2 degres latitude North...we have some light South wind...this wind should switch sooner or later to south east; the challenge is to stay as closed as possible from this wind to gain some degrees eastward...If a Maramu arrive, (strong local wind from SE), it will be much more confortable !

Welcome to south Pacific !

First gift: a yellow tail..even Scott (vegetarian) ll eat it !

Sometimes, wind switch enough to use the Code 0...but not for long...we stay east of the direct road

...a bad discovery: this last watermelon is dead from inside...

the wind is light, but we must stay on the closed reach until 2 degres North

...even with 100% of the mainsail...

Scott, charging batteries, after 4th may equator crossing celebration (Captain Morgan)...

Everyday we gain 3 degrees to RIKITEA..219m/24h on 7th may

...reason is a Maramu is forecasted soon...

...That why most of the cruisers leaving Mexico sail to MARQUISES and not GAMBIER !

...The party start with gust to 30k then stabilize around 25k

ALCYONE sail with 2nd reef with a bit of jib...

the windvane is at 105 port; not too bad...

inside, cooking is becomes a real challenge...

...protecting the gas and blocking the pans is compulsory...

...as anybody can understand regarding these side waves...

In these conditions, challenge is to keep a reasonable speed around 8 k to limit the waves-shocks...

...but its sometimes impossible...

...200m per 24h during last week is the result...

...from a challenge, sleeping becomes natural...

3 times a wave like this one fill the cockpit with seawater...

...but , tks to the cat conception, all is out shortly...

After 3 days (n nights), wind ease and shift slowly...

...but the race is not finished...

...as we had to install the Code 0 again on last night to avoid the coming calms...

.

..on 23 may, GAMBIER is on sight...

...and after 21 days and 3350 miles on the water,

a carefull arrival through the easy west pass...

...ALCYONE arrive in the RIKITEA anchorage...