WARC2023sailing – Sailing with Saphir

Fiji with Elise

Suva yatch club anchor place didn’t make a good impression on us rather the opposite. Lots of ship wrecks and ships that almost are a wreck.

We decided to leave and found a bay just around the corner. This feels much better. Although it is a bit rolly when the tie comes and goes. We stay here over night and I did some very stupid thing so my hip and leg got really bad. Hope it will get better soon. Elise is a bit yet lagged and I try out my new baking machine. This will take a few times I guess to get a great result. First I guess was to much flour.

We leave the bay next morning and head up to Nadi. Outside Denarau Marina we drop the anchor since the marina was full. We take the dinghy in to the marina to do some shopping and fill up petrol to the dinghy. When we came in and starts walking I realise that my leg /hip is worse then I thought. Can only walk 10- 20m before it is to painful to walk. After done the shopping I am totally exhausted and can’t walk…. Grateful that Erik is in Denarau and gives me a pain relief shot and some strong pills. Feels already much better on the way back to Saphir.

Laying in anchor outside Denarau was not the best place and we realise that many of the fleet is in Vuda Marina so we decided to go there. It is a very nice relaxed marine. Not as commercial marina as Denarau.

As Elise have been on big cargo ships she have learned a few tricks how clean a boat. I am very happy that she us to clean part of the boat. She also went up the mast to free the flag that had got stuck in the mast.

We went in to the Boat Sheed(the restaurant in the marina) for dinner in the evening together with Chris and Karen. We had a great evening that ended up with Chris singing karaoke and Karen joining him.

Often it is something that needs to be fixed, repaired or replaced on the boat when we come to a marina. This time the boat was okay but me and Edgar where broken. I can hardly walk and Edgar have problem with his back. Poor Elise was looking forward to sail around the island in Fiji but ended up in Vuda Marina and a few day at a resort. The days in the resort help Edgar a lot and I was feeling a bit better but still not good enough to walk . We did enjoy our days at the pool and lovely dinners. So nice to sleep in a full size bed, a bed you don’t need to crawl in and is totally still.

Elise went on a day trip on a catamaran. She snorkelled and saw lovely corals and fishes. This is what I hope to do and see soon.

Back in the marina after days at the resort Edgar and Elise goes to do some grocery shopping while I rest… So glad that we have our folding bikes onboard. This is my life saver. I am not stuck on the boat although we can take the dinghy in to the marina where there is a restaurant, chandelier and a food/ cafe/gift shop. To walk from the boat to the marina takes about 5-10 min and for me probably 20 -30 min, since I have to stop every 20meter due to pain. Biking is without any pain and the roads are okay to bike on. I can easily move around. We saw that is was going to be a market on First Landing resort so me and Elise took the bikes over to check it out. Found some nice things. Most of them handmade by the locals. I even bought a small bag that I had to wait for to be done

Vuda Marina next to the resort. Short distance but long to walk to.

In the evenings we went there with our friends and had dinner. They had performance and invited us up to dance with them. It was only Elise and Karen who went up. New drinks has to tries and Elises was very blue and good she said.

Our last evening with Elise. She leaves early morning to fly home to Sweden and start work. Safe flight back Elise and next time we hope that you can sail a bit more …

Hugs Eva

Getting to Fiji

Together with Amanzi and Matilda we hoist the anchor in the sunrise and set course to the Lau groups in the west side of the Fiji Island.

I have prepared our sleeping spot in the salon on the floor since it is going to be a very wobbly crossing. To make it softer I even put a madras’s against the cupboard and pillows on the other side to make it softer. This is definitely the best spot. Don’t understand why I haven’t done this every time. Slept so much better here. It is a two night sailing and approximate 300NM. At 2,30 in the morning we have 190 NMs left. We will be in Lau group early morning next day.

First some lovely sunset pictures.

