boat life – Page 4 – Sailing with Saphir

Marie visiting us in Fiji

28Aug to 17Sep

Marie arriverad and we introduced here to Fiji dance and she gladly joined. The next day we leave for go up to Vanua Levu and Suvasuva. It is a bit up so we will do it in two stop. First some rest and the Marie is full energy and start cleaning the windows which was really in need. We find a perfect place and anchor outside Nananu-i-Cake Island.Just in time befor the sun goes down. Lovely to finally be able to jump in the water from the boat. The moon is shining very bright this night.

Next stop is in the north tip of Vitu Levu next to Nananu-i -Cake island. We have a lovely sunset and a fantastic sunrise

We take the dinghy to see if we can find a good snorkelling place. We did see a lot of nice corals. Unfortunately not so many fishes though.

Next stay we have a sunny day and some wind so we can sail. I forgot to but enough sunscreen so my face got a bit red…

New bay and another sunset view. The moon is still very bright. We leave early in the morning to get true the passage in right time. Don’t want the current against us, it is enough with rough to go throw the passage.

Entering Suvasuva and Copra shed marina. We have to use our anchor and unfortunately it didn’t stick properly so we needed to get some help from the harbour master. He and Edgar went out to through it in and it worked. Edgar found the best place to race shave him self. The last photo shows where we are and all the blue dots are places we have visited. As you see some places have we been a few times

Me and Marie explore the town and find some nice things and gifts. We also find the market that was hidden behind some ground working place.

We also found Ocean Ventura Fiji dive center and booked us for a dive the next morning with Sara and Matthew. First we had to take a cab for 40 min to get to them on the other side of the island and then it was 30 min boat ride to the dive place. The first was called the the Zoo and the second the white tip . This was Marie’s first dive after she took her license just before she came to us. Both of the dives was great. Lovely corals and fishes. Some scared ones and some curious and puffer fish.

Moore will come. Time to leave Fiji and no internet for a week to ten days.

Hugs Eva

Fiji week with Elin

In beginning of Aug my cousins daughter Elin came to visit us for a week before she is flying back to Sweden after spent 6 months in Australia. Luckily she didn’t have jet leg so she was ready to go and explore part of Fiji. The wind forced us to stay in the harbour for a few days so we went to visit Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple a wooden colourful Hindu temple in Nadi. After that we decided to go to Sleeping Giant zip line, Orchid falls & Jungle Safari. The way there was very interesting. First it was a nice road but after a while it started to be very bumpy and narrow and on top of it a bridge whiteout any fence. Luckily not that high bridge.

Me and Elin had a great time riding the zipline. Edgar didn’t dare or maybe not that keen on it so he stayed on the ground and watch us. There was some lovely orchid and other flowers. We was a bit tiered afterwards so we didn’t go up to the waterfalls. It was a quiet a bit to walk uphills. Might do that if I will visit the place again.

On the way back I got a better picture on the bridge without any fence. Glad we didn’t meet anyone on it. On the other side the farmer had started to burn on the field. Was a bit scary to drive through that but everything went well.

Back in the marina we had high tie and it was easy to walk out on the pier totally opposite from the morning when it was low tie. A tour in to Lautoka ended up with Edgar cutting of his long hair. I didn’t expect it to be that short but it will grow out in a few days/weeks. Now when he was so shorthair why not dress as a Fijian as well. The jumper to Nellie is finally finished only need to attach all yarn ends… and they are a few.

We went to First Landing for dinner and this time they had the show down by the water. This was by far the best light show we have seen there. The effect being in the water help a lot.

The weather was better and we motor sailed over to Muskat Cove. Nice to be able to jump in the water from the boat again. It was women’s world championships football and the Swedish ladies was playing. With help from my cousin we manage to see the game via messenger.

Outside Musket cove on a reef there is this place called Seventh Heaven that we went out to check out. It is a floating restaurant/bar and bathing platform where you can stay during daytime. We had a great day snorkelling, swimming and Elin jump from the tower. I was told that during the last year they have started to feed the fishes and also put in some metallic things that looks like beds to get the corals to grow. We had a great day there and I know that Elin was extra happy since she got to speak to an actress that she really likes. Don’t ask me who she was… not anyone I have ever seen. But happy that Elin was happy.

