Day 18
pos 10deg08S, 129deg33W
4pm, 21:00UTC
Distance: 537 miles to Fatu-Hiva
Last night we had a squall over us and we got a few drops but not much. Water tank is just above half. We still have plenty of diesel. During Chantal's 4am watch the wind started dropping and going NE. So we gibed, basically i snuff the spinnaker and then reset it from scratch on the other side. Sailed like that for a few hours then the wind went back to ESE so we gibed again... exciting stuff i tell you. My exema is driving me mental, not much i can do with the cortisone NOT working. I am being tortured by my own skin. But i am hanging in there, problem is there is not much in terms of medical in the Marquesas, we will only be in Papetee (Tahiti) in about 6 weeks time. By then i may have joined a traveling circus as the INCREDIBLE LIZARD MAN!!! But that's one of the risks you take when sailing off the grid. The wind was light today, it looks like its going to be a 120 mile day if we are lucky. We are really hoping that the trades will hold up and blow us to Fatu-Hiva without fucking around. Andy went down today with bad diarrhea and malaise, he has joined the other groaner (me). Soon we will be banished to the front of the ship with the rest of the scurvy dogs (and dead flying fish on the trampoline). I have no doubt that Andy is going to French kiss the ground when he gets to land. Tonight's meal is without doubt going to be pasta plus sauce out of a bottle. We are thinking of going straight to our check-in port of Atuona (1000 people) on Hiva-Oa Island, not only for paperwork but also to get fresh food. Its 45 miles north of Fatu-Hiva. But then again there may be some basic stuff at Omoa Bay on Fatu-Hiva which has a whopping 300 inhabitants. Surely they must eat? Maybe they just eat each other. If that's the case we are going to trade Andy for a cabbage and a few potatoes. Then again with my bloated body and crispy skin i may be the tastier looking trade item. Kentucky Fried Lizzard. Josh and Indie are doing very well, I don't think they realize that this cruise actually has an end... they are just enjoying the journey and getting on with their daily missions. Buddha would be so proud of them. Maybe we should sew them up a pair of orange tunics? Josh has not asked once 'when are we going to get there?' Indie of course asks for plenty but its not in English and it always involves food. A Malherbe Hoover of note. The Malherbe's will know what that means. I am still plowing the ocean behind shimmi night and day with 2 lures (big and small skirt) but no nibbles. Chantal saw a big dolphin but it did not hang around. The sea is not too bad, about a 4-6ft following sea, then again we are so used to being chucked around that we have probably lost perspective.
Remember that Pink Floyd lyric: 'Is there anybody out here....'
No, there is not.
