A New Route

For the first time since 2016 we will be sailing east from New Zealand rather than north.

Instead of heading to Southwest Pacific island nations again, we are heading home by way of French Polynesia. (The alternate route via Japan and the northern Pacific is longer and generally has more difficult winds--and no, boats don't sail straight to Washington from here!) Our planned landfall is at Raivavae, in FP's Austral Islands Group: about 400 miles south of Tahiti, and about 2300 miles east-northeast of New Zealand. This will be one of the longest passages we have ever made, and certainly the coldest so far!

In addition to those concerns, we will have to say farewell forever to New Zealand, our home away from home that is full of places, people and cultures we love. But family and old friends beckon, and we're not getting any younger; it's time to start the long trek back.

While on passage we will continue our practice of posting daily position reports at www.yit.co.nz/yacht/secondwind. We haven't tried SSB-to-land base connections from that remote expanse of ocean, so don't be dismayed if you're following our progress and we seem to disappear for a few days; we've probably just been unable to reach a reliable relay station clearly.

The next post will have photos of what is reputedly the most beautiful island in the South Pacific (though if there's not good internet at Raivavae, it's likely to be late June before those photos get posted). Here's to safe travels!