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. 39587 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
