TNS460 09/05/2016

Kiorana – that is a Polynesian hello to all our family, friends and loyal
blog readers from TNS460 and in particular us on Forward Starboard.

As you can probably guess, we have all been having far too much fun in the
last week since we joined Tenacious to write the blog, but we will now
update you on this fun we have had.

The voyage crew joined on Tuesday 3rd May and had a quick introduction to
the crew before dinner and an evening ashore in Papeete.  The next few days
were filled with training, hands aloft, food stores and happy hour but
everyone was given time off to explore Tahiti before we set sail on Friday
for Bora Bora.  It had been intended to motor but we were lucky enough to
set all four topsails.

No sooner had we got into the sea routine when a large pod of dolphins
joined us past Moorea and stayed for quite some time.  Our watch were up at
04:00 and as soon as there was dawn we spotted our destination of the
tropical paradise which is Bora Bora.

We spent a little over 24 hours in the pearl of Polynesia, a large group
went to Bloody Marys (the place to be seen in Bora Bora) while others spent
time in one of the two yacht clubs.

Finally at 16:00 yesterday, Sunday, all hands were back on board and we
headed away from French Polynesia next stop Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

Once again we had intended to motor overnight but at midnight on the watch
change we set 3 of the topsails and motorsailed through the night till just
before breakfast when the engines were silenced and we were in the hands of
the wind.

A couple of Monday items.  It is Stretchs’ birthday today and we had a very
long (stretched)  birthday cake.  Today is also Jersey liberation day, and
Maggie brought a Jersey flag with her which is currently hoisted on the
curtisy flag halyard, and Maggie would like to wish her son Will a happy
birthday for today.

Islay would also like to wish her dad a happy birthday for tomorrow – so
Happy Birthday David.

We look forward to bringing you further updates in the next few weeks.
This is Fwd Stbd Carol, Maggie, Jane, Karen, Islay, Francesca, Jon, Stretch,
Kyle and Bill.