A week goes quickly and it is time for us to say bye bye to Elin. So glad that you came and stayed with us .

Hugs Eva

Fiji days with Ella and family

We had almost 25 hours to clean the boat, do the laundry, going to physiotherapist (me) and have a dinner just the two of us before Ella, Filip and Nellie arrived on Friday 14July.

The plan is to stay in the Marina get batteries hopefully on Monday or Tuesday. Lucky me I got a nespresso machine. From now on nice coffe onboard Saphir. Not the best weather over the weekend rain and cloudy. With right cloths and umbrellas we are of to get some ice cream.

The rain stops and we decided to go to First Landing for dinner or me and Edgar take the bikes and Ella and Filip walks. Nellie has the best place in our wagon and granddad pulling her. Hopefully she will fall a sleep on the way back. Hmmmm

Ella wanted us to come with here when she was going to have some massage at First Landing the next day. Not much of a beach as it was low tie but Nellie had fun and I enjoyed a coffee.

We rented a car since the batteries will take little longer time to get. Bio security will fume them? Don’t understand why and then of course some paper work… Driving on the left side is not for me so Edgar has to be our designated driver. Our first stop at Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Tempel. I had brought my sarong and one to Ella so we was good but the guys had also to cover their knees.

Made a stop in Nadi to find a support belt for my hip. Didn’t find the correct one but one that will do for know. Will continue look or get someone to bring it with them from Sweden. Me and Ella meet this lovely lady that introduced Ella to Savusavu. Ella was not so keen on it either.

Next to the roads there is railways and also in to the land. These is not railways for commuting it is for the suger plants. Now is the season to harvest so we see a lot of them.

In the Marina they have started to build some nice shades and put up hanging chairs(hammock?). Very nice to sit in and watch the boats coming in and out of the harbour.

I have a training partner. She is cheating a bit though and are done long before me. Some how I promised Nellie in a weak moment to make her a rainbow jumper. These are the colors. Pict on the jumper will come. Let see if I manage to make it before they leave. So training, knitting is not all we do when we hang around in the boat I also do some baking. Since we end up staying here until Thursday and we took out the pool for Nellie so she could have some fun. An 80feet catamaran came up next to us and suddenly we feel very tiny…

Thursday the batteries arraives after Edgar and Karran (our taxi driver) went to the warehouse to make sure we got them. At 5.00 pm the batteries are here and now we wait for the custom to come so we can lift them onboard. We bought them as yacht in transit to avoid vat. 5.30pm the custom guy arrived and saw them taken onboard our boat. Yippie we can leave the Marina after 10 days for us and a week for Ella& fam. Friday morning we are off to Muskat Cove. We get some help with the lines from the marina since we are moored with two buoys in the front that crosses over the other boats. Getting out of the marina Nellie enjoys the sailing or motoring for be exact. After 3 hours we have anchored outside Musket cove.

We will go in and see if they have some space for us tomorrow. For now we will enjoy not being in a harbour and the benefits of jumping in to the water whenever you feel for it. It is though so much easier to be in the harbour with the family. Then everyone can leave the boat when they want and not need the dinghy. First of all we need to cool down and enjoy the water and freedom to jump of the boat in to the water when ever we feel like it. This is the one off the best things with anchoring in a bay.

The morning after we went in with the dinghy to have a look and there was a lot of free space so don’t know why he said we couldn’t come in yesterday. Never mind we went straight out again and took Saphir in to the harbour since it was high tie.

Nellie loved the pool and tried to get friends or getting help with the water. Nellie did meet a new friend and her name was also Nellie. They had great fun together at the pool and also at the restaurant.

We went to the song and dance show at the restaurant this time also and Nellie loved it and also went up dancing

Me and Ella went snorkelling on the reef just outside the harbour. It was okay but the sight was not that clear. I have seen much better places. Fun for Ella to snorkel and the first time for me in six weeks. Feelt good that I can do that again. Saw a lot of blue starfishes and a cool heart shaped pink coral and a few fishes as well

A week goes fast and it is time to leave Muskat Cove for this time and head to Vuda Marina again. It is not that far but someone got tiered. I am working hard on the jumper to Nellie, still have some color strips to ad before it is done…… can be hard to be done before they leave. In the marina we end up next to the catamarans again and we do feel very small although our mast is almost the same hight.

