Logs from Lille Ø

2026-04-22 - Hanamoenoa - Hanavave

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:17:58 +0000

In the darkness we prepped the boat for leaving. Mentally we weren’t quite ready but this weather window was too good to pass. Most people arrive to Fatu Hiva after the passage without checking in to avoid the beating to the wind and waves that have the whole Pacific time to build up to arrive to an island they already passed. We being us did it the proper way. But instead of beating we had a nice beam reach sail with minimal swell after we were out of the shadow of Hiva Oa.

This was something you can call champagne sailing! Absolute bliss under full genoa and mainsail.

Anchoring proved to be complicated, as in Hanavave the anchoring spots are either good and deep or bad and shallow. We tried shallow and bad for few times before giving up and opting for good and deep. Now we have the full 50 meters out and for good measure also the rope is on deck in case we need to give more scope. The bottom of the anchor chain locker saw daylight for the first time since Scotland!

Distance today: 47.8NM
Lunch: vegetable wrapps
Engine hours: 3.6

2026-04-18 - Taha Uku - Hanamoenoa

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:04:33 +0000

We had a great week exploring Hiva Oa. However, the muddy river water wasn’t suitable for swimming or running the watermaker, and so we decided to move over to Tahuata. We still hadn’t had a chance to clean the hull, but the local crab population had done a great job eating away most of it.

We hoisted the main into first reef in the shelter of the breakwater, and sailed high into the wind. As the Haava Channel got closer, we could slowly lower the course, eventually to wing on wing.

We arrived to a beautiful bay with a palm beach. The anchorage is quite full, with many boats we know from various stages of our cruise.

Distance today: 9.4NM
Lunch: spaghetti with aubergines
Engine hours: 0.7

2026-04-11 - Taha Uku, 4180NM WSW of Catalinia

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:46:48 +0000

The night was dark and filled with squalls turning the wind. Our track was coming out like an plan for uneven stairs. The wind mostly stayed between 20 and 25kn and Lille Ø was behaving magnificiently even though the waves were tossing us around. Inside even sitting required 3 points of contact to ensure stability. We were fast. Even the barnacles agreed it is go time and streamlined themselves against the hull.

As the sun was slowly rising there hadn’t been any sight of land yet. As this promised to be the last day at sea the morning watch got served a cappuccino. Oh what a taste! And as if the caffeine had heightened my senses, soon after land was sighted! A dark shape between the clouds rising from the sea. The eastern most point of Hiva Oa. It seems we can find a needle in a haystack or a tiny island in the vastness of the ocean!

As the day grew older, more of the islands unveiled themselves from the clouds. The sheer rockfaces reaching up to the sky straight from the ocean. The terrain will be a proper bootcamp for our legs which haven’t taken more than a few hundred steps per day for the past 6 weeks!

As we got closer to shore, the wind dwindled but we were enjoying the slower pace that gave us time to take in the schenery. The various greens of the forest covering the island, the numerous birds zig-zagging between the waves in the quest for food and the blacks and browns of the cliffs plunging to the sea. Then depth sounder sprang alive! 100 meters to the bottom. We had found the foot of the island.

The entrance to the anchorage reveals itsel quite late. Just behind a small peninsula where waves were breaking with thunderous bangs we were greeted with a small swell and brown runoff water from the river. We made our way right to the mouth of the river where someone had left a Lille Ø sized hole. Only 3 meters deep here, but it is enough. Now we are again connected to both land and sea. The great sea voyage is now behind us and we open a new chapter of Pacific island hopping.

Distance today: 91NM
Lunch: not yet
Engine hours: 0.9

2026-04-10 - Pacific Ocean, 4089NM WSW of Catalinia

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 02:31:35 +0000

Boat number 17, sailboat number 3, was spotted behind us in the darkness. An Oyster Rally boat Alpenglow sailed past us at double speed. We had a small conversation over VHF and soon they had disappeared into the darkness.

The morning didn’t turn bright, it turned grey. Squalls and lulls woven to each other like a gray wool blanket. The winds were varied as if they already could sense the land, and ebb and flow up and down simulating the tall volcanic slopes of the Marquesas. Eventually one of the squalls came with gusts over 30kn, so out in to the rain we went to put in a 2nd reef. After a while as the wind kept dropping we put back the 1st reef. This passage was going to test us till the very end.

