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Back to City Life in Papeete after Sailing to Tahiti Island from Fakarava Atoll

Posted on by by Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Outdoor Event, Tahiti Island, French Polynesia

(July 11 to August 2, 2023) As we were getting out of the south pass of Fakarava Atoll, we faced strong winds of 20-30 knots and waves reaching 6-12 feet, making it an uncomfortable sailing for me. We set up the downwind pole and sailed at an average 6.5 knots to Point Venus, north of Tahiti Island. It took us 39 hours to cover the total distance of 252 nautical miles. Our plan was to arrive at sunrise, but we ended up reaching our destination at midnight. The sky was clear with sparkling stars,

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Fakarava Atoll for My Relaxation in Tuamotu, French Polynesia

Posted on by by Posted in Kiteboarding, Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Sharks along the shore by Town Anchorage, Fakarava Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

(June 24 to July 10, 2023) Fakarava Atoll! What a funny name! It sounds like the “F-Word” in a cute way to me.

Atoll is a coral island, with a ring of coral surrounding and a blue sapphire lake in the center. Boats inside the Atoll are protected by Motu (“the Tahitian word for a small islet on the coral reef.”), but there’s no protection against Cyclones, though.

Atolls are just above sea level, so they are not very visible from a distance.

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Waterfall Hiking in Nuku Hiva Island in Marquesas

Posted on by by Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

View from Hiking Trail to Waterfall from Daniel’s Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia

(May 27 to June 19, 2023) French Polynesia (islands and water) is about the size of Europe. There are five major groups of Islands in French Polynesia: the Tuamotu, Society (including Tahiti and Bora Bora Islands), Austral, Gambier Archipelagos, and the Marquesas to which Nuku Hiva Island belongs.

As we checked in the Port Authority in Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, I asked a local, how many boats cross the Pacific departing from the Americas (North, Central, and South). He estimates about 450 to 500 boats yearly.

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Sailing Four Weeks from Ensenada Mexico to Marquesas Island, French Polynesia

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Crossing the Equator and Sharing Wine with King Neptune. We are now two Shellbacks!

(Sunday, April 30 to Saturday, May 27, 2023) At the beginning, we were excited about crossing the Pacific and exploring the beautiful islands of the South Pacific. It had been our plan to do it in 2015 and 2020. We didn’t do it in 2015 due to El Nino and in 2020 due to the COVID Lockdown.

Before this trip, I had sailed 20,000 NMS (nautical miles) and John had sailed 25,000 NMS. We had both previously crossed the Atlantic Ocean round trip,

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Setting Sails for French Polynesia: Our 3,000-Nautical-Mile Journey from Ensenada

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Long waiting! We are about to set sail to the South Pacific, tentatively on Sunday, April 30, 2023. The distance is about 3,000 nautical miles from Ensenada, Mexico to Nuku Hiva Island in French Polynesia. This will be the longest nonstop sailing distance for us.

What will happen during this trip? I am excited and worried at the same time. The grand sea, sound of the ocean, countless stars, beautiful sunrise/sunset, free from the internet, clean mind, and just being ourselves! We have able-minds and plan to tackle obstacles whenever they occur. The rest will depend on Mother Nature.

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Preparation for Sailing with Cats to French Polynesia

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings, USA

Guard Cat “Happy” from Panama

Guard Cat “Swat” from Puerto Rico

Spring weather is an ideal time to sail from the US/Mexico Pacific Coast to the South Pacific. After a three-year delay due to the COVID pandemic, we are finally preparing to set sail for the South Pacific. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.

We have two cats on board, Swat and Happy. John decided to keep Swat, who was born in 2013 in Puerto Rico, and Happy, who was born in 2020 in Panama. He loves cats more than anything. As for me, I think sailing around the world with pets is a bit nonsensical,

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Night Sailing Crossing the Sea of Cortez

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Night sailing in the Sea of Cortez, making bright blue bioluminescence on the side of the boat, gliding on the water, from Isla San Marcos to Bahia San Carlos, Mexico

On January 18, 2022, the winds were forecasted right for sailing, we changed our original plan and sailed from Baja California to San Carlos, the Mainland Mexico side. The reason is to see our friends from Florida. We met them five years ago in Bermuda so we don’t want to miss the opportunity. Grab the opportunity of meeting friends whenever we can as the future is unknown.

The sea water temperature has been around 68f (=20c) degree.

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Sailing from Loreto to Conception Bay

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Bahia Conception, the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

(December 23, 2021 to January 8, 2022) From Christmas day 2021 to January 7th of 2022, we had neither cellular connection nor Wi-Fi. Without it, I went to bed earlier and earlier. For my New Year’s resolution, I set my bed time from 9:30pm to 5am. It is a good balance for me. I am an early riser. I read somewhere, if you are a worm, it is better get up late.

We are about in the middle of the Sea of Cortez (Baja California), at Bahia Conception. There are many small islands and protected anchorages.

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Loreto Bay National Park, Protected Natural Park

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Salt Mining Abandoned, Isla Carmen, Loreto, the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

(December 10 to 23, 2021) We are about 6 miles from the town of Loreto. Due to strong winds from the North (called “Northers”) we have been stuck here for a week behind Coronados Island, a part of the Loreto Bay National Park. This National Park is the largest marine protected area in the Sea of Cortez. Each island in the park is easily accessible by tour boats or small rental boat (Panga). There are flights from Loreto to the USA.

Checking the weather again this morning,

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Luxurious Stay in Marina Puerto Escondido

Posted on by by Posted in Mexico, Pacific Islands, Sailings

Marina Puerto Escondido, Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

(December 3 to 10, 2021) Oftentimes, we are used not to connect to the world. Coming to the marina, we took care of things online (excellent Wi-Fi speed in the Marina), this time, mainly renewing the Iridium Go Satellite Service to get the weather forecast.

This “Hidden Port Marina” (Puerto Escondido in Spanish) is a nicely built, relatively new marina. The surrounding water protection is naturally perfect. This marina aims to be the best marina in Mexico.

The weather has been awesome. As we have no firm sailing plan for next summer,

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