Makemo E - Tahanea Middle Pass
After several windy days, we knew the pass would be in a 24/7 ebb. Constant outgoing current means that you can only choose how fast you are being shot out of the pass. So based on available information we decided that at 2pm we should be ready at the pass.
We hoisted the anchor around noon. It was a bit of a workout as it had dug itself deep into the white sand. We motored through the atoll and were greeted by two other boats on their way out. It is always nice when someone else has come to the same conclusion of the best pass timing as you. We watched Windhorse II and Plan B go out with approximate 4kn current, so with Plan B 0.7NM away and nearly through, we stepped into the conveyor belt of the pass and made our speedy way through. No significant standing waves were present, so after the pass we hoisted the main in 1st reef and poled out the staysail and were on our way!
In the darkness we gybed and continued on a fast beam reach till midnight watch change. At that point it was time to try and slow down, so we put in a second reef. That wasn’t quite enough, so at 3am and 5NM to the pass we hove to and waited for light. It was pleasant to see the boat drift at about 1kn slowly towards our destination, bow staying at about 50° AWA, and the turbulent slick left by our keel calming the breakers.
About a half hour before sunrise we eased the tiller and sheets, and continued our way towards the pass with just the reefed mainsail. Just at sunrise we slipped through with 2.5 to 3kn counter-current.
Powered by the mainsail and engine we made it through quick and smooth. Inside the atoll we packed in the sail and dug the anchor from the chain locker and dropped the hook. It was time to sleep and only think of navigating the atoll in the afternoon with the sun high on the sky to see the bommies.
- Distance today: 92NM
- Lunch: lentil-sweet potato stew
- Engine hours: 3.6
| Time |
Position |
Course |
Speed |
Log |
Weather |
Remarks |
| 07.06. 0:00 Z |
16°39'11"S
143°25'22"W
|
99°
|
4.4kt
|
17872.8NM
|
wind
5.3kt
221°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 07.06. 0:29 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'47"W
|
21°
|
0.4kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
4.6kt
238°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Anchored
|
| 07.06. 0:36 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'47"W
|
183°
|
0.2kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
5.4kt
242°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Stopped main engine
|
| 07.06. 18:57 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
277°
|
0.5kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
11.3kt
171°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 07.06. 19:09 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
342°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
11kt
166°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Watermaker 364ppm
|
| 07.06. 20:58 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
27°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
12.3kt
167°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Watermaker 228ppm
|
| 07.06. 22:36 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'48"W
|
223°
|
0.3kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
14kt
160°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Watermaker 207ppm
|
| 08.06. 0:43 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'48"W
|
37°
|
0.2kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
15.2kt
167°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Watermaker 193ppm
|
| 08.06. 1:52 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'48"W
|
91°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
15.1kt
157°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 195ppm
|
| 09.06. 21:53 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'49"W
|
357°
|
0.5kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
14.2kt
84°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 09.06. 22:06 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'49"W
|
16°
|
0.5kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
12kt
82°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Watermaker 362ppm
|
| 09.06. 23:51 Z |
16°39'15"S
143°23'49"W
|
351°
|
0.8kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
17.4kt
77°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Watermaker 228ppm
|
| 10.06. 1:28 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'49"W
|
28°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
8.3kt
96°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 195ppm
|
| 11.06. 21:46 Z |
16°39'15"S
143°23'48"W
|
24°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
3.9kt
314°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 11.06. 21:59 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'47"W
|
297°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
3kt
339°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Watermaker 319ppm
|
| 11.06. 23:41 Z |
16°39'15"S
143°23'48"W
|
185°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
3.9kt
343°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Watermaker 237ppm
|
| 12.06. 1:19 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
73°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
5kt
317°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 209ppm
|
| 12.06. 19:37 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
283°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
0.8kt
80°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 12.06. 19:49 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
192°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
2.4kt
24°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Watermaker 306ppm
|
| 12.06. 21:40 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
51°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
3.4kt
57°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Watermaker 250ppm
|
| 12.06. 22:24 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
88°
|
0kt
|
17874.5NM
|
wind
3.8kt
37°
baro 1012 hPa
|
Pumped the bilge
|
| 12.06. 23:25 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'48"W
|
254°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
2.5kt
184°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 238ppm. We have a leak in the system, output maybe 60%
|
| 13.06. 2:31 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
56°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
1.8kt
16°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Changed watermaker o-rings
|
| 13.06. 2:46 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
149°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
1.4kt
47°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 13.06. 2:58 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
181°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
0.2kt
305°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Watermaker 255ppm
|
| 13.06. 4:41 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
311°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
1.9kt
53°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 205ppm
|
| 13.06. 18:18 Z |
16°39'15"S
143°23'47"W
|
256°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
3kt
9°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 13.06. 18:33 Z |
16°39'15"S
143°23'47"W
|
226°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
2.4kt
349°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Watermaker 258ppm
|
| 13.06. 20:17 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'47"W
|
243°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
5kt
270°
baro 1013 hPa
|
Watermaker 219ppm
|
| 13.06. 21:57 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
195°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
2.3kt
259°
baro 1012 hPa
|
Watermaker 207ppm
|
| 13.06. 23:37 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
140°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
4.7kt
230°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Watermaker 204ppm
|
| 14.06. 0:30 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
165°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
3.7kt
233°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Watermaker 200ppm. Going to Plan B.
