Mischief - Up to Mischief Log 37 Further adventures of S/Y Mischief through the eyes and ears of Chas Baynes

Monday, 14th May 2018 - Off Bora Bora Yacht Club

We had to do a generator service this morning early so was outside at 7am pumping away at an oil pump which was a real heart starter I can tell you.

Today is preparations day for the re-start tomorrow so ashore at 9.30am for the Skippers briefing then along to the Gendarmerie with passports to check out of French Polynesia then into the supermarket where two trolley loads cost £600! Unfortunately, they had no tortilla wraps which we use a lot and neither did they have any eggs, would you believe which is a bit ironic given the number of chickens there are running amok around the island. The Super U market didn't have any either but they did say that more were to be delivered one hour after we leave for Suwarrow. But the shop did have a delivery man who took Dave back to the marina with the provisions and left us to walk the considerable distance again, whereupon Dave and I dinghied it all out to the boat and stored it away, probably in places where no-one can find it. As it was mid-afternoon, we had to pick up the rest of the crew form ashore by which time Sue had been treated to her choice of a rather nice pearl necklace by Rob, who was had gone white, rather quiet and a lot lighter in the wallet department no doubt.

It was after all the crews' supper tonight in the yacht club and the girls needed a bit of time to prepare, during which time I got my snorkel gear out, swam the 200m to shore, swam around the corals for a while, swam back, had a shower, had a shave and dressed and they still weren't ready!

It was a very nice meal though with horses doovries, a free drink on presentation of a voucher - Rob was told "No voucher, no drink" in no uncertain terms as he waited for me to arrive with the paperwork. I had tuna tartare, entrecote and a cream brulee washed down with a couple of beers. We got involved with a little mischief when we pelted the crew of Emily Morgan with serviette rings who responded in kind. It was all very jolly until one of the tables had the usual bust up over the splitting of the bill where a few home truths appeared to be aired! As for us, Dave paid the bill as usual by credit card less all the local dib dobs we each were holding as they are useless after today. The balance, worked out to the penny and converted into sterling at the current rate, will be set off against my loan account, unauditable of course!

I took the opportunity of phoning the wife, Kate who had been in Yorkshire for a few days with her school netball team and had won the plate competition against national opposition - a brilliant achievement for such a small school. Very proud of them and her.

Tuesday, 15th May 2018 - Departure day for Suwarrow

Departure day! So up early to get ashore to get last minute internet as we shall probably not see it again for a couple of weeks at least, and at long last managed to pay for my return airline ticket from Darwin home - that is one worry off the shoulders at least. I also decided to jog down to the supermarket with our remaining sheckles but I keep forgetting just how far it is, so I turned up dripping, paid for the baguettes and started to run back when the bread bag burst so I had to walk for fear of dropping the bread in the mud.

It had been raining pretty much non-stop until 9am when it stopped and allowed us to set up the boat for departure and Wendy to get her last-minute washing on the rail to dry. We were just packing away the dinghy when the heavens opened and was pleuting chats et chiens for half an hour - I had not realized it but this is now the end of the summer season out here, so I suppose it is not surprising, just disappointing.

We started across the start line at 1200 second boat over and second boat out of the lagoon with wind behind of 20 knots. We are now doing 8 knots towards Suwarrow an uninhabited tiny island in the middle of nowhere, about 700 miles away to the north west. We have the spinnaker ready to go but it is too windy just yet!

In seemingly no time, we were passing Maupiti to port, surfing at 10 knots. There are still half a dozen ARC boats around us in close proximity, but those who were flying spinnakers have long taken them down again!

I made a chilli con carne for tea, mild as Rob not feeling to great in the swells and with the rolling, which went down well particularly as it was followed by a slice of banana cake that Anders (15) of Tintamara had made and presented to us this morning before we left for 'saving his arse' (his words) when we did the waterfalls hike on Nuke Hiva and he got himself lost. A really nice gesture and a really nice cake!

Our watch patterns are different now we have six on board. Dave and I are doing 3 hours on 3 hours off and the others 3 hours on 9 hours off. We shall see how it goes but I'm tired already!