Day 4: Sailing from French Polynesia to Tonga
A loud creak developed in our starboard head. Our biggest complaint about this boat is how the furniture is put together. As the boat flexes, the interior… (read more)…
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Day 3: Sailing from French Polynesia to Tonga
We fired up the generator around 2pm. Despite having relatively clear skies, our solar panels are shaded by the sails most of the day, so we’ve struggled to get charged. Before crossing the Pacific… (read more)…
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Day 2: Sailing from French Polynesia to Tonga
Ray woke me just before midnight to help him reef the main as the wind and waves began to pick up. I strapped myself into my PFD, grabbed a headlamp, and met him at the helm. We don’t always wake each other to reef, but when the sea state is rough… (read more)…
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Day 1: Sailing from French Polynesia to Tonga
We were cutting it close—checking out of the country the day our visas expired. I thought the three weeks I had scheduled between our insurance’s cyclone season restriction end date and our visa expiration would be plenty; who would’ve thought it would take 25 days for a weather window to come along…
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5 Tips for Sailors Heading to French Polynesia
We’ve spent the past year sailing in French Polynesia. These islands have been our most challenging cruising grounds yet, and we have learned a lot along the way. Here are 5 things to think about if you’re planning to head this way… (read more)…
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24hrs on Anchor as Liveaboard Sailors
Their captain is awake, shining a headlamp on our boat, their bow, and then back into their cockpit. We’re close enough to shout, so Ray asks if everything is okay. Have they… (read more)…
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6 Days at Sea: Light Winds & Sail Troubles
We’re back on the move! Sorry for the lack of posts lately. To be honest, crew morale has plummeted. Boat life has never… (read more)…
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Ditch Bag for Emergencies at Sea
A ditch bag (also called an emergency grab bag) is a waterproof, pre-packed bag containing essential signal and survival gear that sailors take with them if they need to abandon ship… (read more)…
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Farewell, Norman Family!
A sweet overnight sail from Tahuata to Nuku Hiva, where our family boards their flight back to the USA… (read more)…
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