“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”
– John Masefield
SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE FLEET UPDATE
2023-03-28
57 Yachts from 13 ensigns are signed up from now until November ’23 they will share up to date information, scout for opportunities and alert each other to threats.
Bond Exemption Letter (medical insurance required)
3) ENTRY INTO ❤️ GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD SY ROLLING STONES
For their rescue of all souls onboard of SV Rain Dancer
SY ROLLING STONES 🇺🇸 Geoff, Meghan & crew – Leopard 45′
4) PACIFIC CROSSING WATER MAKER FAILURE
SV
Follow You Follow ME was 6 days out from Puerto Vallarta on our
way to the Marquesas when our watermaker broke, challenging the crew of
four to adapt to ensure we could last another 20 days until landfall.
Adapted from our blog at https://sailblogs.com/member/followyoufollowme
Another slow sailing day was punctuated by one of the great constants of boating – sh*t breaks.
Last
night, just after daughter Alyssa’s long and luxuriant shower, I
noticed that the watermaker was not working. After yet another
stunning sunrise over the Eastern Pacific, we got busy with the very
comprehensive HRO troubleshooting guide. After some troubleshooting and
much to our bitter amusement, the storage area under the bunk was a
small lake. After removing floating cans of cleaner, wax and assorted
toxic substances, we furtively searched for the source of the leak,
finding water gushing from the high-pressure pump weep holes. Uh-oh.
referring to the manual I found that the one item in the entire
watermaker that cannot be rebuilt or repaired “in the field” is the
high-pressure pump. Do I have a spare? Of course not.
I
pulled the pump apart to confirm the diagnosis, while cautioning the
crew on water usage (no flushing? YUCK!) Meanwhile, in my head I’m
calculating remaining water on board, days to Hiva Oa and figuring out
that worst case we have 15 gallons of water each, more than 2.5x
recommended daily intake of 2 quarts. Factor in cooking and minimal
hygiene and we’ll have to be careful, but we are in no danger.
I
found that the pump had been leaking slowly for some time, based on the
rust marks on the housing, so we rationalized that if we can plug those
weep holes enough to increase the pressure 20 lbs, we might be able to
make water in a pinch until our new crew arrived in Hiva Oa with spares.
I found large flat head screws to plug the holes and used epoxy to seal
them and re-assembled the pump. We let it cure for 24 hours and gave it
a shot but no joy.
In
the meantime we took the following measures: Deferred all showers to
the great Pacific Ocean daily swim. Surprisingly refreshing with a
little soap, not at all like using coastal saltwater to wash down. All
dish-cleaning was done by bucket on the transom. Added bonus, we didnt
have to salt the food any longer! – Brushing teeth via the
ol’cup’o-water routine – Our fancy freshwater flush toilets had to be
neutered, freshwater valves closed and a gallon jug of saltwater
stationed nearby for flushing. We planned to catch rain by chasing
squalls rather than avoiding them, rinsing the deck as the squall
started, then used a towel to dam the water heading to the gunnels to
funnel rain water into the deck plates for the water tanks. – Last and
most importantly, we instituted an emergency water preservation plan by
drinking more beer. We planned to be a dry boat until the equator, but
crew morale factored in here, and yes, we know, alcohol dehydrates the
body.
On
day 12 we got our first serious squall and after several design
iterations, finally got the water flowing into the tanks, capturing
10-15 gallons. The rest of the passage was relatively dry,
however, with only a few opportunities to catch rain.
The
psychology of the situation was interesting, as we all brought
different perceptions of risk to the lack of water. I tended to be
“tragically optimistic” about our options and expect that we would work
our way through the situation with minimal discomfort. As the skipper of
the boat, it was my job to assess the risks, but to think in terms of
possibilities, and not dwell too much on the negatives. Others took
longer to adapt and, in some instances, let the worst-case scenarios
dance in their minds for quite some time. Overall, the crew did adapt
well to our challenges of light winds and little water, and even
commented that our morning saltwater dish washing routine on the stern
of the boat was much preferred over standing in the hot pitching galley
doing the same.
We
got into a regular cadence for the remainder of the passage. On
the morning watch, the watchman washed dishes, the next one up dried and
puts them away. Then it was shower time. If the boat was
stopped, we would swim and wash, and if underway, we would soap up and
rinse with our canvas bucket tied to the back of the boat. This
worked surprisingly well. We were clean, refreshed and the salt
water did not make that much of difference except for clothes, which
felt a little crusty once it dried.
We arrived with 60 gallons in our tanks, exactly what we had when the water maker broke. Not bad.
