It was in the middle of the night when we arrived outside the island Nuku Hiva. We don’t like to go into a crowded anchorage at night so we decided to just wait outside. The wind was 20 to 25 but it was increasing and the sea started to ruff with waves at three to four meters in average. Then we just waited for the morning. But the wind soon was between 30 and 35 and there was no sign it was going to decrease so we tried to get a bit closer to the island and found some relief from the wind. Before first light we motored into the anchorage and it’s so nice to have the shelter of the high island after a ruff night.
Anchoring in Nuku Hiva is in a huge bay. Well sheltered from all winds except due south. However that’s very rare. The depth is a bit on the deep side if you don’t have a lot of chain and it’s a place we don’t want to be if there is a strong southern coming. When we anchor usually Jin keep an eye on the depth and when she say it’s good and I think we are in a good place I drop the anchor. This time I asked how deep it was and Jin said 40 feet. So I let the anchor go and let out little more than 50 feet. The intention was to adjust it within five minutes or so and put out a lot more. But we had no wind and it was calm in the bay. So I left to prepare some other stuff inside the boat when I see a boat passing very close. I went out and found that we were dragging. Hm, how come. Then I was looking at the depth meter and found the cable loose, the instrument in ‘simulation’ mode ! Marked with a tiny message at the bottom. When I got the instrument connected I saw the depth was 70 feet ! So the anchor was still far from the bottom ! Not a good way to anchor, but a good learning. Check the cables !
Nuku Hiva is a much better place to anchor compared to Hiva OA. Here we can also find almost anything we need. Ok, not the best stuff and not stainless, but something that will keep us going to Tahiti ! and that is what we need right now. Silicon is always good to have. Fishing gear ! and some ropes.
Our friends on the Kokomo arrived the next day. They stopped at the smaller island close to Nuku Hiva to make some repair to their sailes on the way.
The anchorage in the background. Calm on a windy day, Nuku Hiva.
This stop was not intended and but we had a nice week here and got some important stuff in the hardware store as well so I guess we was a bit lucky again. We also got some fishing gear. A couple of big fishes took our best lures and just got away. I could hear the line going out but long before I had a chance to put my hands on the rod, it was too late. Lure and line gone. Here we also had a couple of amazing views.
This is from the old ancient place were they actually offered people to their gods. Nowadays it’s a place for parties and ancient games.
Where the wind takes us 