At 8.20 Tonga time we reach the opening of the reef. This is the first time since our start of sailing that we turn back the clock 1hour and not forward. That means we are on the other side of the world from home. It took us a year to get here and if you fly it takes 30-36 hours depending on hours in airports. A bit different. We arrive in Lomaloma on the Vanuatu Balavu island and drop our anchor at 10.30. Now we wait for the rest of the fleet and specially Rob from World Arc. We didn’t have to wait long. An hour later we have been checked in to Fiji. The 4 authorities plus the agency came out to the boat. Very efficient and we are ready to leave and take us slowly around to the other side of the island.

After some very tricky narrow passages with lots off coral reefs and the scary coral heads that can be just under the surface we dropped the anchor at a lovely spot. Later we heard that five boats hits this coral heads and some needed some repairs later. What a lovely place. Would really love to come back and explore more.

Next morning we found this jello thing under our roof in the cockpit. How did it get in?? And what is it? No time to wonder just clean up and we are of to the main island and Suva to pick up Elise our youngest daughter that arrived on the 14th. She is staying at a hotel in Suva. Apparently not the safest city so no fun going outside the hotel area.

One night crossing and we will be in Suva. At noon we have 144NM left and at 5 next morning 40NM left. It takes time to sail. We have a lovely sunrise and greets by dolphins when we get closer. They where not the only one checking on us. Suddenly there came a rib boat with the coast guard asking to come onboard to check our papers. They said it was a routine check. No others boat friends after us had them onboard. This is the third time we have been checked by the coast guard. Wonder what so special about our boat?

Finally we see Suva. We talk to Elise and can see hers hotel we think. She sees us sailing outside the reef. Lots of boat wrecks and boats that are almost a wreck here. This place doesn’t look very safe or nice. It doesn’t matter we drop the anchor and Edgar takes the dinghy in to pick her up. Elise have arrived and now we have 9 days together to explore part of Fiji.

Hugs Eva

Tonga days

Sailing to Tonga was a bit rolly so we took plaster behind our ears to prevent seasickness. The scopoderm works wonder and I know that Rob agrees. We had lovely sunset and sunrise. Simple food as halfmade chicken soup and Swedish knäckebröd works perfect when you dont want to be to long in the kitchen fixing dinner although I did prepare dinner the first night that just hade to be warmed up.

Reaching Tonga Rob hoist the yellow flag and the Tongan underneath. Our ETA didn’t hold. We came in 3 hours early this time but that was good then we had good time to check in and find a buoy before dark. We say bye and thank you to Rob who join us from Niue to Tonga. It was a pleasure having you onboard

After having the bio-, custome, ect on board we are ready to find a buoy and it looks like this is going to be a very calm place to stay at, no rolling so we will sleep well here.

Some maintenance works has to be done as some washing and cleaning as always. After so long time on the boat in this humidity the boat gets salty, mouldy in some places and the brass and crome in side the boat needs extra care.

We have some great days with our friends in the village Neiafu on Vava’u island before we explore some of the others island nearby . Lunch at Bellavista sundowners and dinners at Kraaken. Both very nice places.

Only a two hours motoring from Neiafu we lay anchor next to some of our friends and do some snorkelling and a tour to Swallow Cave. That cave is fantastic with the this huge shoal of fishes that hover in the cave. The light inside and the colours of the stone in the cave. So sad that there are those that have to mark that they have been there though.

Even if there is no restaurant near by we still don’t need to cook food our self. David and his family made food for us and we had a great dinner and evening at Vaka Eitu. It was extra nice to meet up with Chris and Anne.

The day after some of us went snorkelling on the reef wall at the end of the island. It was very colour full and lots of different corals. A bit scary to get in and out due to the swells on the coral reef. My friend did heart her self and destroyed part of her west suit when she went out of the water the day before. We all came safe in and out the water with help from each other.

