From 15th, conditions soften a lot, n we can remove the 3rd reef; but expected Alizee don't show up, we could sail half of the road with weakening westerlies before tacking the last couple of days in light northerlies.

Not so bad as ALCYONE is back to a very pleasant tropical cruising mode with fish on the line, code O use n nice lazzy full moon sailing to make a morning landfall in RAIRUA, main village of RAIVAVAE on 18th; fortunatly as NAVIONIC charts are completly wrong here and you must rely on what you see and the local beacons.

After these 26 days at sea, force is to reconnize that the remotness of the area and the "freedom" of the wheather give a real challenge for any cruiser, but i should confess that in my whole sailing life, I  never met a worst situation than a unnexpected Mistral coup in mediterranean sea...

Instead of easterlies, we get westerlies...but still ok to sail north

Back to tropical cruising n fishing...lack of coordination... Jordan miss a Mahi Mahi...

but got his first fish (much smaller) shortly later

The wind is dying and we have to use the code O again...

First bread from a british on board

Northerlies now...to sail north...very far from our expectations, but we have to play

still a couple of tacking days in light wind with moonlight ...

and some tacks later Raivavae is just in front of ALCYONE

A nice cruiser inside advise us to forget NAVIONICS charts here...

...as completly wrong, but no problem as the pass is wide,  the wheather excellent n the local beacons perfects

After 26 days...time to open the single champagne bottle on board

...and a friendly think to Gerard DANSON, designer n builder of these robust OUTREMER 55light

No doubt we are in Polynesia: Bruno the friendly shopkeeper of Rairua

...and his famous windowscreen

The delicious n free "Pamplemousses"onshore...

...the smiling local kids practicing the national sport...

the smiles of the reef 's clam too...

...lagoon's colors even without sun...

...The local made "Marara"...