Ua Pou

We set off at 5:30 am to sail to the next island, Ua Pou, some 65 miles away. The forecast showed that the wind should fill in from the east, but in the end it never got above 8knots, so we ended up motoring for 10 hours.

It was an extraordinary feeling to be out on the Middle of the Pacific Ocean, and yet to have 4,000' mountainous islands in view all around us, visible at least 50 miles off. Looking aft we could see Hiva Oa and Tahuata, and to our right the little island of Fatu Hulu. Ahead was Ua Pou, and out to starboard was Ua Haka. Amazingly we could also see Nuku Hiva 25 miles beyond Ua Pou.

An extraordinary cruising ground, thousands of miles from anywhere!

As we closed Ua Pou it's colour and topography slowly emerged and as we finally anchored behind a breakwater the clouds swirled a little, revealing enormous black volcanic plugs disappearing and reappearing high above us.