With Deb on a plane to Italy very soon (niece’s wedding as well as a catch up with Alice and Wil) we were looking very carefully at the potential weather windows to get back to Tahiti. It has been a series of fairly strong marasmus with little break in between, so it was looking a bit touch and go for a while. Taha’a to Tahiti is pretty much SE so we need something at least north of ENE to get back and a moderate sea state as it can get very confused and choppy between the islands.
Happily a short 24hr break in the southeasterlies came up and we had a beautiful sail back, close hauled all the way, but with 10kn NE that was very doable. Kelani and about 10 other boats all left at the same time having been holed up waiting for the window too.
Once back in Tahiti, it was back on a borrowed mooring at the airport anchorage while I tackled more boat projects and Deb went away for a couple of weeks. Not much to report on my part really. It is a good place to get things done with all the supplies and trades in reach, and quite a social scene amongst the cruisers there.
The main highlight was to get our new dinghy which we had been waiting for to be delivered from France. The old dink was a good item in its day, but it was old, needed regular repairs and importantly was a bit too small. Along with the 8hp engine it sort of worked with just Deb and I (without too much extra like shopping) but we rely heavily on the dinghy every day and need to be able to get about with some speed when snorkeling, shopping etc. So now we have a brand spanking new 3D Tender and 15hp Suzuki which is perfect. More space, will plane with 4 and shopping and yet is not too heavy for the davits etc. Very happy campers!
Deb is back on the weekend and then Max and Mette arrive for 2 or 3 weeks which will be great. I have known Max since our first lecture at uni some 45 years ago. They also joined us twice, chartering boats in Greece and the Caribbean when we were on our circumnavigation. Very much looking forward to sharing some of this wonderful place with them again.