I am fascinated by remote islands. Uninhabited. Which you can only reach if you have a boat. These Pacific islands exist. Far out in the Australian Coral Sea. Visited by birds, occasionally turtles. But it takes courage to sail there. Especially because I’m sailing alone. No one is out there to help you. And I know little about the dangers. Nothing should go wrong here. So, I start exercising.
Navigation
Sailing alone across the Pacific Ocean – Part 2. French Polynesia under sail.
Intact islands, stunning landscapes. In the middle of the Pacific. This is the best country I have seen – so far. I meet friendly people, search for weathered tikis, marvel at enigmatic fish and screeching birds. And learn how to navigate the atoll: strong currents in the passes, nasty coral reefs in the unmapped lagoon. My route: From Hiva Oa in the Marquesan archipelago to Tahiti, Fakrarava and Tikehau in the Tuamotu archipelago.
Endure slack
During my training at Cruising Club Switzerland (CCS) there was never a slack. If the wind blew weaker (or came from the front, or the time of dinner approached), one immediately draw the starter key of the engine. We wanted to acquire the licence for the high seas. But when the high seas showed one … Read more
2017 | How to find the perfect blue water yacht
Twelve meters of steel, two masts, one ketch. Fifty years ago, the ideal blue-water yacht looked like this, the legendary JOSHUA by Bernard Moitessier for example. Today, the Ketch-Rigg is out of fashion, as are long keel and rudder skeg. PINJOE – built thirty years ago – has all the attributes of these classic sailors. … Read more