|
| 14.06. 2:07 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
8°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
8.1kt
215°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Watermaker 198ppm.
|
| 14.06. 2:50 Z |
16°39'13"S
143°23'47"W
|
351°
|
0kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
5.9kt
210°
baro 1011 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 198ppm
|
| 17.06. 21:53 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'48"W
|
217°
|
0.4kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
15.5kt
103°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Started main engine
|
| 17.06. 22:02 Z |
16°39'14"S
143°23'47"W
|
356°
|
0.8kt
|
369.2NM
|
wind
19.2kt
126°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Anchor up, motoring
|
| 17.06. 23:00 Z |
16°39'23"S
143°28'41"W
|
259°
|
5.4kt
|
374NM
|
wind
18.4kt
113°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 0:00 Z |
16°38'10"S
143°33'32"W
|
356°
|
1.5kt
|
379NM
|
wind
20.6kt
129°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 0:25 Z |
16°36'35"S
143°34'24"W
|
302°
|
5.6kt
|
380.9NM
|
wind
15.6kt
122°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Motor stopped, sailing with Main (1st reef), Staysail
|
| 18.06. 0:27 Z |
16°36'27"S
143°34'29"W
|
333°
|
5.9kt
|
381.1NM
|
wind
20.9kt
125°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Autopilot activated
|
| 18.06. 0:34 Z |
16°35'52"S
143°34'54"W
|
328°
|
5.4kt
|
381.8NM
|
wind
21.4kt
118°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Autopilot deactivated, windvane steering
|
| 18.06. 1:00 Z |
16°34'6"S
143°36'54"W
|
297°
|
6kt
|
384.4NM
|
wind
14kt
122°
sea state 3/10
clouds 7/8
visibility 7/10
baro 1014 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 2:00 Z |
16°29'59"S
143°41'24"W
|
311°
|
6.4kt
|
390.4NM
|
wind
19.9kt
106°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 3:00 Z |
16°26'19"S
143°45'40"W
|
310°
|
5.4kt
|
396NM
|
wind
19.2kt
106°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 4:00 Z |
16°22'48"S
143°50'6"W
|
306°
|
6.4kt
|
401.5NM
|
wind
17kt
113°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 5:00 Z |
16°23'8"S
143°55'21"W
|
248°
|
7kt
|
407.3NM
|
wind
23.7kt
118°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 6:00 Z |
16°25'29"S
144°1'42"W
|
259°
|
5.7kt
|
413.9NM
|
wind
19.5kt
113°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 7:00 Z |
16°28'22"S
144°7'35"W
|
236°
|
3.5kt
|
420.3NM
|
wind
20kt
95°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 8:00 Z |
16°32'17"S
144°12'58"W
|
242°
|
5.9kt
|
426.8NM
|
wind
21.3kt
102°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 9:00 Z |
16°35'52"S
144°18'46"W
|
237°
|
6.9kt
|
433.5NM
|
wind
20.8kt
100°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 9:22 Z |
16°37'6"S
144°20'46"W
|
256°
|
6.3kt
|
435.8NM
|
wind
18.9kt
103°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Alarm: Water in the bilge (electrical.venus-input.1.stateNumber)
|
| 18.06. 9:25 Z |
16°37'28"S
144°21'32"W
|
237°
|
5.8kt
|
436.6NM
|
wind
19.5kt
114°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Cleared after 3 min: Water in the bilge, 8 transitions
|
| 18.06. 9:56 Z |
16°38'34"S
144°23'59"W
|
256°
|
5.8kt
|
439.2NM
|
wind
19.6kt
104°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Sails set: Main (2nd reef), Staysail. We need slow down a bit for arrival timing
|
| 18.06. 10:00 Z |
16°38'42"S
144°24'20"W
|
251°
|
6kt
|
439.6NM
|
wind
17.8kt
114°
sea state 4/10
clouds 1/8
visibility 7/10
baro 1016 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 11:00 Z |
