With the looming weather front coming off the top of the Low pressure system to the south of the Cook Islands, we knew we’d have to work together ensuring the safety of all.

Occasionally sailing around the world you are reminded of the shared values, tremendous spirit and camaraderie between cruising sailors. This experience proved to be a wonderful example of cruisers working tirelessly, often completely out of there way, with the advantage of having each other to lean on. We had professional sailors, crew from the World Arc, families and friends cruising on their own, all lending a hand wherever required.

Our neighbouring yachts: Antali and Imiola.

With strong breezes gusting to 30kn, we had anchors dragging catching chains, vessels touching the bottom, exposed freeboards taking full force of the squalls. And this was only the start. After little sleep, we made a plan with the help of Kev and Geerte aboard “Chill a lot”, Tas “Imiola” and Katrina and Marcus “Antari”. We managed with the help of one another’s dinghies to reset 4 anchors and form into a rafting set-up. With back up lines rigged and ready to take on the full force of the front that Saturday evening. Lots of jokes “on too many skippers”, as we muddled through to security in numbers.

Words won't do justice on how we all came together, with sailors coming from across the globe, ensuring the safety of the newly formed fleet. Special thanks to Tas, Kev, Geerte, Marcus and Katrina and also to our wonderful crew who now see every adversity as a challenge, that we work together through to the otherside.

We have all had the most wonderful time on Aitutaki and the local community could not have been more generous and hospitable. Olivia, Andrea and Drew all woke up early, heading to the fresh market only to find that most of the fresh produce had gone. Whilst walking to the next shop, one of the locals stopped to see if they needed anything. The crew jumped into the back of his truck as “Chief” drove them firstly to his own house where he emptied his fridge before spending the rest of the morning hitting all of the available shops ensuring that we were well stocked before our last leg.

Liv with “Chief” supplying us with his own fresh food.

The church singing was beautiful to experience, polytechnical choral and joyful. We were amazed at how kind the islanders were with their time, a happily buzzing culture with many shared laughs. The oceans certainly humble us as cruisers, but so do the incredible cultures experienced on the most remote of islands. I like to think it is the combination of the two behind true cruising spirit.

We weighed both anchors with the help of the dream team, had 3 tenders aiding our tight turn out of the marina, and off we went to see what challenges 4/5m waves bring us upwind the whole way to Tahiti.

Cheers,

John

Aitutaki: What is behind the True Spirit of Ocean Cruisers?

Upwind the Whole Way!

GT’s and G&T’s