Comments to our blog were pretty insightful – “Thanks for letting us know the true value of water.”
This entry from the blog summarized our journey best.
“It’s
hard to truly appreciate how the crew of Follow You felt after
anchoring in the crowded little Baie Tahauku, and taking in the full
extent of the scenery surrounding us. Every sense was overloaded.
Visually, the stunning green jungle foliage amplified by the sunlight
created an instant contrast to the vibrant blue we have experienced for
the past 25 days. Once we landed, the aromas of the island also
overwhelmed our sense of smell sanitized by the sea. And the sounds of
people and civilization, cars, motorcycles and heavy construction
equipment interrupted our orderly and familiar boat sounds.”
We
sat around that first day and just took it all in, relishing the unique
feeling and knowing full well that this special moment would pass as
the new order became familiar. Our first dinghy landing reintroduced us
to solid ground. Unfortunately, our inner ears did not get the message
for a couple of minutes and made for some interesting first steps.
SY ILIOHALE 🇺🇸 Allan & Rina – Lagoon 450’S (currently in the Panama Posse)
NOTE:
The moment Allan realized that water shortages onboard he divided all
drinkable liquids into 4 equal shares – think milk – soda – champagne –
beer – and everyone onboard got to trade these liquids – One crew loves
bubbly so he traded his beers for the bottles of champagnes ( by volume )
– another liked milk over orange juice – one of the exceptional
situations on board FYFW turned into a liquidity focused trading floor.
“….
and most importantly, instituted an emergency water preservation plan
by drinking more beer. (Gleaned from the Corey Wurzner Survival at Sea
Manual)… “
5) FROM POLLYWOGS TO SHELLBACKS
Sailors
who have crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty
Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks . Those who have not crossed are
nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs.
Today
we crossed the equator! We are officially in the South Pacific. We had a
ceremony, promoted ourselves to shellbacks and went for a swim.
Now
we point towards Hiva Oa. With light winds we have the motor running
and likely will for a while. Good news is we finally have a following
current.
Nawi
Island is located in the beautiful Fiji Islands.It will feature an
International Superyacht Marina, which will have 132 marina berths,
including 21 superyacht slips (up to 85m). The marina has been designed
and built up to category 5 cyclone resistance rating.
The
South Pacific Posse is planning a get together at Nawi on Sept 2nd
2023. A week before the infamous Musket Cove regatta. Nawi will be
offering entertainment, markets, kava tasting and discounts on berths,
water sport activities, restaurant & bar orders, with Pacific Posse
hosting a Pig on the spit and rum delights.
The
fully serviced marina will include “plug in” services through utility
pedestals to water, sewerage pump out, power, fuel & gas facilities,
plus 24hr security, complimentary Wifi, a.m.o..
16° 46.5716′ S 179° 19.9533′ E – Nawi Island Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji
7) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SEMINARS ON DEMAND
SEMINARS RECORDINGS ARE ONLINE
INTRODUCTION
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
FRENCH POLYNESIA
COOK ISLANDS – SAMOA(S) – TONGA
FIJI
VANUATU & NEW CALEDONIA ’23
PROVISIONING
LOGISTICS
OPEN CPN USE CASE
WEATHER and HEAVY WIND SQUALLS AND ELEVATED SEA STATE
We caught a fish and had some nice sailing yesterday
but
were reminded to keep our eyes peeled because we spotted a small
fishing boat ahead of us 200 miles off the coast of Colombia and changed
course to avoid them.
They approached our boat but quickly left.
We’re now in the doldrums and will cross the equator about 2am!
SY WANDERLUST 🇺🇸 Kristin & Fabio – Seawind 52′
NOTE:
Several vessels are bypassing the Galapagos due to incompatible
policies for on board companions aka domesticated pets .
ENTRY INTO THE ’22 SPP PICTURE OF THE YEAR AWARD – VA WE |SAIL
11) MANA
Polynesian
mana is a concept that refers to power, authority, and influence that
is believed to exist in all things, including people, objects, and
places, in Polynesian culture. Mana is considered to be a spiritual
force that can be gained or lost, and it is often associated with
leadership, courage, and excellence.
Understanding the significance of mana and how it can significantly improve your interactions with locals.
Polynesians
place a great deal of importance on respect, so it is essential to show
respect to locals at all times. This includes being polite, using
appropriate language, and following local customs and traditions.
Learning
about Polynesian culture and traditions will help you understand and
appreciate the significance of mana and other cultural practices.
In
Polynesian culture, building relationships is a key aspect of social
interaction. The key is interest in their culture and traditions.