At 3pm we got to the magical 2 digit numbers on the plotter! If we can keep up average speed of 4kn, we shall be dropping anchor in Hiva Oa exactly 6 weeks after starting!

Distance today: 100NM
Lunch: lentil coconut soup
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-09 - Pacific Ocean, 3989NM WSW of Catalinia

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:42:41 +0000

As our target draws nearer, we need to start paying a bit more attention to navigation. It is no longer enough to follow a roughly westerly course whichever way the wind blows. And so, we gybed right after dinner to gain a bit more northing.

The night was a bit lighter than forecasted, but with the easterly wind. Sunrise brought more wind, and from the southeast, and so we gybed again. Now the bow is pointing straight to target.

Distance today: 100NM
Lunch: pea soup
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-08 - Pacific Ocean, 3889NM WSW of Catalinia

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:44:17 +0000

Slightly after watch change, it was time to roll in the genoa and go wing on wing with the staysail. The night came with variable windspeeds littered with occasional squalls and rain. As the sun rose, the skies cleared but the wind stayed. We were moving fast, with the whole barnacle farm. Even the windvane servo rudder is rocking its first few small individuals. The boat starts showing the length of the passage. The sun cover strip of our genoa needs some re-stiching, we moved the windvane steering line by 20cm to move the slightly chafed bit away from the blocks, and our staysail had a little hole in the bottom that we fixed with some sail tape. The pole-out sheet we use with both sails got turned around as there was some significant chafe developing in it where it goes through the eye of the pole. The genoa sheets look like they want to be turned around so that the good end of the line replaces the parts where wear and tear are starting to take their toll. And the sides of the boat - brown with algae growth. Lille Ø will need some TLC after this one.

Distance today: 108NM
Lunch: chanterelle risotto
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-07 - Pacific Ocean, 3781NM WSW of Catalinia

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:16:09 +0000

The light winds prevailed through the night. Light enough that we actually let the tillerpilot steer for some time, as there wasn’t enough for the windvane.

In the early hours we watched a slow-motion chase scene, as the French sailboat La Bulle approached behind the horizon, and pulled ahead in about 7h from first contact. Boats are getting closer as we all head for the same islands. This was our 16th vessel sighting, and the second sailboat.

Just before dinnertime we gybed again, as now the winds should again carry a southerly component. Under 400NM to go!

Distance today: 91NM
Lunch: navy bean soup
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-06 - Pacific Ocean, 3690NM WSW of Catalinia

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:19:13 +0000

With the evening came a bit more wind, but only for the dark hours without moonlight. The boat bobs gently on, accompanied by periodic bangs from the sails. Not the most pleasant sailing wise. The Pacific isn’t pacified. The swell is constant, large and confused. At all times there is at least two swell directions and when they meet at your position, the boat lurches into a random direction. The barnacles are plentiful and their growing size brings the slow speeds even slower.

But there is much to celebrate! On this date two years ago we set sail from Berlin towards the cool waters and climate of Scotland. And look at us now! Nearly half way around the world in the tropical heat of the Pacific!

At dawn we gybed as the wind persistently was easterly. On other days we have meandered with the wind shifts, but that option wasn’t available today. What a weird sight to see the sails this way around!

We also moved the ship’s time to UTC-9. Only another half hour shift remaining before we are at Marquesas timezone.

Distance today: 92NM
Lunch: spaghetti aglio e olio
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-05 - Pacific Ocean, 3598NM WSW of Catalinia

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:32:22 +0000

At night the boat was visited by a pod of whales. Large black shapes rose out of the dark sea all around the boat. They stayed for a few minutes, and then continued on their way.

Sailing-wise today has been a rehash of yesterday. Winds are light, just barely enough to keep the three-sail setup filled.

Distance today: 100NM
Lunch: paneer coconut curry
Engine hours: 0

2026-04-04 - Pacific Ocean, 3498NM WSW of Catalinia

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:36:28 +0000

We sailed into the night with the Parasailor up. A bold move for sure. With the moon and the motor light on, the sail is fully illuminated and easy to control. Just after 23 the wind started picking up. At 23:20 a gust of 17kn was enough to prompt a early wakeup call for the off-watch, and we packed the Parasailor up and went back to wing on wing.

Since the sail change the day has been a steady progress towards our destination and the rest of the cinnamon rolls have been eaten as watch snacks. Life at sea is sweet at the moment!

Cheers Petra and Uli!

Distance today: 98NM
Lunch: cashew-tomato pasta
Engine hours: 0