Date: Friday, May 4th 2018 Time: 21:32 UTC Location: 09° 48.4′ S 139° 01.9 W Anchor down, Atuona bay 24 hour distance traveled: 109 nm Distance to the Marquesas: 0 nm
We have arrived! Now your inboxes can take a break from our incessant posts: It’s time for us to explore the islands.
Last night at about 2am I saw just this hazy, slightly more grey splotch on the horizon. With the binoculars at about 15 miles out I could just make out a slight grey line silhouette coming down to the water that looked distinctly like land. I whispered “Land Ho!” and went back to looking at the radar, comparing Open CPN on the computer to Navionics on the Ipad and the Raymarine Chart plotter to make sure they all agreed that the land was in fact where we thought it should be.
Cameron and I were contemplating how most of you probably worry about us when we are far from land. But, we worry about us when we get close to land. The land is the most likely thing to sink a boat. Our attention was appropriately heightened to keep us on track while we took showers, put up our Q and Courtesy flags and ran our engine a bit to top up the batteries on our way into the very very tiny and very very full anchorage near Atuona.
We didn’t smell the land like many people had said but when we saw it, boy, it is a joyous feeling! This island, Hiva Oa, is one of the more challenging places to get to in the world. Very few people visit who are not on a boat. SV Baloo’s crew was on deck to welcome us and we are anchored down right next to our good friends! Well, we are off to explore! I hope our daily ships log was interesting and fun for all of you to follow during our passage. We will be taking a short break now but I will very soon find a way to upload some photos and I have two “One Second a Day” videos that are waiting to be posted. I have a few technological hurdles with my computer still unresponsive so wish me luck! Thanks so much for everyone’s prayers! We could feel them all and we feel very blessed to have all of you in our lives. THIS IS THE SAILING VESSEL BANYAN, WDH7907 (our ship station license number), this frequency is now clear!!!
Congrats. Glad you made it! I’m sure there’s a local Apple Store you can take your computer to…
Congrats on a successful voyage! We sure enjoy following your daily highlights!!
We are new to your blog – and so very excited for your families adventure.
We are doing something similar to you. A family of four setting sail from the Hamble, UK on 22nd July and aiming for the East coast of Australia, via Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Reading your current crossing has given us a real sense of understanding of what it may be like. Thank you and happy exploring.
Congratulations , really enjoyed reading your posts along the way. We were in the Cook Islands last easter really enjoyed it and thought of you.
Enjoy your time in the Isles Marquises , thinking of you and your family XO . The Ammons
awwwwsommmmme…nice reading and traveling with you guys..
Congrats on a safe passage…the posts each day were wonderful!
So happy for you guys! I loved following your adventure via posts. I hope you can find your land legs now. Enjoy the islands. Congratulations.
Woohoo, you made it! Now we all await your pictures. Enjoy exploring!! Love and
Praise God for your safe travel and landing!!! So excited for you all! Enjoy your exploring!
Ahhh! Congratulations. Wow you made good time!
Congratulations. How important were your daily posts other than being very enjoyable. Location, location location. You had lots of followers who knew exactly where you were the day before if you got in trouble. Not a bad plan. Enjoy your visit. Look forward to your future sailing. This is Hawaii Island signing off as the lava is flowing and the earth is shaking. We are off the Spain and Morocco.
Yay!! Let your sea legs get used to the land again. You made amazing time and the daily posts were inspiring. God bless your next chapter!
Congratulations!! So happy for you and relieved, but I’ll miss the daily log ;~)
Félicitations!!! C‘est formidable!!!!! Je suis très content que vous arrivez aux Marquesas! Je vous embrasse très fort, Marianne
Loved hearing your guys posts daily across the ocean. Looking forward to the.pics and I love the video clips you guys take and make into a video. Awesome. Blessings on your journey.
wow! What an achievement. Impressive! I will miss your daily posts, it became part of my morning routine but glad you made it safe! Enjoy exploring the islands.
!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!
Great news, congrats to the whole team. Fun, inspiring and impressive to follow your journey. Doug and Barb are very happy too!
Yay, congrats!! It’s been fun vicariously living through you and your adventures. Looking forward to more updates!
Wahoo, congrats, and thanks for your newsy posts! Been a joy following along on your 22 day passage. Hellooo new county and new adventures … enjoy!!
Yippee. My friend Jacob may be there. A Young man, you will find him and his friend playing jusic on the beach. He spent some time in La Cruz, similar timing to you. And sv Lungta, a 78′ ketch, my friends Kathy and Dan, you will like them heaps. Enjoy.
Congratulations and well done! I love your daily reports. It is the first thing I read each day. So many of us are living vicariously through you all. We admire the way you face the daily challenges of such an adventure. We imagine life on board with the constraints of the boat and the expanse of the ocean. I think about your daughters and how such a unique growing up experience will shape their perspectives and views of the world as adults. You all are much loved and deeply admired by many…especially me. Bill Tolbert
Tears of JOY for each of you, an amazing journey well planned and accomplished! We so appreciate your daily blogs, great updates. Congratulations , enjoy exploring the island! Well Done! ♥️
I looked forward to every post- thanks for sharing your journey.
Praise God for your safe arrival. Enjoy this exciting island with friends and the new friends you will make. To God be the glory and honor for your adventures around the world. So excited to enjoy your activities from my computer. Hugs. Love you.
Thank you for your daily blogs. They helped us know you were safe and experience your challenges. I’m having withdrawal symptoms! We will miss our daily connection. Love you all
Congratulations! 22 days! Awesome! I still think about the morning we watched you guys leave Punta Mita at the start of your crossing. So, so, so happy for you guys!! Hope we catch up with you next year.
Kristi, Jon & Dylan
Yea, lose your sea legs and find out many adventures on this island. Enjoyed sailing with you…til later—Love A Janis and U Fred
Le damos Gracias a Dios que llegaron con bien, Dreams come true.. Los quiero mucho familia,
May 6, 2018
Joanie Schumann
Congrats on your arrival safe and sound. Can’t tell you how much I
have enjoyed your blog. What an
adventure most of us can only
dream of. To be continued.
yipee. So glad you made it safe and sound. Enjoy your exploring. looking forward to your next posts.
The Keats
NICE, Annie!!! Congratulations!! Great to follow along with you. Yea, that land will get ya if you hit it, much safer at sea 🙂 but it’s always nice to be there. Hugs to you , Cam and the girls. Aloha
Congratulations to the captain and the crew! Thanks so much for your daily updates.
Ann It’s Scott Gerber – Martin Scott Wines! We’re back representing Oaradigm and I recently purchased a used Beneteau 423!! Ren forwarded me your info. I’m jealous and more than excited for you!! Sail safely – scott