"There's not really a great deal to add to my previous reports about the crossing, except that we were very fortunate with the weather, and Hygeia is very robustly set up with strong reliable gear. So many other boats have suffered from problems with rig and gear failures (poor old Spring Gold lost her engine as we left Hiva Oa, and as you know we had to tow them in the last 7 miles. I'm proud to say that my engineer (ie David) was able to sort out the problem this morning - a block in the fuel pipe within the fuel-tank) We really enjoyed Hiva Oa - like all the Marquesas a dramatic Island with high mountains and precipitous, yet luxuriantly treed slopes, and no fringing reef.
"We had a great tour round the Island by cab - taxi no 1 - there is only 1! At the end he took all four of us to his home, sat us on his porch and gave us freshly pressed grapefruit-juice. Then his wife insisted on giving us a cornucopia of fruit - bananas, avocados, guavas, pamplemousses and limes. Not quite what you'd expect on a cab from King's Cross to Wapping - 'ere you are Guv, just thought I'd take you 'ome an introduce you to the old Dutch, an' 'ere's a few fags for the kids at 'ome.
"As you know we had a rather boisterous trip yesterday to Nuku Hiva, though today it's stiflingly hot. We're going ashore now, but I'm told there are no cybercafes, so no email.
"We'll leave for the Tuamotus either today or tomorrow, and hope to get to Tahiti in about a week."