Bora Bora to Aitutaki

Another 500 miles under our keel and we arrived in Aitutaki, the first of the Cook Islands we are to visit. We have said our fond farewells to French Polynesia, having thoroughly enjoyed our stay in each of the groups. So here we are in the Cooks and guess what, they speak English here!!! The first English speaking country we've visited since leaving Trinidad 4 years ago (if you can call what they speak there English). How simple things have suddenly become now that we can actually ask a question and understand the answer?

We left Bora Bora heading westwards and slightly south which should have taken us three or four days. However, it took us five - no wind, not a whiff, not a breeze, only the very occasional little waft of air that appeared a couple of times and had us rushing around to put up the cruising chute only to have it fall limply and serve no purpose other than to frustrate. Needless to say, we succumbed again to the iron genny for most of the trip. The seas were dead flat and, with a relatively full moon most of the way; it really was quite a pleasant and relaxing trip. Paul managed to catch three enormous Mahi Mahi but put one back. The freezer was already full after the first catch so he dried most of the second for later.

Aitutaki proved to be a terrific stop but for one thing. The inner lagoon is far too shallow for the likes of our keelboat so we had to anchor on the outside of the pass. Unfortunately, this was so incredibly rolly and uncomfortable; we knew we wouldn't be able to stay for long. Also, as our luck has been running, we could feel the anchor chain grinding away wrapped tightly around a coral head. - a bit worrying.

Despite this, we were able to enjoy the island for a couple of days, renting scooters to get around and take in the sights. The people were just so incredibly friendly and welcoming, just as we have found so many of these South Pacific people to be.

Around the anchorage, we were treated to a few large turtle sightings and a wonderful display of humpback whales at play. Now is the time of year that they arrive in these waters to breed before heading back to the Antarctic in another month or so. Let's just hope they stay out where we can just watch them; they are rather large and bumping into one would not be recommended.