Time to get back to the village Neiafu and meet up with all the Arc sailors to visit the botanical garden and have lunch at their restaurant. They have just opened up again after covid and we where the first visitors. This guy is around his eighties and have traveled around the world meet the Pope 3 times if I remember right. He even have been in Sweden with some students. After lunch the children had a dance performance for us and we was thought how they make walls, rugs, basket ect out of palm leaves. It was very interesting and there is a lot of hour behind this nice work

The gathering continues with a dinner at a Bellavista where Marco is doing one of his dreams to serve food in Tonga in there traditional skirt. This was arranged by him and the crew from Enalia. The best was that almost all of us came for the dinner that night. Think the restaurant was very pleased as well. The owner is Italian and so is all from Enalia. Marco did a great job and the food was delicious!

We also hade a lovely dinner, prize giving ceremony and dance performance at Mango cafe. This time there was no price for fastest sailing since we all didn’t end up doing the same sailing via Suwarrow and Niue. We ended up getting a price for being closet in the amount of age of the fleet that left Bora Bora.

A stroll around the village to find some last things before checking out and filling up diesel. Here runs the animals around free so I was not surprised to see pigs, piglets and chickens walking around .

Filling up diesel at the pier direct from the thank truck.

The last days before sailing to Fiji we spent them with our friends padel boarding and enjoying the beauty in the bays. Learned me a lesson when I feelt of the board and lost my sunglasses. Not good at all but Clare found them. From now on they will have floating rope or something else that floats. Thank you for great days .

Hugs Eva

Days in Niue

When we arrived to Niue the swells was quite big and it made it very tricky to go a shore. We decided to take a slow relaxing day , fixing on the boat and go in the next day. You will understand what I mean by tricky to go a shore when you see the movie.

So after breakfast we head in to land and the pier where the dinghy hoists up on the pier. It is a bit tricky but after a few times you learn.

We headed to the government building to regístrate us in to the country. At the same time we also made the paperwork’s for leaving, very convenient. Three different institutions, custom, immigration and bio security. We filled in the immigration paper , the same one you get on the plane when entering a new country and rest was already done by ARC. Edgar just had to sign some papers and pay tourist tax.

We started to walk to the shop, The Arc had organised a sunset drink in one of the few bars. After that a dinner with performances at a resort on the island. It was a nice evening with great company.

The next day we went for a guided tour to see part of the island. There is a lot of caves and and some freshwater pools to walk/climb in and also to take swim in. The water was a bit cold but it was refreshing and after a while you get use to it. Even Edgar went in snorkelling. Felt little strange that there was almost no salt even if it was connected to the ocean although not a huge opening

In the evening one of our guides open up her house for us to have a barbecue. We all went to buy meat and drinks for the evening . So nice of here and her friend to open up her home for us. We had a great time. Lots of laughs, singing and dancing. It was very long time ago I dance so that was really fun. We adults showed the young adults how to move.

Happy that is not only me and Edgar that have to get the dinghy in to the water in the middle of the night. It all went well.

Relaxing Sunday including a short walk

I went diving on Monday afternoon with Laura,Michel,Cory and Luc. We went in to a cave which was fantastic. Little scary with all these snakes in the water. Even if they didn’t do anything except being very curious and scared me when it came up to check on me. The landscape outside the cave was fantastic and so different from what I have seen before. Hard to not to go lower then 18 m which is what I am certified for when the water is so clear and bright.

After the diving it was time to move on and go to Tonga. We welcome Rob onboard. He is working for the ARC and needed a lift. Toghether with Misty, SolanaV , Pec and Pippin we hoist our sails and headed to Tonga ready for two nights sailing.

Hugs Eva

BoraBora to Niue with stop in Suwarrow or not

After Eva had left it was time to focus and prepare for the next leg that is including to stop before we are in Tonga. We got divide in two groups since the island we are going to visit don’t have space or enough buoys at their bay for all 24 boats at the same time. The first group starts on the 14th of May and we take our dinghy to watch the start and wish the first group fare winds.

Since we already where in the dinghy we decided to go around the corner where we have seen that the cargo boats goes in. The yellow houses is probably the warehouse for the goods. Further in is a small village and they have built some large pools that we couldn’t make any sense of.

