June 14, 2012

Thursday, 14 June 2012  Grandpa's birthday.  We leave beautiful, peaceful Baie de Haavei in the morning.  Expecting strong wind, we put a reef in the mainsail and run toward  Nuka Hiva with good boat speed.  As the day progresses, the wind moderates and SUNRISE assumes a more leisurely pace.  Declining the go to the trouble of putting the whisker pole out on the opposite side of the boat as the mainsail, the genoa headsail is useless in the wind shadow of the mainsail.  As we near Nuka Hiva, we note that the supply boat, Taporo 9, is following us and going faster.  Nevertheless, we enter Baie de Taiohae well before le cargo.  The east side of the bay, near the old wharf and some shops, is full of cruising boats, about 25.  We anchor in the vicinity of the three other boats at the west side of the bay.  We have more peace and quiet and privacy here at the cost of a long dinghy ride to the dock.  There is a small business "Yacht Services" by the dock.  We go there with our laundry.  They will wash and dry it.  They will take us to the gas station the next morning to get diesel fuel and deliver it to our boat.  They sell  us an internet access card.  They sell us tickets for the local fund-raiser dinner and dance show.  They make arrangements for a driver/guide to take us on a tour of the island.  They sell clothes, but that we do not buy.  I imagine they can provide a number of other services.  They have a good business for the 4 or 5 months that the cruisers come through Nuku Hiva.