The day came in as the last few had done, overcast and light rain. Time to sail. We have had plenty of time at this wonderful South Seas island charmer of Mangareva. Some crew had to get home, more joined. A small island hopper plane does the job stopping at many atolls along the way, to and from Tahiti. It pops in twice a week – or not. A small ferry boat takes folks across to an airstrip five miles away on a motu on the windward side of the lagoon. Fair winds outside blowing along this broad South Pacific Ocean on the road to Tahiti. Lets go!
This place looked like Mount Desert Island in the misty foggy rain. Only the coconut palms give it away as a South Seas island. Again visibility was not ideal for departure but we can’t wait for perfect, just gotta go with “good.” We could be many days awaiting a high sun. The ship had been lashed fore-n-aft, on deck and below. Long boat hoisted and griped. Last minute emailing done ashore. Good byes and thanks to the gracious Gendarmes, the baker who made many baguettes for us, Tehotu and Raruna who guided me so well, a small package for Pitcairn run out to supply ship Silver Supporter, manoeuvring just outside the lagoon picking up passengers for Pitcairn Island and, no doubt, tons of supplies for, the island. Much needed too, as we ate them out of house and home!
It seems that the Silver Supporter neither anchors nor comes into the lagoon, but stays outside when they come here on their way to Pitcairn. The ship comes all the way from New Zealand with supplies for Pitcairn. One inevitably wonders why some deal is not sorted out with the bi-monthly Tahiti supply ships. No doubt others have thought of this. New Zealand is 2,700 miles from Pitcairn. Mangareva is 300….
The skiff hoisted and griped. Get some lunch into everyone’s bellies before getting out on the open seas. Main engine fires up faithfully. Tammy and Liam to the wheel. Dustin heaves in the anchor. Not by himself, he had help… Dirk helps me see on the way out through the pass. It is misting rain but we can see OK. The grey skies give the lagoon surface a grey cast as well, not helping in seeing the coral but no problem. Once out of the twisty pass, Dirk took the conn as we headed south for the next pass, all well marked. Through that one and the gang started to loose sail, and we were setting sail on this grey day as we made itt through the western sea pass. And shut down main engine, haul the braces and square away for Tahiti, almost 900 miles away.
Seas are modest and fair with us. Donald has food coming out of the galley. The veteran crew getting back in the groove, the new gang probably wondering at the mysterious complexity of it all. They will get it sorted pretty soon. The Picton Castle is under sail again, yards squared in a fine following breeze. And we are bound for Tahiti. Not so bad….