We want to visit the bays along the north coast of Hiva-Oa. Thus we planned already a few days ago to leave Omoa in the evening and sail through the night around the eastern corner of Hiva-Oa to arrive in the morning hours in the Puamau Bay.

Thus, at 1825 we lifted the anchor on Omoa and started sailing north.

As long as we where in the land coverage of Fatu-Hiva, the wind was instable in direction and speed. When a valley opened, we had wind speeds of 20 KN and MaRe accelerated in her night gown – main at reef 2 and genoa full – to more than 7 KN. But west of the high mountains north of Hanavave, the wind was gone. We used the engines to push a bit further north to get the trade wind undisturbed from mountains.

This worked out well As soon as we were close to the northern cape of Fatu-Hiva, the wind increased and started sailing again. In winds of mainly 5 Bft from 80 – 90 deg AWA on STB MaRe started running. STW ranges from 5 KN to almost 8 KN. In average of the last 3 h we made 6.9 KN. Because we are so fast, we will arrive at the eastern corner of Hiva-Oa already before 0300.

After passing the corner, I consider to get main down and sail only with a reduced genoa at an AWA of 150 deg. At sich am AWA, I can easily reduce the genoa to slow down enough that we arrive at the Puamau Bay only on full sunlight