On Monday we returned from Taravai island to the anchorage in front of Rikitea.

On Monday, all day long we had quite strong winds and lots of rain. Caroline & Paul braved the weather and came over to Katinka. After talking for quite a while lighting and thunder came pretty close to our anchorage. So they return to their boat SV Giebsteau for doing some things to prevent a lighting stroke damaging electronics. The nightmare of every sailor.

Then Zai Zai took off to return to Rikitea. It was raining too much to get out of the cosy cabin to follow them. A while later when the rain stopped and the wind was not strong anymore. David & Anne did some work at their anchor. We thought they will leave as well. It triggered us to return to Rikitea.

All was fine until the anchor was just out of the water!

The wind increased pretty much and heavy rain started. Ralf took course through the gap in the reef steering with WPTs , buoys marking the not straight at all pass through the reef. I stood at the bow to do additional eyeball navigation. Then we were through the pass.

In the meantime the wind increased a lot. We had gusts of almost 40 KN. This is more than 7 Bft. Waves were rolling on from the side making it a really rocking ride. Ralf needed to be very concentrated at the helm.

We inched against winds from almost straight on our nose, towards E to get the land protection from Mangareva. Once we went around the corner to go in N direction of the main entry channel, the wind was so “kind” to turn again against our nose.

After about 2 hours we went through the pass of the reef in front of Rikitea and came into very quite waters of the anchorage. Mangareva is a perfect protection against winds from SW to NW.

The anchor fell and we felt relieved.

Ralf dinghied me over to MaRe; I was home again from an incredible pleasant weekend at Taravai island where I could experience incredible Polynesian hospitality.