N 07° 21.072
E 157° 51.062

At 1730 we casted off the lines from MV Lady Pohnpei, at the customs dock. Outbound clearance were done, the paddle wheel speed sensor was cleaned, so all was ready for casting off. BTW, the paddle wheel sensor never before had so many small creatures inside. I was surprised. But being about one and a half month in the bay, gave plenty of time to the little creatures to settle down on the sensor.

Taz & Chloe of SV Alicia casted off from outside about 20-30 min earlier.

Calling Port Control to get permission to pass the runway of the airport gave no reply. As the afternoon plane landed already an hour or more ago, I just crossed, like SV Alicia did before, without the explicit permission.

Going with MaRe through the narrow and curvy deep water stretches in the big reef, is always a strange feeling. Without GPS it would not that easy as the markers are not very consistent. However, they are correct. The markers in the Navionics charts don’t match reality.

Then we were out again in the deep blue ocean. With a wind of 13-15 KN from NNE, just as forecasted.

Since then MaRe draws her double track into the ocean and heads towards our still far away destination. The ocean is illuminated by a 99 % full moon. It’s always a nice atmosphere when the clouds and sea are illuminated by a full moon. Soon three astronauts are blasting of fly around the far side of the moon. What an adventure! I have to say I envy them.

In the meantime, we had dinner and I slept for almost 2 hours. Now I’m in my first watch.

Taz & Chloe, are heading in more westerly direction, so they disappeared from the AIS screen already. Before we had a lady call on VHF. Nice sailors, they are. Fair winds and Handbreit for you.

Wind increased to 15-18 KN and MaRe continues to draw he tracks but now with a speed of 8-9 KN. I’m curious for the day distance she will make.

The waves are rather low, thus MaRe rocks gently but the waves are not slamming at the tunnel.

God of winds and waves keep doing your job that way for many days to come.