We popped out the bottom of the Tuamotus late last night and now have a relatively clear run to Tahiti, aside from one more small island. The wind is directly behind us, but it's not quite strong enough for us to move as fast as I'd like, so we're using the engine to help our speed. Our estimated time of arrival (ETA) in Tahiti is very early Friday morning, so we'll sit off the coast for a few hours until daylight and then head in.
Remember the old sailor's saying, "All the wrecks are on the rocks" and "Another night at sea never unalived anyone"? That advice holds true for navigating the pass into the marina area, which is definitely not a place to enter at night unless you were born there.
This trip has been extraordinary, taking us on a journey that's probably only completed by a few hundred people a year. And almost non would do what we have done and sail so far in one go. It's around 4,600 nautical miles from Panama to Tahiti, and while some people might be content with a brief stop in the Galapagos, they would typically stop in the Marquesas to catch up on rest. We decided to push our limits and sail straight through to Tahiti, skipping Nuku Hiva, which is a traditional stopping-off point.
In the seedy backstreet bars frequented by yacht delivery skippers and their groupies, there's a legend circulating about a duo who sailed from Panama to Tahiti with only a brief stop in the Galapagos. The story goes that this legendary pair, I can't remember the skippers name—The Incredible Bloke? The Terrific Guy?—and his trusty sidekick "C Dawg," were the first to accomplish this feat.
However, I believe we've managed to surpass their record. While they stayed in the Galapagos for three nights, we were only there for one. It's been a while since I heard the moniker given to this yachting legend, but I remember it was something along the lines of "The Fabulous Fellow," "The Marvelous Chap," or perhaps something even more extravagant. I'm sure it will come to me eventually.
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