The upcoming days we went shopping with Matt and Fiona on Matilda. Luckily they rented a car so it was easy to go drive between the different stores to find what we wanted. Me and Fiona took a walk by our self to see if we could find some nice pearls but no luck. I did found some on my next trip… The boat needs to fill up. Don’t know if it’s a sailing boat but guess. Saw that they had hoist the sail in the evening and put lights on them when still where anchoring. When we came back after filling up diesel our dinghy was laying there keeping our place

We had some sun downers and dinners in the evening toghether with the rest of the sailing group. One night was with performance.

There was a lot of training around our boats but I manage to to some paddling around without disturbing their training. Last sunset in Bora Bora for us

We are getting ready for five days at sea. The bed is made for us on the couch since it is to rolly to sleep in our own bed. The Norwegian flag is hoisted and Pippin is getting to the start field

The start went of at 12.00 and we hoist our second jennaker that is on a rolling thing and not in a sock as the other one. This is the first time we hoist it since we left Sweden 10 months ago. The wind was twisting and turning around the Island so it took some minutes before we got some wind in our jennaker.

Just after the start we got some dolphins jumping next to us

As it is Norways Independence Day we celibrate it with waffles for lunch with the Norwegian brown goat cheese and drink Solo. Happy Independence Day Norway 🇳🇴

We avoided some squalls during the night so our route is no that straight more zig zag between the squalls.

On our third day at sea we get information that we need to change our course and go direct to Nui and not to Suwarrow. The first boats had arrived there and was denied to get in due to some paper that was wrong. Since we all have the same paper with us the World Arc asked all off us to go direct to Nui. We had 402 NM left before we changed the course and now we have 810 NM to Niue. 3 extra days on Sea so total 6 days before we are moored. This news took us down a bit. As we say in Swedish “the air went out of us ’ We was really looking forward seeing Suwarrow. Specially since this is such a remote place and really hard to get to. I hardly believe that we will get a chance to get there unless we do a new pacific crossing…. I Hmmm maybe not.

One early morning at five we caught up a sailing boat. Just when Edgar thinks we will pass it the wind to blow up and the sailing boat speeds up. Edgar hois the sails and hope that the sailing boat speeds up and that we can get back on our course by going behind her. They where heading to Fiji so our courses crossed each other . Took a while though but finally we could go back on our course and head to Niue

After a few days at sea the days goes in each other. We make turn on watches. You sleep or try to when the other is on watch. I knit, listen to books, play some games on my iPhone, work on the blogg during my watches. It keeps me awake. If it would have been less rolly I also would have done some exercises so my back,hip /leg will get better. This rolling makes the pain worse and almost impossible to do the exercises correct specially when it involves keeping balance.

The view I really like both the nice days but also the rough ones. Sunset, sunrise and so on . All jas it charms almost. Do not like the squalls with thunder.

Finally we can see Niue. This little flat Island in the South Pacific is one of the smallest countries in the world.

It will be very nice to relax for a few days now.

Hugs Eva

Tahaa to Bora Bora. 8-12Maj

When we arrived to Tahaa we stop for the night right inside the reef and had a glass of home made white Sangria. Will definitely do that more times. We had dinner and then went over to Thetis for a sundowner drink and was home first around 22.00 arrived there around 17.30. Very long sundowner and also so nice to meet them and lots of the Arc boats.

The next morning we went to coral garden that we had heardIt the the in so much about. Took us a few turns until we had the anchor in. It is nice to know the depth underneath us. Our depth meter is broken and we do have the charts telling us the depth but it is not the same to know the exact measurements. It makes a difference. I hope Edgar can fix the depth meter soon so we we are sure about the amount of chain we need to have and that we do not need to end up to far out from land. There are some boats from the Arc laying here already and more are coming. Its a very popular place.

We take the dinghy in to the coral garden. It is a opening between two Islands so the water is quite flowing. Very lovely snorkelling place. Here I meet again some curious fishes.

After been I snorkelling all things needs to be cleaned in freshwater due to all the salt. Do some washing at the same time and this time it has to dry in the boat.. The night is magical and we continue playing hitster. This time all of won.

Before we leave the next day we have to snorkel one more time. This time I see black tip sharks and to giant morays. Lots of other nice fishes and corals as well.

