Finally we got back. At 28th June 2006 we were allowed to enter the marina in Cairns. We had to anchor outside town the night before, as we arrived after 4pm (bureaucracy is the same all over the world!).

The next day the owner of SY Krisco, Chris and his friends arrived. So Luke and me travelled back to Airlie. On the 30th June we woke up in the terraces, after a short night in a bed that was not moving.

Noumea is very european and very 'rich' compared to the other pacific island states. The red mountains on the east side of the island let us already feel a little bit aussie. The rest is green, the mountains 'Dololimte-like' in my reckoning. There is a lot of tourism, the strong wind in the bays makes them to Mekkas for Kite- and Windsurfers. Further there are many beachsurrounded islands, reef, heaps of fish - we even saw a seasnake. Respectfully, the boys jumped back when it came ashore.

On the way to Cairns we visited the Amedee island: an old lighthouse, signs, bathrooms, a restaurant, beachchairs - but not a single person. It was monday, no tours today!

Und wieder eine Woche auf See.
20.06., Dave:"We haven't done 8 knots and not banged before, Luke." Good wind with little or no swell. The boat does 8knots speed. Normally the waves crash in between the hulls in that speed.
21.06., Luke and Dave, "I took it from behind 11.000 miles, I have it over, I wouldn't mind it coming from an angle, but not sliding it straight in", referring to the fact we had downwind (straight up the arse) the whole crossing.

First no wind, like nearly all the time. That means 10 days on sea: sucks massively! After three days we get a good portion of wind for a couple of days, 30 knots: banging speed. That is the situation throughout the whole journey: no wind or 30 knots with big swell. Without wind it is boring: no sailing, just hanging around, cleaning, reading, drinking, ... killing time.

On 6th of June we finally saw land again. Neiafu is the little northern one of the tongan islands. It is nearly a developping country in standards. Within an hour half the town were on our boat and the princes paid a visit to the island, too, having a boat not much bigger than ours. Neiafu has a very small Marina and the people are very catholic. It is very cruise friendly, because it is not that reefy (the water is usually deep enough).

Tonga is a really nice place, untouched green islands everywhere, absolute clear water, dolphins jumping out of the water.

Nach ein paar Tagen auf Bora Bora geht es weiter nach Tonga. Nach einem Tag schon haben wir keinen Wind mehr, das heisst wir benutzen mehr oder weniger nur den Motor. Ray (Raytheon der Autopilot) macht alles. Nur nachts muessen wir Wache schieben und nach Schiffen Ausschau halten, alle 3 Stunden jemand anders (sucks!). Wenn ich doch nur mal eines sehen wuerde! Immer nur Wasser, Wasser, Wasser, bis zum Horizont, hin und wieder mal ein fliegender Fisch (ja, die gibt es!). Mittags sitzen wir in der Lounge, trinken Cerveza Panama und entwerfen abenteuerliche Geschichten von unserer Ueberfahrt (ein riesiger Tintenfisch ist aufgetaucht und hat Luke gegriffen. Aber wir konnten ihn mit Allesreinigerspruehflschen wieder befreien und den Tintenfisch vertreiben). Abendessen ist das Tageshighlight, vor allem wenn Du selbst an der Reihe bist. Obwohl, gestern fanden wir ein Stueck oranges Rohr im Wasser!

5 th June
Wir haben immer noch keinen richtigen Wind. Oder wenn, dann aus der falschen Richtung. Deshalb haben wir in den letzten Tag den Alkoholkonsum erhoeht, und jetzt ist ploetzlich 4 Tage weiter. Einen Tag haben wir durch passieren der Datumsgrenze verloren, aber wo sind die anderen geblieben?

Gestern nacht hat alle 5 Minuten ein anderes Geraet gepiepst: Radar, Autopilot, GPS, ... Schliesslich haben wir alles ausgeschalten (bis auf Ray natuerlich). Ich konnte nicht schlafen, da das Boot staendig neue Geraeusche entwickelt - von seinen 23 existierenden ganz abgesehen. Gerade als ich auf Deck schlafen wollte, fing es an zu regnen. Also stimmte ich ins taegliche Schimpfen ein. Doch irgendetwas an meiner Aussprache von c-u-n-t muss speziell lustig sein, die Jungs koennen nicht genug davon bekommen.

Nach missglueckten Eggs Benedict (russische Eier mit Sauce Hollandaise - huetet Euch vor niederlaendisch-karibischer Hollandaise!) schauten Luke und ich ein Video und nutzten dann fuer ein paar Stunden die 4m2 unserer Kabine.

Der Mond haengt diese Nacht halb und orange in seiner typisch laessigen suedhemisphaeren Schuessel - ich kann mich einfach nicht daran gewoehnen.

After a very quiet and sunny day we arrived in Bora Bora on 27th May. Supersunny and a lush green island that looks especially postcardbeautiful due to the big mountain in the middle. As Dave spent time with some other yachties, Luke and me set off with the white dinghy and cruised to the southern end. I saw three big rays. The water is absolutely clear and of perfect temperature. During snorkeling in front of Hotel Bora Bora we met many fishies, lots of them funny flutefishies.

Bora Bora is very nice. Sadly it is very touristy. Nearly all beaches and lagoons are covered with these little traditional paperhuts - resorts. My tip for tahiti is definetly to go to Mo'orea, stay at a little pension, hotel or where I stayed, the Campsite Nelson (double and triple huts) - with a little beach right in front, 'cheaper' prizes and local life with you (fishing, paddling, boating, harvesting, ...).

Name - Isabelle Diebold
Nationality - German I Age - 27
Status - Partner
Experience - Dinghys and Maxissince January 2006
Weight - 50 kg I Weightloss Leg I - 2kg

On May 25th we finally startet. I joined Dave (40) and my Partner Luke (30), both professional Skippers. The Mission was to deliver a Fountaine Pajot 46 to Cairns (Australia). So we put the dinghy on the boat, pulled the ropes in and drove out of the harbour. I climbed on the boon, opened the Boombag and pulled up the mainsail. Up we went in nearly 30 knots, rocking in 5 m waves - and I were sick. It seems I am not quite fit for the Volvo70s yet. Due to a lot of drinking in the Papeete Pubs the night before, my companions did not feel much better. Fortunately this was the only occasion on the whole journey I was 'seasick'.