Pacific Crossing, Part V — The Halfway Mark

We are now, according to our maps, half way to our destination. We have decided to head for the island of Hiva Oa instead of Nuku Hiva. Hiva Oa is a little further south in the Marquesas group of islands and from there it is a shorter trip to Fatu Hiva, which is an island that is apparently worth seeing. So, why don't we just head directly to Fatu Hiva? Well, first we must check in to the country, clearing through customs and immigration as you would do on arrival to any new country and we can only do that in either Nuku Hiva or Hiva Oa where there are ports of entry. From Fatu Hiva, we will make our way North again before heading West to Tahiti.

Coincidentally, we have also just about completed half of our three year adventure. If you remember, we had started with the plan to be out sailing for three or four years, but have since decided that we will stop after three years. It was not an easy decision as there are still so many places we would like to explore. Jens' ambition had been to cross the Pacific Ocean and although he would easily continue with this lifestyle for much longer, he knows that I yearn to be home again.

By this time next year we will begin the preparations to go home and continue with our careers. What that will mean, we don't yet know. We spend a lot of time discussing various options and scenarios. But who knows what will transpire. I have often said, if you keep an open mind doors will open up that you never thought of and opportunities will come.

We have been 10 days at sea. They have been largely uneventful (which is a good thing!) and the wind has been favorable. The past five days or so we have sailed an average of 175 miles per day. I am hoping this trend will continue which means we reach landfall in another 10 days.

In this big vast ocean we are but a tiny little speck.