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. 43020 Visits.
1 Tom as net controller on the daily Kids' net on the SSB radio
2 Monica shares a recipe on the radio
3 I liked this longitude!
4 The boys have a limited amount of time each day on the computer, they play Legoland!
5 Meanwhile Monica and Rebecca take an afternoon nap
6 Jonty's turn for the drying up
7 Our instruments show a good turn of speed; it did not last!
8 The cockpit in sea-going mode
9 Using the chute on a light winds day
10 with wind we can get good speed from this sail
11 Looking aloft
12 7 knots, rare for us!
13 Looking over the stern at the windvane and the towed generator
14 I love this view
15 rigged for ownwind sailing
16 Another light day
17 School!
18 Rebecca reads about the seaside
19 Jonty and Tom are doing Maths
20 Our countdown calendar, showing a mere 750 miles to go!
21 Good sailing but are in over a knot of counter current (boat speed on left, ground speed on right)
22 School also happens in the cockpit under the sunshade
23 Mid-Pacific lessons
24 1 reef in the main to try and stop the main slamming
25 Homemade bread is necessary after about a week at sea
26 Enjoying the iPod!
27 Listening intently
28 I show a flying fish to the kids
29 Stern views 1
30 Stern views 2
31 Stern views 3
32 Stern views 4
33 A lovely day draws to a close
34 and for once we leave the chute up over night
35 The chute
36 The chute 1
37 Tongiht I'm net controller for a fleet of about 20 boats. I take and rebroadcast names, positions and weather
38 Bed time for Rebecca
39 Sunsets 1
40 Sunsets 2
41 Sunsets 3
42 Sunsets 4
43 A distant squall, we did not have many squalls thankfully
44 Sunsets 5
45 Sunsets 6
46 Sunsets 7
47 Sunsets 8
48 Doing my evening rounds at sunset
49 I'm joined by Tom on a quiet day
50 And Rebecca looks on!
51 Reading quietly before bed
52 Finally we sight land after 3000 miles
53 Peaceful early morning sailing towards Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas
54 I enjoy the prospect of land
55 Mixed feelings after such a long trip
56 We hoist the French flag
57 And the chart confirms we're arriving in France!
58 Nearing Fatu Hiva
59 We hoist our smart, large harbour ensign!
60 Looking up the rig
61 Tom directs us towards the anhored boats
62 The thought of going ashore is exciting after more than 3 weeks on the boat
63 Arriving in Fatu Hiva, Marquesas
64 We're met by out friends on Myrdinn, and our longest passge draws to a close
