While we were anchored at Tahuata, Pat and I spent an afternoon inspecting some critical running rigging. The main sheet and reefing lines run through the boom, and I thought I had seen some chafe on the number 2 reefing line, the only original rope on the boat. The boat yard chandlery at Hiva Oa had good quality double braid so I had purchased new rope to replace this reefing line but I really didn't want to install it without either identifying or eliminating all sources of chafe on the old line. We began by poking the borescope into the boom and looking around for anything evil. Nothing found, we moved on to pulling the old line out while simultaneously running a messenger line. A thorough inspection of the rope revealed very minor chafe, likely the result of 12 years in service, so in went the new line. We removed the number 1 reefing line which was only about a year old and didn't find anything ugly on it, so back in it went. Finally we inspected the main sheet end to end and satisfied ourselves that all was well. I replaced the main sheet track line a couple months ago and it's in great shape. Dismantled and greased all the winches a week ago. We're ready to sail!
Our ultimate goal to sail to the Gambier, first we needed a hard shake down sail and to spend some time at Fatu Hiva in the "Bay of Virgins", formerly named the "Bay of Penises" until some silly Catholic missionaries threw a fit. Kind of like Weaver's Needle East of Phoenix, Arizona. . .
The weather forecast looked good but we were going to be hard on the wind for the 35 mile trip with 1 - 2 meter short period seas forward of the beam. Not fun in any boat, and a point of sail JollyDogs simply doesn't appreciate. Nevertheless, an opportunity to shake down the boat and ourselves, and to see how Pat and Celine liked catamaran sailing. Voila was an Island Packet 35', a lovely and seaworthy boat but a monohull, and things feel a lot different on half a boat.
We began with full main and jib but soon encountered our first squall. Eureka! An opportunity to reef while on heading and see if the new low friction rings I installed reduce any friction in the single point reefing system. Isabel incrementally releases the main halyard while I grind in the reefing line and soon we're smashing along in 25 knots with the reefed sail looking good. We endure some crazy showers and wind, then back to sunny skies. Plenty of green water on the foredeck but no leaks of note and all is secure up there. It's not long before another squall appears, this one with even more wind so we repeat the procedure to install reef 2 with similar results. In comes about half the jib as well to balance the boat and we continue smashing along into the 2-meter seas.
Well, this isn't fun, but it serves to remind me and Isabel, and to inform Pat and Celine that we definitely don't want to beat into wind and seas the 800 miles from Fatu Hiva to Gambier, so if we don't get a good forecast we ain't going. There are plenty of nice places left to visit in the Marquesas and we'll be happy to launch for the Tuamotus by early March, so we'll just have to be Zen about it all.
Anyway, we aren't laying the anchorage but we're hopeful the wind will come round a bit, and with any luck once in the lee of Fatu Hiva we can motor sail more easily. It happens! We start pointing a bit more towards the destination and soon the seas lay down, then the wind starts dropping and finally we can motor sail easily towards our anchorage. Arriving about 1500 we find 4 other boats in Hanavave Bay, and after about 3 tries we're anchored in about 60 feet of water, a good set with good separation from the boats and steep terrain to starboard. Wow is this place beautiful! Shawnee, remember the goats up on the rock cliffs?
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