Dear F&F, 29 July 2010 The island of Niue is in free association with New Zealand, one of the many islands of the South Pacific that without outside aid would economically collapse. Most native Niueans have emigrated to New Zealand in search of higher paying better jobs. More Niueans live in New Zealand than Niue […]
Welcome to Niue….. Read More »
Dear F&F, 27-28 July 2010 After moving to the South East side of the reef for comfort and protection from the \”twitchy\” entrance pass, we deployed the dinghy and started to explore the INSIDE of the west lagoon. First and most notably was the wreck of a small Niuean \”long liner\” (fishing boat), M/V \”Liberty\”.
Beveridge Reef Exploration…..Disappointment Disolved! Read More »
Dear F&F, 23 – 26 July 2010 We left for Beveridge Reef from Palmerston Atoll with a very favorable weather report. As Beveridge Reef is literally a circle of rocks 1500 miles from anywhere (anywhere truly being a relative term!), approaching it in fair weather would be essential. This tiny coral reef, 2 miles long
Beveridge Reef…..Arrival and Initial Disappointment….. Read More »
Dear F&F, We\’d heard that when you were at Palmerston the locals did everything they could to \”get some work out of you\”. We were no exception! As soon as they found out we were SCUBA divers, we were put to work. First, we checked our own mooring to make sure it was in good
Final Days at Palmerston Island…. Read More »
Dear F&F, Sunday is church day on Palmerston Island and we were invited to attend. Bob and Taia picked us up and we were whisked through the boat pass to shore. Here we met all the islands ladies and many gentleman dressed in their Sunday finest. The religion is the Cook Islands Christian Church a
Palmerston Church & Tour….. Read More »
Dear F&F, We were first to arrive, but the Puddle Jump fleet was about to arrive and in numbers! Several hours after we\’d arrived, s/v \”Na Maka\” with Jerome, NAT and the kids arrived in the middle of the night. Jerome is not timid and found one of the two other moorings next to which
Palmerston Atoll Day 2……. Read More »
Dear F&F, After our adventure in \”up anchoring\”, we set sail for what would be an expected brief 200 mile passage to Palmerston Atoll. We pushed on and made the 200 miles in 36 hours arriving at 4 p.m on the 18th of July. This trip was much lighter in wind and smaller of sea
Palmerston Passage, Atoll arrival….. Read More »
Dear F&F, July 15-16, 2010 HOW WE DECIDE WHEN TO LEAVE Thursday, July 15 We must exit this island\’s shallow pass during high tide. The tide gets later by nearly an hour every day. Wednesday July 14 Scott helped lead in our Canadian dock mates on sailboat \”Quickstar\” at 11:40 a.m. Thursday\’s time was 12:30
HOW WE DECIDE WHEN TO LEAVE….. Read More »
Dear F&F, July 13, 2010 Clam Close-Ups Day #18 Aitutaki, Cook Islands I was awake at 6:30 a.m., but it is pretty dark then still, so lingered next to Scott until 7. I asked if he was up for a return trip to the lagoon. We decided it best to get our work done there
Dear F&F, July 12, 2010 Wine & Friends As Scott was focused on uploading the morning weather report via ham radio, as he does nearly every morning…and I am scurrying about making breakfast, making the bed, generally tidying up…I glance out the stern window & see a new catamaran just off our stern. They are