Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 4

Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Wed 21 Mar 2012 17:26
Position 04 00.700S 095 34.60W

Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 4

We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.

Day 4 Distance to go, 2,597 miles.

Log reading now at noon 14069

Distance travelled noon to noon 115 miles

Noon to Noon report on the 21st March 12

We have managed to sail 22 hours today and only motored 2 hours between 15.00 and 17.00.The wind has now picked up to 15 to 20 knots from the South East, which is giving us a great reaching sail. We are now sailing at our normal speed of 6 to 7 knots and in the direction we need to go. So heading South West to try to pick up the wind has worked.

Wildlife report

We have seen two pods of dolphins today and a few seabirds.

Shipping report

It is not often on these ocean passages that you see any ships of any kind, well last night was the exception! At around 21.00 we started to pick up lights glowing on the horizon, we then started to see the ships. At first we could see two, then three, then four. In the end we could see 15 Tuna Fishing vessels with two support factory ships following the fleet. They were tracking about 70 degrees (our track was about 245 degrees), over a width of about 5 miles. Each ship offset to the left or right of the one in front by about a mile.

This made for a very interesting few hours of sailing, as I dodged in front and behind each vessel as they came toward us.

Fleet Positions

Karacool set off with us, and is at present about 90 miles behind us.

Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 264 miles behind us.

Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now 260 miles behind us.

Next report on the 22nd.

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