Heading South in Huahine Lagoon

We had some pretty strong winds in the anchorage last night but Sidewinder held fine, and today we head south with Savannah to join Alexis about half way down the west side going south to motu Valorea and pointe Teapaa. There is supposed to be nice snorkeling down there along with very pretty beaches.
[Later]
This sailmail didn't go out this morn so we will try one more time. We motored down through the lagoon with gusts of 20 kts blowing through the valleys as we passed them by. Visually, this island is beautiful, green on green, tropical and lush. The little niche we have found ourselves in is still windy but incredibly beautiful with a white sand beach and lots of snorkeling to be had once the wind dies, but the grid files show they may go on for three more days. We hope not. Right now it is blue and sunshiney. David is bummed because a charter boat just anchored too close in front of us, and we are always a bit tense when the weather is iffy. Hopefully all will calm down and again, and we will have another shitty day in paradise! 

Huahine

Hi there! We had a good sail from Tahiti to Huahine two nights ago although, once again, the seas where not going in the same direction we were so it was a bit rocky n rolly. We entered Avamoa pass and are anchored off of the little village of Fare with Savannah and quite a few other yachts, wondering today whether or not this is a good anchorage for the weather coming up. The prediction is for winds between 25-35 knots from the east and it is quite gusty here, but supposedly safe. 


We celebrated our 10th anniversary yesterday; we first explored the little town with Mike and Jodie, and then went surfing just out along the pass here, and David and Mike both caught a few great waves; the wave I should have caught was a bit scarey for me, so I bailed at the last minute, but Jodie caught it, had a great ride and then got squashed by the even bigger next wave. We ended our day with a continuation of the cribbage tournament on Savannah, which started in West Panama, and found ourselves feeling very thankful to be with good friends we will always hold dear. We are going out for another surf session today after the squalls stop, and we hope the sun comes out to warm us all up again. We look forward to exploring the south end of this island which we can reach from this lagoon, but we must wait a few days for the weather to pass. -Suzi


Hi Kris- Thought his should be added to the blog as it explains a huge part of our existence while out here doing what we are doing. It deals with the Single Side Band radio nets that we listen to most every day that give us weather info. as well as a means to stay in touch with some of our new found friends. These "nets," as they are called, are controlled by one person who guides everyone listening through the weather reports and general check-ins of vessels on the way as well as ones at anchor. The "net controller" as this one person is called, changes from day to day to lessen the burden and spread the duties around to other boats. I played net control almost everyday during our crossing from the Galapagos to the Marquesas, and it's funny how different people run the net differently. I tended to run a "loose" net, but our net was a small one with only 10 or so members. Most nets are much larger, and the controllers are more rigid in their procedures, and the more people that check in, the more this control is needed. Someone has to direct each boat to talk at a certain time or chaos would prevail over the radio waves with people "stepping on" each other all the time. The weather reports that are given are created from a number of sources and then combined to give us an accurate overview of what's happening and, more importantly, what's going to happen in our different areas. You see, these nets reach out to boats that sometimes are a 1000 miles apart, so not everyone's weather will be the same. But it is assumed and agreed upon that everyone's interpretation of the info. given is her/his responsibility, so the buck stops with the captain of each boat. These radio nets are our long distance telephones that are like the old party lines that everyone can hear at the same time and that enable us to stay in touch with each other as well as receive helpful information concerning boat repairs or recipes for that special salsa. The radio has become a large part of our daily life and has replaced the cell phone as our main means of contacting that someone special. We wish all of you back home had one so we could talk to you because if you change the frequency, it's possible to talk to someone 1000's of miles away. But that would mean a special antenna mounted on your roof that neighbors might object to as well as the static that is created during transmissions that can screw up other radio and TV signals. The day might not be far away when SSB radios become a thing of the past when new technology in the phone industry replaces them. But for now, they definitely fill a huge niche in our lives; in fact they are letting me send this message to you right now, but that's another story for another time.  -David

Newly Arrived (but Not New) Photos

I received these random photos from Suzi and David today. The top ones harken back to the Galapagos Islands; the bottom ones are from French Polynesia: the eclipse, dancers and David's favorite beer. (He loves that photo and insisted I post it.) Personally, I am most impressed with the picture of David and the coconut. What happened to his "Buddha belly"? Is the man ripped or what? No really, ladies, double click on this and blow it up. It's impressive. S&D also want everyone to know that they will be leaving for Huahine on Wednesday and will be in transit among the western isles of French Polynesia for the next week or so. They can only be reached by sailmail after Wednesday. 
-Warmest regards to all from the Blog Mistress in foggy Laguna Beach
P.S. Message from Suzi at the bottom.

