We started the day with another run through the pass during the morning incoming tide. The wind was blowing at 22 knots, so the wind kept blowing us away from the coral wall. We had to get in the dinghy and motor back over to the coal wall a couple of times. Conveniently, we were more sheltered from the wind halfway through the pass where the snorkeling is best, anyway. The rest of the ride was fun. We did it again, this time starting at the sheltered spot instead of all the way at the edge of the ocean. There seemed to be less fish out today than in the previous two. Guess the sharks were hungry last night.

Then we got the boat ready for sea and headed out. We knew with the strong winds it would be a rougher ride, but the wind was behind us, which helps. While so far it has certainly not been miserable, it is still an unpleasant and rough ride. The waves are 6 8 feet, with a few 10 footers in there. We get an occasional beam (on the side) wave that gives us a really good roll. But it is only for a day and a half. We have survived worse. This will be the longest passage we have ever done with just the two of us.

The conditions haven’t gotten any better out here. The air conditioner downstairs is turning itself off again, so it is unbearably hot down there. Since the passage to Manihi, we have cleaned the sea strainers and scrubbed the exterior intake valves in hopes that would help the problem, but to no avail. That air conditioner just won’t stay on in rough seas. We are sleeping on the couches upstairs.

This is random, but we wanted to comment about how much we really like the placement of our instruments on the instrument panel above the steering wheel.

See, you can put your feet up and none of the gauges are blocked! Being able to sit with your feet up makes for a more comfortable ride. Eric didn’t plan the feet resting places, it just worked out that way.