Logs from Lille Ø

2026-07-12 - Rotoava - Anse Amyot

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:36:14 +0000

At sunrise we were already outside in the 1kn wind getting the anchor up. After the 360° change in wind, we had a bit of the chain under a rock but we managed to wrangle it out without getting wet. As we were motoring out, the wind picked up a bit and turned southerly, several hours earlier than in the forecast. So we changed our plan. Instead of heading back to the Fakarava south pass, we headed out towards Toau. At least in that direction we had a small chance of sailing.

We hit the pass 45 minutes before slack. The current created a wide band of standing waves in the middle of the pass, but the NE side of the pass was still water, so we motored out. After the pass we hoisted the full main and genoa and had nice sailing wind for about 5 minutes. After that the wind dwindled to near nothing and we motorsailed onwards.

The day was a gray one. It didn’t properly rain but you did get wet in just minutes by standing outside. In the lee of the atoll, we enjoyed our calm day of motoring. In the afternoon we spotted the sea markers for the Anse Amyot and went in. What a feeling to just go in! As Anse Amyot is a ‘blind pass’ that doesn’t fully go through, there is no significant current and the reef protects us in 270° around us. Here we are tied to a mooring ball and will wait for the right wind to head towards Tahiti.

Distance today: 39.5NM
Lunch: Miisa’s cous cous salad
Engine hours: 7.9

2026-07-10 - Tumakohua - Rotoava

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:03:01 +0000

The winds keep rotating, and so one needs to migrate to the right end of the atoll. Especially here. Fakarava has over 30NM of fetch in the wrong conditions. But we had a chance to snorkel the Unesco Nature site Wall of Sharks, and enjoyed a lovely dinner ashore.

And so at sunrise we were again hoisting anchor. What followed was another glorious daysail on a fast beam reach. Unlike most atolls, Fakarava is actually charted and hence one can sail here. In the end we even tacked a bit to get around a pearl farm in lake-like conditions.

The anchorage in front of Rotoava town is deep and full of boats, but we managed to find a good spot. At least for a day or two until wind turns again.

Distance today: 29NM
Lunch: not yet
Engine hours: 0.8

2026-07-07 - Motu Taharoa - Tumakohua

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 03:37:52 +0000

After a rough night, at sunrise we hoisted the anchor. Overnight the wind did a 200 degree shift that turned our of anchorage to a shitty one with a lee shore uncomfortably close. But that is life on the atolls. You have never good coverage for big windshifts.

After anchor was up, we headed to the pass and went from the tumoltuos sea inside the atoll to the smooth seas of the open ocean. We rolled out the full genoa accompanied by the mainsail and were on our merry way towards Fakarava. In the lee of Tahanea we made good progress. With no waves we were flying towards our destination.

At midday, we had already done over half of the passage. We might make it in before sunset! As the low slack tide was at 3 and after we would have a gentle current with us. So the only limitation was daylight. So instead of a leisurly overnighter this became an active daysail with constant adjustments to the sails in the variable 10 to 15 kn of wind.

At 16:45 we were at the pass and after visually confirming the smooth seas in the pass we motored in. At times the 3kn current pushed us in fast and after going around the marked reef we dropped the hook with 10 minutes of daylight left! Our first daysail in Tuamotus!

Tomorrow we shall check the Tumakohua pass by snorkel. It is the home for the world famous ‘wall of sharks’!

Distance today: 54.6NM
Lunch: sandwitches
Engine hours: 1.9

2026-07-05 - Tahanea NE - Motu Taharoa

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 03:19:16 +0000

The wind continues to back, so it was again time to move. We spent the morning on boat projects, and then hoisted anchor for a short jump closer to the three atoll passes.

Easy trip in light winds, with barely a bommie in sight. We were able to tuck the boat snugly behind the stream of the tiny Passe Otao. As there are no actually good spots for a 270° wind shift, we hope the tidal stream will smoothen the waves a bit.

