This blog is about life onboard SV Moana Roa, a 46 foot sailing catamaran, and the journey from the Caribbean back to Australia. Laurie and Sonia, Travis, Beau, and Kara leave home on Christmas Island (Australian Indian Ocean Territories) in December 2012 and set sail in January 2013.


Thursday 22 May 2014

3000 Nautical Miles to the Marquesas Islands


We left Galapagos with lots of great fruit from Ingrid's Uncle and Auntie's farm - enough for 3 weeks at sea
Fishing was high on the agenda each day.  It took us 2 weeks to catch our first fish (a short-billed spearfish) but it escaped from the gaff!
We had Easter at sea with hot crossed buns and and egg hunt, then followed up with celebrating Anzac Day
After losing a number of lures and lots of line Jol came up with a great home-made lure with lead from old dive belts and gift-wrap ribbon… these became very successful to the envy of our fellow cruisers
Sailing towards the sun we had to change our clocks back 3 and a half hours when we arrived in the Marquesas
We broke the drought with a 12kg wahoo, then caught a big yellow-fin followed by another wahoo!  Fish on the menu at last!
Music jamming session with Jol on guitalele.  Travis has come along with his guitalele and Beau likes figuring out written music on his keyboard


Arriving in the majestic Hanavave, Fatu Hiva anchorage after 18 days at sea -
taken from Harry, a single-handed Aussie yachtsman on Malua
Jol with our 2nd wahoo on arrival in Fatu Hiva, his lures were a hit…
Hanavave, Fatu Hiva is regarded as one of the most spectacular anchorages in the world
Sunset at Fatu Hiva.  We loved being on land so much that we walked and walked and walked!!
The local Polynesians playing soccer by the dock.  They put on a great dinner and dance to welcome us to French Polynesia
Travis and Jol returning from a spearing trip with a huge octopus -
made a yummy salad and stir-fry

Hollywood Pool on the island Hiva Oa with the New Zealand girls from Moxie
Beau is the master GoPro photographer - here he is using his creativity
Breakfast swim with huge manta rays on Tahuata Island -
Kara didn't have time to get out of her pyjamas!
Setting off for a mountain walk and mango collecting expedition
The locals travel between villages on horseback.  We saw wild horses on the plateaus
Polynesia - outrigger heaven!  Laurie gets to go paddling with David, the local junior champion.  The Tahitian OC1 outrigger design has no rudder and relies on good paddle skills to keep them going straight