Time to leave this beautiful place and to Bora Bora. We have a bouy at Bora Bora Yatch Club that is located 10 min drive with the dinghy to the town. This is also the place where we will meet up the other boats before we do the 5 leg on our sailing with World Arc. Here they come out to you so we can pay for the bouy. Great service! They also comes and pick up our garbage.

Me and Eva are ready for exploring Bora Bora when we are here. We didn’t get that far since we had to turn around to not miss the happy hour although we saw some cool things om the way.

We went in to town to check how the connection works to the airport and to walk around a bit. We found this cool map showing all the island in French Polynesia covering almost hole Europe. It gives you a perspective how huge French Polynesia is. The hard part is you need a boat or a plane to get to the other places here . On the way back we got rain…. Have not had much of that during the sailing and I knows it needed even if I do prefer the sun. Locking on the bright side it is not cold when it’s rains.

We had a great last evening with Eva and in the morning after we drove her in to town in her new hat she bought yesterday. From town there is a boat transfer to the airport.

It’s been a great time having you onboard Eva you are missed already and we wish you a great summer sailing back home in Sweden with Bullen. Hope to see you soon. Thank you for joining us on our adventure.

Hugs Eva

Huahine

We arrive early in the morning to Huahine and anchor close to the village Fare. A short relaxing time and some swimming next to the boat. The current is quite strong so you can lay behind the boat and swim without moving forward.

After lunch we take the dinghy in to land to throw our garbage and see what the village has to offer and what we can find in the supermarket . It is a huge store where you can find many other things then food. Even here it is not much fresh fruit and vegetables. We get some soft drinks, beers, fruits. A stop at the yacht club for a drink before we head back to the boat.

In the evening we are invited over to Jörgen and Louis on Sara of Sweden for dinner togheter with Jan and Anders from HokaHey. It was a very nice evening at there boat. Great food, fisk that they had caught. Wonder when we will get som fish on Saphir?

The next day we went for a bike ride with Jörgen, Louise, Alex and Inez from Sara of Sweden. We rented e-bikes since there are some hills that are very’ Bran’. First stop is to taste if the sea is fresh water or a mix. It is a mix. The next is a museum where you can se how their i boats looked liked that they built to travel around and visit other islands. In the canal that goes in to the sea they have built fish traps of small rocks.

The tour continued out on a peninsula to have a swim and some snorkelling. Luckily for us was that there was a little restaurant in a privet home so we could have lunch with the best view.

Next stop was to look at the blue eyed eels. There was a lot off them when we spotted them. After that we had some hills to bike up. The e-bike made it easier and we was rewarded with a great view. Thank you Louise, Jörgen, Alex and Inez for a great day.

When we came back BlueSunshine and some more boats had left and found a better spot further south. We hoisted our anchor and went over to them. This was a fantastic spot and well worth moving the boat. We went over for sundowner at BlueSunshine together with all from Sara of Sweden. There is a few off this sundowners on the boats or ashore. It is very nice and relaxing . Also very nice to see the others boats closely and get some good ides for your boat. The last photo was taken by by Mark on Amanzi. Time to use our own drone I believe.

One off many good things to sail in group is that we share information between each other. As BlueSunshine told us about the great snorkelling they went with their dinghy. We had to try that as well. It was so great that we went there twice. The second time we got there before the tourist boat and then the water was even clearer. No swimmers with fins that had stirred up the sand. I have never seen so many different fishes together at the same time. Yes the tourists boat feed the fishes so that helps that they stay there but never the less it is magical. It is not only the fishes that is fantastic it is the corals in so many different shapes and all these lovely mussels hidden in the corals also them in so many colours. Enjoy the picture and the movies. Extra fun was the little fish that was very curious

We went ashore on the lovely beach we was anchored outside. There was a man there that own the land and he told us he use to have a hotel here 25 years ago. Since he only speaks French and mine is not that good I didn’t get why. But he wanted to show us where it use to be. The pool or maybe more a big pond was still there. Up behind the threes he pointed was where the small hotel use to be. Think he said around for 30 guests. Edgar went in the water instead of joining us.

