Well Hiva Oa was pretty good. We all managed to catch up with our internet related junk; banking, emails, boat insurance and such. We wandered into town where Pat and Celine sorted out their departure flight back to Tahiti, so we'll make sure we're anchored at Makemo atoll in the Tuamotus by the 17th of March so they'll get a bit of a look about before boarding their Air Tahiti ATR-72 on the 19th. We'll call upon Raroia atoll first, about a 450 nautical mile passage from Nuku Hiva. Should be about 3 days of easy downwind sailing. Hah.
But for now, Hiva Oa is done and dusted. We popped up like slices of toast about 0300 to make our quiet departure from Tahauku Bay around 0350, slightly ahead of schedule. Winds were light as we motored out of the big bay and around the lee of the island, but at about 0600 just like clockwork as we emerged from the Northwest shadow of the island the wind filled in nicely and we were off. We had spotted an AIS target on the chart plotter, a monohull named Aegir heading apparently for the same destination. Well, it's a small anchorage with room for only a few boats, so RACE ON!
When we initially gave chase at 0600 our foe was about 5.1 nm ahead of us. It's 1120 now and we're just reaching their port beam. They put up a good fight but JollyDogs is a good girl and she's running like a racehorse today on full main and jib. We rolled out the screecher and really gave the competition a clinic \until the apparent wind started tickling our personal limits. With about 24 nm to go I'm pretty sure we'll be on the hook and kicking back by the time those folks roll in, but now that they've noticed us they do appear to be trying a lot harder. Too bad JollyDogs doesn't have a "stealth mode".
It's one of those almost perfect days, with the true wind on the aft starboard quarter and the apparent wind just on the beam. It's sunny with some puffy clouds and we've got some light wind chop with the occasional 1 meter longer period swell, altogether a darn good day for a sail. Pat has already nailed one fish, a meal size skipjack tuna, now he's on the aft deck fidgeting and hoping for a big yellow fin tuna. Celine is messing about in the galley doing some magic and Isabel is reclined and reading something "cerebral". John Prine is playing on the stereo.
It doesn't get much better than this.
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