11-Aug-2006 Noon Position

French Polynesia to Niue
South Pacific Ocean

• 11-Aug-2006
• 18°12.4000"S/162°22.1000"W
• 118nm in last 24hrs
• 616nm from Bora Bora
• 428nm to Niue
• 15-20 knots SE
• swells 8ft SE

Ahoy,
Another day slogging around. The winds have held and we are still making good progress. The wind is almost right off the stern, so the jib and staysail are not getting much action. We would be getting a lot more speed if we had a beam reach.

We decided against stopping at Palmerston Island for a couple of reasons. (1) We would have to stop the boat so we could arrive in the morning. (2) The anchorage there is not very good, as it is outside the reef. If there is a wind change while anchored there, then your boat swings into the reef.

But it sounds like a really cool place. The locals look for you through their binoculars. Whoever gets their boat out to you first gets to "adopt" you. Also, everyone is related to original settler, William Masters from Gloucestershire England. He moved out there with his 3 wives in 1862. All the residents on the island are his descendants. And, they only get a supply ship in 4 time a year.

The night sailing has been really good. There was a full moon a couple nights ago, and it really lights up the ocean.

Also, if Cris in Hawaii is reading this, then please email us again on our sailmail account. Your email vanished off our computer and we want to write you back.

More in 24,
Tom and Amy

Notes From Ron:

• beam reach = Wind coming from the side (beam) of the boat.
• You can read more about William Masters and his family on Palmerston Island here, here, here, and here.
• Here is an article from a boat that did stop at Palmerston and was adopted by one of the local families.