Today we picked up anchor from Nuku Hiva and sailed south to the island of Ua Pou. The day was perfect for it; steady winds and sunshine. Friends bought fresh tuna before leaving Nuku Hiva so sushi is on the menu for dinner. Perfect conditions for a nap in the cockpit
Hakahau Bay, Ua Pou, Marquesas
Everyone said that if you stay too long in Taiohae your boat hull will be covered in slime and you chain covered in barnacles. We stayed in Taiohae May 7-June 17 and upon raising anchor to head to Ua Pou our chain came up looking like a reef! You couldn’t see the chain for all …
Departing Crew
WAY back, in 2020, as we geared up for sailing to French Polynesia, Rachel joined as crew. Then covid-19 created a pandemic and all plans halted. Then, once again, up for almost any adventure, Rachel joined us again and sailed with us from Cabo San Lucas, MX to Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia. Adventurous, …
Marquesan Tattoos
The word tattoo comes from Polynesia. In Marquesan it is tatu. This amazing part of Marquesan culture was nearly lost after it was banned by Catholic missionaries and outlawed by the state. We were lucky enough to attend a festival in Taiohae dedicated to passing along the beautiful traditions of tattooing, sculpture, painting, and dance …
Back in Taiohae, Nuku Hiva
We returned to Taiohae to pick up a part for our generator. Work on a boat is never ending. Thankfully, the part did it’s job and now we have a working generator. We saw a local festival to celebrate tattooing, dancing, sculpture, and traditional arts. The hikes continue to be amazing and hanging with friends …
Daniel’s Bay, Nuku Hiva
The final bay on our small circumlocution of Nuku Hiva was Daniels’s Bay. So named for Daniel who lived there for many many years. The story goes, as told by his granddaughter, that Daniel was told cruisers needed fruit and veggies and citrus after a long voyage. So, he planted fruit trees. Every cruiser that …
Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva
The calmest anchorage at Nuku Hiva, Anaho boasts an easy beach landing, some coral to snorkel, a farm to buy fresh produce from Roger and his family and beautiful hikes. Rachel broke out the silks and we joined Pablo for a beach bonfire. We hiked over a ridge to the neighboring village of Hatiheu and …
Controller Bay, Nuku Hiva
Next we anchored on the center lobe of Controller Bay off the village of Taipivai. Sometimes you can get your dinghy up the mouth of the river to the village. Other times it’s a beach landing. Our beach landing skills were very rusty. We managed to swamp the dinghy coming and going from the beach. …
Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva
While the Pacific crossing was good, the Marquesas are better, and we have only seen one island. Our first anchorage was the bay of Taiohae. Check in was smooth and exploration fun. We walked through a park which sits on the old sight of Fort Colette, hiked to Colette Bay and checked out all the …
S/V Pulsar 