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Gerard Coulson | Home > Browse:Palmerston AtollRaiatea, Tahaa and Bora BoraTahiti and MooreaThe TuamotusThe MarquesasPacific OceanGalapagos 2Galapagos 1Inland EcuadorCrossing the Line - Panama to EcuadorOur Panama Canal TransitRio ChagresPanamaSan Blas 2San Blas 1Colombia, CartagenaBonaire divingThe ABCsOffshore IslandsOrinoco flowInland Venezuela - we go on tour!Venezuela - en routeTrinidad 2Trinidad 1GrenadaThe Tobago CaysSt Vincent & the GrenadinesDominica and St LuciaIsles de SaintesGuadeloupe againSt Kitts and NevisAntiguaIsles de Saintes and GuadeloupeDominica 2Dominica - CarnivalDominicaMartiniqueSt Lucia, West IndiesThe Atlantic CrossingSao AntaoSao Vincente, Cape Verde IslandsSan Sebastian, La GomeraTenerife againThe Atlantic - Take 1TenerifeGib to TenerifeIn GibraltarA weekend in MoroccoSpain and Portugal then to GibraltarEngland to SpainVideo Clips/Family photos/Current Position
Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is vast, the world’s largest ocean by a huge margin.  To say that we’ve crossed it is overstating the case, but we’ve completed the longest leg across this ocean, from the Galapagos Islands to the Isles Marquises (the Marquesas) in French Polynesia. We sailed just over 3000 nautical miles in 23 days and experienced a variety of conditions at sea, from flat calms to winds requiring a couple of reefs.  On the whole the winds were light and the seas lumpy, which left us often with sails that filled first from one side and then the other with a bang; this is damaging to sails, rig and nerves! The pictures here are snapshots from our life at sea, which on a 35 foot boat is not always thrilling but these pictures reflect the timeless life that is passage-making. Date(s): May and June 2007. Album by Gerard Coulson. Photos by Gerard Coulson. 1 - 64 of 64 Total. 13243 Visits.
Tom as net controller on the daily Kids' net on the SSB radio Monica shares a recipe on the radio I liked this longitude! The boys have a limited amount of time each day on the computer, they play Legoland! Meanwhile Monica and Rebecca take an afternoon nap Jonty's turn for the drying up Our instruments show a good turn of speed; it did not last! The cockpit in sea-going mode Using the chute on a light winds day with wind we can get good speed from this sail Looking aloft 7 knots, rare for us! Looking over the stern at the windvane and the towed generator I love this view rigged for ownwind sailing Another light day School! Rebecca reads about the seaside Jonty and Tom are doing Maths Our countdown calendar, showing a mere 750 miles to go! Good sailing but are in over a knot of counter current (boat speed on left, ground speed on right) School also happens in the cockpit under the sunshade Mid-Pacific lessons 1 reef in the main to try and stop the main slamming Homemade bread is necessary after about a week at sea Enjoying the iPod! Listening intently I show a flying fish to the kids Stern views 1 Stern views 2 Stern views 3 Stern views 4 A lovely day draws to a close and for once we leave the chute up over night The chute The chute 1 Tongiht I'm net controller for a fleet of about 20 boats. I take and rebroadcast names, positions and weather Bed time for Rebecca Sunsets 1 Sunsets 2 Sunsets 3 Sunsets 4 A distant squall, we did not have many squalls thankfully Sunsets 5 Sunsets 6 Sunsets 7 Sunsets 8 Doing my evening rounds at sunset I'm joined by Tom on a quiet day And Rebecca looks on! Reading quietly before bed Finally we sight land after 3000 miles Peaceful early morning sailing towards Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas I enjoy the prospect of land Mixed feelings after such a long trip We hoist the French flag And the chart confirms we're arriving in France! Nearing Fatu Hiva We hoist our smart, large harbour ensign! Looking up the rig Tom directs us towards the anhored boats The thought of going ashore is exciting after more than 3 weeks on the boat Arriving in Fatu Hiva, Marquesas We're met by out friends on Myrdinn, and our longest passge draws to a close