The photos David sent certainly don't capture the wonderful essence of the Tahitian people, especially the women. I was hoping the dancing pictures would be good, but they are terrible. Even while I shopped in the city yesterday, I noticed that the women are so genuinely warm from the inside out, even as they drive in traffic, and they seem to flow through life. Each with a beautiful plumeria flower in her ear, eyes very bright and attentive, erect in proud posture, she smiles with inner power, and the dancing just accentuates that. I am sure this is a sweeping generality, but it truly is profound. I certainly have a great deal to gain from just being around the Tahitian women, both young and old!  -Suzi

Back in Papeete

We tried all day to get the internet connection yesterday and couldn't. It was soooo wonderful being able to skype you and actually see and hear your voice. That night we had dinner with Alexis on Savannah and then connected with Tom and Paula for good-bye hugs and kisses. We had so much fun with them.  


Went into the city on Thursday to take care of the ordering of a new Profurl staysail rollerfurler and it will be sent to Raiatea by Aug 10. We are planning to leave for Huahine on Tuesday afternoon, arriving there the next mornng. It is supposed to be a beautiful island with many unspoiled clear water reefs and picturesque bays to explore and Savannah and Alexis will be also joining us for some fun adventuring. I have tried to send this email already and lost it all, so wish me luck. I will also try to send some more pictures but right now it seems impossible. 

More Opunohu

We took Worm down the coast a way to snorkel with the sting-rays and sharks and it was incredible.  Another cruiser friend brought some fish to feed the sting-rays and it was sooo fun being up close and personal with them. WOW!!!!! The little black-tipped young sharks just swam around nearby and cruised. There were others there from tour boats, so it wasn't like we were threatened at all. It was a very cool experience. Steve and Derusha went with us and it was definitely a wet ride coming home against the wind. More fun times with friends! 

Opunohu Bay, Moorea

We are anchored in the prettiest of water with some coral gardens nearby. The wind has picked up throughout French Polynesia and will be dead on our nose if we try to get back to Tahiti before Tuesday. There are sometimes gusts of up to 25 kts right here where we are, but the holding is good. If we are stuck here in paradise, we had better make the best of it. 


We  took Worm up to the end of Opunohu Bay where Scream is anchored and visited with Steve and Derusha for a while, did a short beautiful snorkel close to Sidewinder, and then ended the day with a cruiser cook-out potluck in the park near where we are anchored. We met some new cruiser friends and enjoyed touching base with those we have met over the last few months. It is quiet and peaceful outside right now with a billion stars all around. Life is good.

'Bye to PJ & Tom

Pictures are from our first few days with Tom and Paula: our first afternoon in their little cabana and evening on Sidewinder, David with his eclipse glasses on feeling no pain that night, then our first venture out to go snorkeling with a shot of the exquisite water and coming back into the bay, and the next morning on the deck of their resort. 


Snorkeling was magical yesterday inside the pass. Paula, Tom, Steve and Derusha from sv Scream, and David and I motored Worm out to incredibly clear water with such colorful fish and coral; it was awesome. We celebrated Bastille Day at the resort and watched some young dancers do traditional Tahitian dancing accompanied by good traditional music. It was a very pleasurable evening on the bay and a great way to end our rendezvous. This morning we did a short snorkel and waved good-bye as our good friends drove off to catch the plane to Bora Bora for their next round of adventures. We feel wonderfully lucky to have had the time with them and we will miss them. Tom downloaded their pictures onto our flash drive and when we go into the little town tomorrow morning we are hoping to find an internet connection so I can send pictures of fond memories. 


After David gets a haircut, we are visiting with an old friend of mine from Hawaii, Ron Hall, who has a beautiful pearl shop near where we are moored and a house on the point; he went to high school with John Meany, Poncho, T Boy, etc. and moved to Hawaii right after high school, with all those guys. It has been fun visiting with him this week, and Paula did benefit by finding the perfect Tiki pearl in his shop. 


We hope to move to the next bay over [Opunohu Bay] tomorrow afternoon; the water is really clear over there!