Nothing happen again as we thought; this time to our advantage as we virtually never face any doldrum conditions  between 2 and 7 degrre north and we could regulary establish stages of more than 200 milles...without any engine use.

A really fast trip with the wind more and more from the back as we always sailed really east of the road to prevent a strong return of North East closed to Hawai, which fortunatly never blow. We drifted one night to arrived in Hilo early morning of 20st with a wind less than 10k.

5k of outflow in the AMANU pass again, we left at 12k on the ground to keep control...

1st reef is enough for the night if we want to sleep a bit out of our shift

Some Raivavae bananas ll finish in a kind of polynesian Poe

With special additives on board of ALCYONE

2 days later, we have to use 2reef...wich ll stay all the times up to Hilo

Very soon, 200 milles+ /24h become the norm, always on a track more EAST.

Conditions impose harness to prepare a fish (a yellofin here) in the back of starboard hull

An exhausting work...that the night shift don't balance

We follow twice a day the "POLYMAGNET"through the SSB : a nice but quite formal n pro cruisers'net in english.

Asiatic fisher on the way: Of course he ll cross in front of us for good luck

First Marlin for Jordan

We troll this  net probably all the night...

No way to dive under the hull without harness

Some lines are still blocked on skeg aluminium base

Latitude 0 degres...we are now in North Hemiphere

The doldrum must be between 4 n 8 degres N...but nothing bad, even no rain up to now

8 degree north, and the  Weather is windy and still relativly dry

Full speed in the doldrum !

Sea become strong as soon as the wind is above 20k, but we have the waves more from the backside now.

Flying fishes collection in the morning...

and a few minutes later,  more serious fight...

...a 6 feet Marlin;

followed by a long preparation

at level of this delicious fish eaten in sushi or "mi cuit"

No way to arrive during the night, we brake n sleep...

Hawai !

Event : The last Pamplemousse from RAIVAVAE !

Alcyone anchored in front of "glamour "Radio Marina in Hilo

Not so hugly from this side

Welcome to USA