Went in to Nadi again to have a look around the town. Visit the fruit and vegetables market that was very nice. We also went to visit the handicraft market and that was a bit of disappointment. Felt that many of the things was not made in Fiji.

Back in the boat and our last evening Nellie wanted to make ponytail on grandma with help of grandpa that didn’t work that well… so grandpa let her do Pippi Longstocking ponytails on him instead….with some help from grandma.

Need to show the sunset. Been a few days without it… Nellie decide that she wanted sleep with me and grandpa since it was her last night with us until we come home . A bit tight in the bed so I ended up turning me around. Seems my feet didn’t smell to bad. The next morning they are off and will see them in end of October. Safe flight back home to Sweden.

Big hugs Eva

Fiji days with Erika and her family

Five days to recover more in my back/leg, before Erika with family arrives. We also need to rearrange the boat so they can sleep in the beds. Luckily the cleaning we got help with. Thanks to a neighbour boat I got in contact with a new physiotherapist that help me much better. Got new exercises/stretches and she also gave me massage and this electrical muscle stimulator that felt really good. Hopefully this will help but it will take a while and need to do my stretches 3times a day. Puh!!!

Erika, Oskar, Max and Mia have arrived ! They are a bit tiered . It was a long journey 36 hours with not much sleep. We are so happy to have them here.

After a day resting and grocery shopping we head out off the Marin to go to some off the island near Musket cove. As often the wind is not right so we use the iron genua instead. Nice to have help with all lines and fenders.

We passes some reefs and need to be looking out for corals heads since not all are marked on the sea chart. There are some very nice resorts that we pass and we anchor outside one. So nice to have a swim in the sea. I have been swimming in the sea since we was in Tonga and that is three weeks ago. With the sup board in the water it is easier to get M&M in the water. They think it is a bit to high to jump from the platform in the back off the boat.

We had anchored outside an adults resort ops!! so we couldn’t go in to the beach with the kids and didn’t find any other nice place to go ashore. Edgar took an extra drive around with the kids in the dinghy before we left to a new place.

We ended up on Cast away island. A bit rolly here also but much better then the last place. I thought when we where inside the reef it should not be rolly , of course not totally calm but less then we had. Now everyone is ready to go ashore so we took the dinghy in to Cast away resort. It was on its way to get low tie so we was lucky to get in to land. Now we had to wait for the high tie to come , which takes 3-4 hours. Good that they had a restaurant so we could get some lunch and a swimming pool that we could use. M&M enjoy swimming and playing in the pool and I enjoyed sitting down and relaxing and not needing to walk.

The next day we went to Musket cove to spend some time with the World Arc fleet before they continue in a few days to Vanatue, Australia and onwards. Since we are not joining we thought it would be nice to be their start boat and wave them off. Musket cove turned out to be a perfect place to stay with kids with the beach and a pool to swim in when the tie is low.

It was very nice to spend time with the fleet. We enjoy every minute. We will miss them all a lot. When we started our sailing a year ago I thought/ hoped that we would meet some nice sailors. Never in my mind I thought we was going to be part of such a super great group and find truly new friends.

The starting day for WARC is here. We welcome Tim onboard. Erika will be in charge off the starting flags using our boathook as help. It was a bit scary start when Salt and Sara of Sweden past us and headed straight towards the reefs. You can see on the picture where we had anchored next to the reef. They turned in time and we wave to our friends. Some off them came very close up to us before the went away. We wish them all a great sailing to Vanuatu and onwards.

The bar was located just next to our boat where we could have some food as well. Good for me I didn’t have to walk very far. In daytime when it was high tie we cold have a swim next to the bar but at low tie you could walk all the way in to the beach without getting wet.

Slowly getting better in my hip and leg due to my stretches 3 times a day. The massage I took also help a lot I straighten out so to say. I continue to bike everywhere since walking to far hearts and standing still is not working more than a minute or two. Will come back to this lovely place and get more massage fore sure.

We spend another day here by the pool and in the evening there was a dance performance that we all enjoy. Two fascinated kids sitting like a light as we say in Sweden. Meaning they are sitting totally still and not moving around. Mia wanted to join the dancing so Erika and her went up.