After dropping the hook we ensured none of the nearby coral heads come too high, and rowed to see the pass on an incoming tide. Beautiful corals!

Distance today: 4.3NM
Lunch: spaghetti aglio e olio
Engine hours: 1.5

2026-07-02 - Tahanea E - Tahanea NE

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:38:45 +0000

In expectation of a 360° wind shift, we moved to the NE corner of the atoll. We motored the 5NM towards north and found a bommie-free spot in 6 meters deep after a bit of searching. Now we can explore the close by motus and enjoy a new scenery.

Distance today: 5.3NM
Breakfast: rye bread with cheese
Engine hours: 1.7

Video postcard: Lille Ø in Tuamotus

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 05:00:32 +0000

2026-06-18 - Tahanea Middle Pass - Tahanea E

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:25:24 +0000

After a nap and coffee the sun was high enough, and we hoisted the anchor.

Wind was slightly down from sunrise, but still in the 20kn range, driving big rolling waves through the 8NM fetch on the atoll. We decided to motorsail to keep the boat moving despite the excessive hobby horsing.

As always, bommie dodging in these uncharted waters was quite challenging, with waves occasionally splashing the lookout standing in the rear of the boat. But it was all worth it, we’re again anchored in a gorgeous and protected spot. And getting ready for the Midsummer.

Distance today: 10NM
Lunch: spaghetti with homemade pesto
Engine hours: 3.2

2026-06-18 - Makemo E - Tahanea Middle Pass

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:33:49 +0000

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

2026-06-06 - Pouheva - Makemo E

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 01:23:12 +0000

In the morning we completed the boat’s provisioning by rowing to get some fresh croissants from the village bakery. Then we waited for the sun to move to a better angle and hoisted anchor.

Soon we were able to fly full sail, and ghost along the still atoll on a gentle breeze. Sun was high and behind us, making bommie avoidance easy. And with this wind direction, the sails provided a nice shade for the lookout.

Now we are anchored in the east end of the Makemo atoll. Water is very clear here, and there are many reefs to explore. But first we’ll have to wait out some higher winds over the next two days.

Distance today: 10NM
Lunch: melanzanchini
Engine hours: 1.4

2026-06-03 - Garumaoa - Pouheva

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:36:24 +0000

There are passages that are easy, and there are passages that are nice. This was neither. We were supposed to sail on beam reach from Raroia to Makemo, following a gentle curve of a backing wind.

With this plan, we timed ourselves to slack water at the pass. And indeed there was no current, but as a sign of things to come, quite big and sharp waves that carried through the pass.

We exited together with Plan B. We were hobbyhorsing quite badly in the swell, and soon they overtook us and headed for the horizon.

Wind turned way earlier than anticipated, and what followed was a tough beat into big waves and quite changing winds. At times we were making comfortable progress with 60° wind angle and 15kn of wind, and other times we were bobbing about with no wind.

And then there were the squalls. 33kn, 36kn, and the last one taking the crown at 45kn. With sails up, the best option was to run with these, losing an hour or two of progress in just minutes. After the last squall, the wind died and we had to motor in. At least we timed the pass correctly and had a totally smooth ride in with 1.5kn of favourable current.

Distance today: 94NM
Lunch: lentil turnip curry
Engine hours: 8.4

2026-06-01 - Raroia E - Garumaoa

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:47:47 +0000

Anchor got up slightly after planned departure time, but it came up easily. The pearl floats make hoisting anchor by hand lighter. Then we started motoring to the other side of the atoll.

We needed to keep a extremely vigilant lookout, as the Raroia East anchorage has a lot of unused pearl farm ropes and floats partially submerged around it. On many occasions we needed to turn the engine on neutral and hope we glide over the ropes without getting tangled. In this kind of a place a full keel is a good keel form as the likelyhood of getting caught by the derelict ropes is smaller.

We anchored in close proximity to the pier, but the supply ship for this month already did its visit last week. We are going for dinner on land with one of the local families.

Distance today: 7NM
Lunch: wraps with hummus
Engine hours: 1.9