Time to move on to the next island. This time not good wind so we motorsail over for 4 hours to Tahinan. Bye bye Huahine

Moorea

We motorsailed over to Moorea and went in to bay d’Opunohu and dropped the anchor. Wow what a place so beautiful.

As soon as the anchor is safe it is time for a swim or two. We had a few more before it was time to go to bed. In this heat it’s so good to take a last dip before bedtime to cool down the body temperature.

We heard about a great spot to se manta rays and sharks so we packed our snorkels and fins and headed out to the reef. The colour of the water is fantastic. Still have to pinch my arm to understand that we are experiencing this and that is not a dream. As soon as we arrived to the area the manta rays came under the dinghy . Eva was very happy to see them and we also saw a reef shark. The wind was getting stronger so we went back to our calm bay.

I was preparing our dinner and was little to fast so I managed to cut of a bit of the skin on my finger with the mandolin. Best way to get of the or In the evening we played hitster, which is a fun music game with hit songs that stretched over 100 year. Eva wass the winner.

The next day we went a shore to look at the Moorea museum that showed the the different sea life and the forest. The building is spectacular and is built to get in the breeze without getting in rain and the heat.

After that we was hungry so we went to the restaurant by the bay and had a nice lunch. Even a restaurant like this knows how to charge for the food. Still wondering if the locals have an others price? Me and Eva took a walk along the street on the island. Not much to see except for some houses and forest. It is nice just to stretch out and walk after spending time on the boat. Here they also sell som fruit and vegetables outside there home. James Cook appears on some of the island a

First some swimming after Edgar had picked us up. It is not only us swimming even the dogs like to swim. Time to hoist the anchor and I do the last part by hand. Getting the technic how to do it. On the way out we passes the cruiser and a privet yacht.

Bye bye Moorea and hello Huahine. On the way there we had Matilda sailing with us on our starboard. Got a picture of them far away

Hugs Eva

Papeete Stockholm Papeete

We saw Tahiti for a few hours and enjoyed the view. Around lunchtime we arrived to Papeete and moored at Tahina Marina. On the way in we saw many nice houses

Edgar and Chris went to clean out all the salt that had come in to the engine room and and some other fixing. I took out the sewing machine and fixed the sunscreen for the front off the deck.

It is a nice to be in harbour for once. Just walk of the boat and you have land under your feet without going in to a dinghy which can be very hard and scary sometimes when it is lots of waves. This harbour had a lots of swells due to the current so we have to make sure we are well moored. Don’t want to bump in to any other boats or the pier.

We have the mechanic man on board. Feel sorry for him in this heat to be in the engine room. He takes out the part that is broken and comes back later in the afternoon to put it back and make sure it is fixed.

In the harbour is a nice restaurant that we went for dinner almost every night and to meet other sailers from the World Arc. We had dinner with Chris and Claus the last evening before Chris goes home to England. It was very nice to meet Claus again. He is also going home to Germany and have no plans of coming back to sail with Thetis as Chris have. We will see him again soon together with his wife Anne. Totally forgot to take pictures

The boat is organised and cleaned on the inside. Ready for our guest and to start our next sailing. First we have to go home to Sweden for the funeral of my dear mother-in-law. While we are away we have help to polish all our stainless steel. It do get rusty of all this saltwater. Not a fun job so happy someone else is doing it for us.

Even though the reason to go home was very sad we did have some lovely days with our family in the middle of the sadness.

On the way back to the boat we had 23h in San Fransisco. We took a cab in to have dinner at The Waterfront restaurantm. It was very good food and we had a great time.

At the Marina our friend Eva was waiting for us. She arrived the day before us and spent the night on the boat by her self. It was a bit challenging to find the boat dark and not much light and on top off that the taxi driver left her at the opposite side off the Marina. Then trying to get onboard when the boat is rolling due to extra high swells that came in. Good that she is use to be on a boat. The next day we tried to do some shopping in the big supermarket but it was closed luckily the other small was open so we could get a few things and best off it was that they had eggs.. this egg hunt and I guess it will continue. There is a lot off hens around on the island but they are wild and almost all eggs comes from New Zealand.