The next morning we headed out and went a bit north and ended up at the island Waya outside the village Nalauwaki. After the anchor was drop Edgar and Mia went in to meet the chef and give cava. We was all invited to the savusavu ceremony later in the afternoon followed with song and dance by the locals. To be allowed to snorkel, swim in the water,walk on the beach etc you have to meet the chef of the village and bring cava and drink it with him. This is not the cava with bubbles this is made out of cava roots and mixed with water. Not very nice taste according to me.

We went in to the village for the savusavu and dance. The tradition is to drink up everything in the bowl so we hade to take a few drinks. It was a very nice song and dance performance. Mia and Edgar join the dance but Max didn’t want to dance.

Nice sunrise and then we are off to Vuda Marina. A bumpy motor going so the kids ended up sleeping.

The next day was a fun day in the water park. Even me went on the slide once with Mia. It was really fun.

Vuda Marina has a built part of the playground like a boat and the kids loved it. Sometimes it is nice to watch a move and just relax in the sofa.

Two weeks goes fast when you have fun. Time for the family to go home. Will miss them a lot. Love you Max and Mia

Hugs Eva

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

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

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

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.

Hard to catch all the stars in the sky. They are there I promise.

Soon in Tahiti

Hugs Eva

Leaving Marquesaöarna and sailing to Tuamotuöarna

After a bit hassle with the Esta application we finally got it to work and could get back to the boat and hoist the anchor at 11 a clock. Some of our Arc boats went out at the same time but just to go to an other bay on the island. We was the only one sailing to Tuamotos.

We had a good sailing. Doing 7 knots with the spinnaker up. I am so glad that we have Chris onboard. Specially now when I still have so much pain in my tailbone. It is hard to find a way to sit with no pressure on it, stand up can also be painful and even turning in bed is. Hope it will be better in a few days.

Just befor dinner time Chris says look there are dolphins here. This time they stayed around the boat for 30 minutes. We do think it was around 50 of them. It was so great to have them around the boat and I did get a good video when one of the jumped. What a great ending of our first sailing day. Next thing will be to catch a fish. The fishing stick and New is fixed after some shopping in Nuku Hiva .

We took three hours shift from 19.00 to 07.00. That means that one have to do 2 shifts one night. I took the first one and hope that we will be there before the forth night. It was a lovely night filled with lots of stars and the moon shining bright. So this time I was awake during sun set and sunrise. I do enjoy them very much

I had Edgar laying up in the cockpit on the first shift since he was not feeling good. First he tought he was getting seasick and then his stomach started to ache. Don’t know if he had gotten some bad food or what. Once again happy that it is not only me and Edgar on the boat.

Day two and we still have the spinnaker up and doing 7 kn. Since it is quit calm I decided to fill the freezer with some cinnamon buns and bread. Maybe not the best idea to bake in this heat but it is worth it afterwards.

The wind changed so Edgar and Chris went up and change the sail and took out the spinnaker boom on the starboard side. According to the weather institute we was not going to have much wind

My night was was between 01.00-04.00. It was a good sailing but we was going a bit to much north. In the morning the guys took of the bom and we could take the right course straight to Raroia. Now we only have 30 hours to be there in time so we could get in to the reef due to sight and current. So far so good. Keeping a speed between 6.5-7,2. The fishing gear is in the water and after an hour we see a lot of birds flying around and some fish jumping and it took 15 min and we hear bang. Our fishing line went of. Good that we bought two new tassels. Chris made a new ending so let’s see if we can catch a fish….

The ocean is big and we don’t see any ships often but suddenly there is one huge container ship coming in to our plotter and it is quite close but has a speed almost triple ours so we could follow our run line and not need to change course.

The weather forecast was right this time the wind dropped around 15.00 so we had to put on the engine to be able to keep our timetable. Now the watch is easier so the guys plays backgammon on the iPad.

The fishing went not well. We did get one on the hook but the line went of. No it is time to get a new roll and line that is much stronger so we can get some fish.

We arrive just after lunch early to Raroia and greets bye dolphins on the way in. It was a bit tricky but the captain did a great job. We anchored just outside the village and it was only us here so far.