The over-riding and popular message for everyone in Nuku Hiva was that 'the pace of things now slows down'!  After a pretty frenetic transit of the Panama Canal, some difficult weather en route to the Galapagos and the concentrated nature of the excursions, everyone was ready for a good quick passage with good sailing to the Marquesas Islands some 3000+ miles to the West. After getting through the area of calms surrounding the Galapagos Islands yachts found themselves on the 'conveyor belt' of the South East Trades. When I met many of the yachts arriving in Nuku Hiva after their passages just about everyone recorded quicker passages than their Atlantic crossings with a good number completing the passage in 16 to 20 days.

Certainly many yachts experienced up to a week or more of consistent 15 to 20 kts winds when very little sail trimming was necessary and the miles just reeled off at 160 to 180 per day (the best was 220 miles in one day – something of a record!).  With three weeks to enjoy the Marquesas and Tuamotus before a week in Papeete (Tahiti), a week in Moorea and a further 2 weeks to explore the Society Islands to Bora Bora the rally has time to enjoy some enviable times ahead However, there are some yachts with considerable maintenance  breakages to deal with.

Ian and Lesley on 'Tapestry' with their gearbox problems which now requires a additional clutch part have not allowed their problems to dampen their spirits and 'Zipadedoda' have stoically set about the business of replacing their boom after their serious gybe in the latter stages of their passage. Having spoken to David and Jenny about the gybe, they recalled to me how lucky they had been not to have suffered greater damage or personal injury. A rigger from Papeete was arriving aboard 'Zippy' to assess the impact of any further damage just as I departed Nuku Hiva and hopefully they will be able to 'limp' to Tahiti where specialist repairs will be at hand. Similarly 'Cayuco' has a handful of problems but Tony Walter with his engineering skills appears to have matters well under control and as I departed, various shroud and chainplate fabrications were being manufactured.

The accompanying photographs capture some of the high spots of the stopover: the French Polynesian 'welcomes' the music and dancing, pig roast feasts, walks through mountains to the waterfalls of Hakatea and the overland excursions to Hati Heu  to the North of Nuku Hiva to visit ancient 'tiki' sites and an exquisite lunch at 'Chez Yvonne' are memorable. Now a complete contrast from mountains tumbling into the sea awaits the rally  – the flat atolls of the Tuamotus beckon with their teeming fish life and crystal waters. Careful pilotage amongst shallow coral reefs will now be the name of the game