Polynesians
value humility and modesty, so avoid bragging or showing off. Instead,
focus on being respectful and courteous to those around you.
In
Polynesian culture, it is common to offer gifts as a sign of respect or
gratitude. If you have the opportunity, consider offering a small gift
to locals as a gesture of goodwill.
According
to Melanesian and Polynesian mythology, mana is a supernatural force
that permeates the universe. Anyone or anything can have mana.
They believed it to be a cultivation or possession of energy and power,
rather than being a source of power. It is an intentional force.
However,
there are some cultural differences in the way mana is understood and
expressed. For example, in Maori culture, mana is closely linked to a
person’s ancestry and lineage, and it is often seen as a quality that is
inherited from one’s ancestors. In this context, mana is not just an
individual quality, but is also connected to one’s whakapapa (genealogy)
and the wider community.
In
Polynesian cultures outside of New Zealand, mana may be more focused on
individual achievement and excellence, rather than inherited status or
lineage. Additionally, the specific beliefs and practices associated
with mana can vary widely between different Polynesian cultures.
Tā
moko represents a woman’s mana (status or power) and her whakapapa
(ancestry and forebears) in society. This is best highlighted by the
time when the chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with their mokos in
1840.
The
Moko Kauae is a chin tattoo traditional reserved for Māori women with
mana (high status and power) and older women of experience and
achievement.
NOUMEA 🇳🇨 NEW CALEDONIA
12) “AND THEY ARE OFF” FLEET TRACKING FOR PARTICIPANTS
About Tracking:
Designed to give interesting parties an overview. For specific vessel details including their floatplan,
latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related
questions please contact each vessel directly. If you are on
passage let us know and the fleet can monitor your progress.
In
the 1830s, the town of Russell, which was known as Kororāreka until the
1840s, was a lawless town where drinking, brawling, and prostitution
were rife. The town was called ‘the hellhole of the Pacific’. Whaling
ships from around the world would stop at Kororāreka to resupply, and
for their crews to have some rest and recreation.
By
the 1830s, Kororāreka had become the biggest whaling port in the
southern hemisphere. Up to 30 ships, many of them American or French,
were anchored there with up to 1000 men ashore. Kororāreka was one of
the first points of contact between Europeans and Māori – a meeting of
cultures that shocked many observers.
Whalers,
seafarers and merchants mixed with adventurers, deserters and escaped
convicts from Australia. Prostitution was one of the town’s main
industries, and sexual favours were used by Māori in the purchase of
many things, including muskets. Three-week marriages were commonly
negotiated, and many local Māori women bore the tattoos of their
temporary lovers.
There
were various Christian missionaries in the area. Most were Protestant,
but in 1839 some French Catholics, led by Bishop Pompallier, established
their headquarters in Kororāreka. The Catholic missionaries left in the
1850s but Pompallier House remains today.
After
the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s capital
shifted to Auckland. This, along with a number of new levies imposed by
the colonial government, caused resentment amongst local Māori. Hōne
Heke, the first chief to sign the Treaty, was dismayed to see Māori
losing their land and natural resources.
In
July 1844, he cut down the flagpole he had originally gifted to the
British, which stood on a hill above the town. The flagpole was
re-erected the following year, only to be cut down three more times.
Governor Fitzroy responded by sending troops to Kororāreka and offering a
reward for Heke’s capture.
In
March 1845, Hōne Heke attacked the town with 600 men. The attackers
withdrew after one day’s fighting, in which 20 of the 250 defenders were
killed. A powder keg exploded as they left Kororāreka, destroying much
of the old town. This proved to be the first confrontation in what
became the Northern War, which ended with no clear winner after two
years of intermittent fighting.
Today
At the northern end of the beachfront is the Duke of Marlborough Hotel,
New Zealand’s first licensed bar. Russell’s Christ Church, built in
1836, survived the sacking of Kororāreka in 1845, and still stands
today.
Russell 🇳🇿 NZ| Several Anchorages in Good Nautical
16) MEET OUR SPONSORS
PREDICT WIND
PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
[…] GOOD ANCHORAGE 🇫🇯 MONURIKI GOOD SAMARITAN WATER MAKER SAGA POLLYWOGS TO SHELLBACKS SAVE THE DATE SEP 2 SEMINARS ON DEMAND AWARD ENTRIES BACK ON BOARD 🇫🇯 FIJI SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE 🏆 AWARD CATEGORIES MANA “AND THEY ARE OFF” SAIL TAHITI HISTORIC PORTS ⚓ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC […]