Crossing the Pacific

On the 28th of April, we leave the Galapagos at 4 PM, after a last swim with the seals. The bilge is full of fresh fruits and vegetables, we are ready to go in a strait line for 2947 miles until we reach Hiva Oa, our first achorage in the Marquises.

Our first evening, we see a huge shark, a whale shark, and some seals who come to say good-bye.

The moon, decreasing, soon leaves us alone with millions of bright stars. As we head south, we discover new star constellations... This gives us a good occupation during our night watches. It makes us feel so small!

The winds psuh us strongly towards the west and we reach half distance after only 10 days. The swell, often big and crossed shakes us around. Céphée is as confortable as if you were sitting in a giant shaker, but the distances we cover each day help us forget the incomfort.

Fishing is good, and we eat fresh doradas very often. Hélène gets better each time with cooking the bread, making yaogurts, and cheese. Life is wonderful on Céphée.

Time to time a series of skwals, with rain and violent winds, breaks our little life, but each time we get very beautiful lights.

On the 20th of May, in the morning, we can see Hiva Oa. The smell of earth after such a long time at sea is very strong. We get the impression that we are walking in a froest! The mountains are beautiful, the forests are very green. We discover the Marquises.

Soon the island completly disapears as we experience our last skwall, the biggest of the whole crossing! But soon here comes the island again, re-appearing slowly, revealing its mysterious beauty.