to get to Mackay at the South of the Great Barrier Reef. The forecasts are of big winds gusting 30, 40 and 50 knots, big waves of 3-5 metres high which does not make for comfortable sailing !
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>>> After much consultation and discussion of various weather forecasts, we decided to set sail ,
>>> along with 2 other boats, Irish Blessing and Serendipity, with some trepidation, on Wednesday, with a passage planned to go north of the foul weather . Writing this, have now got to Day 3, having had mixed weather over the two days and 2 nights so far, but generally not too bad. Ocean Pearl is a big strong boat that can cope with big seas and big winds and generally so far the passage has been easier than expected. It got worse! One day, motoring against big wind, 20+ knots, we had water in over the spray hood .
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>>> Having said that, I am now writing this during my 8pm - 10pm night watch on Day 3. It is raining cats and dogs ( a nautical term) The wind is 25 knots, gusting to 30 and I am huddle in the corner of the cockpit trying to keep dry. There are four of us on board doing 2 hour night watches and 3 hour day watches. Tonight isn’t a good one for me - I will be back on from 4-6am. Hopefully that will be drier than this! We arrived in Mackay, Australia on 27 July
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>>> Having been at sea now for nearly 9 months (I can’t believe that ) and sailed about 20,000 mIles (I can’t believe that either) I plan to fly back to Uk arriving on 25 August for a 2 month break and will join Ocean Pearl again in November in Mauritius.
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>>> I can’t wait to see everyone. I have felt very isolated at times and will do my very best to get in touch and meet up with as many as I can while I’m home.
>>> Looking forward to some normality on dry land and to catching up with everyone.
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>>> Love to all,
>>> Mary. intrepid sailor
>>> Mob: 07778 198338