After the shopping it was time to explore the island a bit and we saw that it should be a beach not that far away. Our bikes came out and me and Eva went for a bike ride to find the beach. We did find one and had a nice swim although the current was really strong so we didn’t go out far.

Our friends came and collected all the things we brought from Sweden to them. It ended up with five bags in total from Sweden. Eva took one for us. Two Starlinks and that is two bags, one is for us and some other nice things from home. Now we will have easier internet when we are on the boat. Still need to have a sim card to the phone when we go ashore. The last evening we had some drinks with the crew from Misty and Amanzi before we had our dinner.

After breakfast on the 2 of May we got the Marina guys coming over to g help us with all the mooring lines and we are off to the neighbour Island Moorea. It will be a very short trip over. Only 4 hours.

Moorea her we come. We can see the island from the harbour so it is not far but we will anchor on the other side off the island.

Hugs Eva

Fakarava

The rain stopped and we decide to drive in to land and see if there was any shop opened even if it was Easter Day. We found one shop that was opened until 12.00. Unfortunately they did not have eggs but we got some bread (pain rich) and cheese.

Even if our Easter lunch didn’t have eggs we still had three different hearings, gravad lax, Swedish knäckebread, potatoes and snaps. The hearing and knäckebröd have traveled with us all the way from Sweden.

Me ,Chris and Rebecca went diving at the north entrance. It was two fantastic dives. I saw an octopus for the first time and a leaf fish. Would have missed them if it wasn’t for our dive master. The octopus melted in on the coral and the leaf fish really looked like a leaf moving in the water. There was a lot of other different fishes as well, many reef sharks and two mantras. I have seen mantras from land but never when I have dived. It was a WOW moment. The Mantras was huge, majestic, quirios and scared me when one of them came very close up to me. I was told from Chris and Rebecca that I had a two meter reef shark swimming next to me when I was concentrating on the mantra. I am very happy I didn’t see that. Don’t know what I would have done

Me and Edgar have bikes onboard so we decided to make a biking tour together with Chris and Rebecca. They rented bikes from the lady just next to the harbour. First we had a stop at dfhgh to have lunch with Alex and Andy. This was a very nice place . Love the bottles in the tree. Must be really nice in the evening when the lights is on.I will try that when I get home.

Edgar’s knee was hurting from the bike ride so he went back to the boat and me,Chris and Rebecca continued. We wanted to go to the coconut oil fabric but first we had a stop at Hinano Pearls where we bought a few pearls and jewellery. If we knew what we would learn on the trip we would have bought more from them. Price went up and not always so very nice pearls either.

The snorkling is fantastic. Not far from the boat is a coral head that I went with my supboard to explore. Although we could also just sit on the boat and enjoy all the fishes swimming around our boat. There was this strange sucker fishes that normally sticks to the sharks body and feeds off it. We found them on our boat hopefully we get our boat cleaned.

We had some very nice days on Fakarava and would have loved to explore more atolls but it is time to hoist the anchor and sail to Tahiti. Strong current on the way out but nothing that the capten could handel. Saw some windsurfers on the outside of the atoll enjoying the good wind .

When we have the engine on we know that we have to pump out some water that comes in due to a broken seal in the water pump. But pumping enough to cool down the engine. Edgar have already booked maintenance for that in Papeete in Tahiti. Chris went in to the engine room to check our water leak. He saw water on the port side. Which we have not seen before. Why didn’t that water go in to the bilge? Some where is a stop in the draining holes. We ended up emptying the sofa again and found the stop. It is good to have long thin bendable things for these things. The water ran out of the engine room and in to the bilge. Problem solved and now everything needs to go back so we can move around in the boat.

The rest of the sailing to Papeete was okey. Can’t complain about the sunset or the sunrise. Just after lunch we are moored at Taina Marina on Tahiti.