15 Jan 2008
After refuelling we tried to get some fresh provisions but there weren't any! So both yachts departed on 15th January 2008. Our plan was to visit a few atolls and then head for either Pohnpei or Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia depending on the winds. This was because at first we were in the southern hemisphere were it was summer and the winds were from the SW then we would reach the Equator and be in the doldrums after that we would be in the northern hemisphere (winter) where the winds would be N then NE (what we wanted). But...
Yes you have guessed it! The winds were all over the place and the seas were confused (what's new?) so we had a very interesting 11 day sail (motor sail and just plain motoring) without stopping at Nukuroa Atoll nor Lamotrek Atoll as the seas were too rough and the entrances too scary. We experienced squall after squall both rain and wind especially between 2 degrees S the Equator and 2 degrees N. On the other hand we had sunny days and brilliant sailing. Hamamas excelled herself! Tom and I used our power winches to help us with the Headsail and Staysail and we have worked out a good system for the raising and reefing the Main.
I was so excited as we neared the Equator after watching the countdown of our GPS position from about 2 S (a watch pot never boils!). We estimated we would cross about 11pm on 20th Jan. I asked Tom to wake me as it was my off watch time. So... just before 11.30pm he tried and tried to wake me but to no avail. So after all my excitement I was unable to celebrate with King Neptune. We had talked about a little drink but in the end we had a cup of tea when I came on watch. Hope King Neptune didn't mind!
We lost contact with sy Keturah after Choisuel as they had headsail stitching problems and were hoping to get to Tauu Atoll to make repairs.
The highlight of the trip was not only the brilliant sailing days and nights but the visits by the dolphins. Whenever we were sailing at around 6-7 knots the dolphins would visit. One day we had pods and pods of them racing in from everywhere. We estimated about a hundred (yes 100- photos to prove it!) They gave fantastic performances. While I clapped and called them in Tom photographed. They stayed so long I had a horse throat and Tom tired of photographing them. That was a really magic experience!
(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them)
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