My solo sailor buddy Tim, on his 27ft trimaran Manta, has had some bad luck recently. On the pacific crossing, his electric motor burned up during re-gen due to a bad connection. I towed him into port in Hiva Oa last week with the dinghy and told him I’m happy to help again at the next island. Well… on his way from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, his mainsail exploded leaving him with only reef 3 and no engine. He was able to get within 6nm behind the lee of Fatu but with the shifty wind/current/and reduced sail area, he was not making good progress towards the anchorage. I set out to give him a tow in, wondering if it would even work in the waves and head wind… surprisingly my dinghy handled it pretty well and we made it in time for breakfast with the crew and another boat! No sailor left behind!

Fatu Hiva was as mystical and beautiful as we had imagined. Unfortunately the crew have flights out in a few days, so we need to make way for Hiva Oa, but not before a pit stop in Tahuata to hang with other cruisers and swim with the Mantas! We were very hopeful for fish on this hop, but still only bringing up the monsters. 2 straightened hooks - fish out here are biiig.

Crossed the Pacific! Unreal 21 days of sailing. We made landfall at 1am under full moon on Fatu Hiva. Isla did amazing, nothing broke/wore/chaffed. Only casualties were a deck pillow, and a handful of lures- those fish are big out there! Excited to explore French Polynesia over this next year. Can’t wait to surf, dive, and fish my brains out! 🤙

✌️ Mexico. Off to French Polynesia!