We had decided to stay another day and dive with Warrior and Hello World, but I was still a little concerned about the wind. It was already blowing 5 knots harder than forecast. So when I woke up at 3:00 it seemed like a good time to get a new forecast for a spot mid passage between Toau and Tahiti.
It showed winds to 30 knots and seas to 18 feet for the next 6 days. The winds would be on our stern quarter, which is good, but 30 knots can generate pretty good wind waves. The forecast seas were from a system in the Southern Ocean, and would be from the south-southwest. Given that we need to travel southwest to Tahiti, it seemed like heading into 18′ waves wouldn’t be all that amusing. And when two wave trains meet, the size of the resulting wave is the sum of each. So does that mean that the forecasted 18′ accounts for the wind driven waves from the east combining with the southern swell, or will we end up with 25+ foot seas?
It became pretty easy to decide the buoy we’re on here was a nice spot to hang out for another five or six days. And it really is beautiful here. We’re in a little slot in the reef around the atoll which appears to be a pass, but which really is a a cul-de-sac blocked by a coral bank across the inner side. The water is stirred up by the wind, so the diving is no good, but the snorkeling is still fabulous just 50 yards off the bow of the boat.
There are two locals here who have installed the buoys and have a little restaurant. Last night we went ashore and joined our friends in an absolutely delicious Polynesian dinner. There were six courses, including appy and desert, and we left completely filled. I even snuck home a piece of fish for Maya.
So we’ll do some chores and swim a bit and I’ll try to not go stir crazy while we wait out the weather system. So far the forecasts are pretty consistently agreeing that it’s going to die on July 2nd. So we have to balance getting out in time and having enough wind to sail to Tahiti with getting out too soon and bashing all the way there. Our fresh fruit and veggie supplies are cleaned out, the food and paper goods we bought in Panama six months ago are nearly gone, and we have almost nothing but water and coffee for beverages. Definitely time to find the big city of Papeete and some mega grocery stores.
Teresa