16°41'39"S
144°29'9"W
|
241°
|
5.5kt
|
445.1NM
|
wind
18.8kt
107°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 11:29 Z |
16°42'53"S
144°31'28"W
|
242°
|
6.2kt
|
447.6NM
|
wind
18.2kt
114°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Lots of shooting stars
|
| 18.06. 12:00 Z |
16°44'41"S
144°33'19"W
|
210°
|
6kt
|
450.2NM
|
wind
20.6kt
95°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 13:00 Z |
16°47'53"S
144°36'56"W
|
256°
|
1.3kt
|
455NM
|
wind
15.8kt
94°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hand steering
|
| 18.06. 13:00 Z |
16°47'53"S
144°36'56"W
|
262°
|
1.2kt
|
455NM
|
wind
14.4kt
97°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Sails set: Main (2nd reef). Heaved to on port tack
|
| 18.06. 14:00 Z |
16°48'39"S
144°37'34"W
|
203°
|
1.5kt
|
456NM
|
wind
17.2kt
103°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 14:39 Z |
16°49'15"S
144°38'3"W
|
189°
|
0.9kt
|
456.7NM
|
wind
17.5kt
98°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Had a brief conversation with SV Senyera that is soon passing us behind. They also aim for the Tahanea pass around 6am local
|
| 18.06. 15:00 Z |
16°49'35"S
144°38'16"W
|
340°
|
1kt
|
457.2NM
|
wind
21.8kt
112°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 15:33 Z |
16°50'11"S
144°38'36"W
|
239°
|
5.3kt
|
457.9NM
|
wind
24.1kt
112°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Back to sailing
|
| 18.06. 15:47 Z |
16°50'18"S
144°39'51"W
|
233°
|
5.4kt
|
459.1NM
|
wind
24.4kt
116°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Sails down, motoring
|
| 18.06. 16:00 Z |
16°50'59"S
144°40'49"W
|
227°
|
5.8kt
|
460.2NM
|
wind
23kt
116°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 16:46 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'36"W
|
7°
|
0.7kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
14.7kt
115°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Anchored
|
| 18.06. 16:54 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'37"W
|
248°
|
0.3kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
16.6kt
102°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Stopped main engine
|
| 18.06. 21:06 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'37"W
|
298°
|
0.3kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
16.8kt
120°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Started watermaker
|
| 18.06. 21:21 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'37"W
|
214°
|
0.1kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
14.8kt
97°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Watermaker 323ppm
|
| 18.06. 21:55 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'37"W
|
309°
|
0.5kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
14.7kt
112°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Started main engine
|
| 18.06. 22:02 Z |
16°50'52"S
144°41'36"W
|
287°
|
0.8kt
|
462.3NM
|
wind
15.3kt
101°
baro 1016 hPa
|
Anchor up, motoring
|
| 18.06. 22:57 Z |
16°52'58"S
144°40'30"W
|
155°
|
3.6kt
|
464.8NM
|
wind
17.6kt
89°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Autopilot activated
|
| 18.06. 23:00 Z |
16°53'6"S
144°40'25"W
|
135°
|
2.8kt
|
464.9NM
|
wind
20.2kt
105°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Hourly position log
|
| 18.06. 23:03 Z |
16°53'15"S
144°40'20"W
|
155°
|
3.4kt
|
465.1NM
|
wind
20.5kt
96°
baro 1015 hPa
|
Stopped watermaker, 228ppm
|
| 18.06. 23:22 Z |
16°54'4"S
144°39'47"W
|
149°
|
3.8kt
|
466.1NM
|
wind
18.6kt
99°
baro 1014 hPa
|
Autopilot deactivated. The tiller arm was getting stuck and did not steer properly.
|