We unrolled some jib and stabilized the boat against the beam seas. After about ten minutes the wind went a little further aft and we unrolled more jib and actually picked up some speed. It took about an hour to travel around the east coast, then turn west and run down to Anaho. We dropped the anchor with the sun already over the hill and were having a beer with Rob and Thia on Changing Spots within 30 minutes.
The last two days have been boat chores and laundry. We still get rain here, but no as much as in Taiohae so Fay is able to get all the wash done (a month's worth!) and we do projects outside without being constantly wet. And the water is not muddied with run off so we can run the water maker. The scenery is spectacular.
Last night Fay organized a "floating cocktail party". Cruisers from four boats motored to the windward side of the bay, lashed the dinghies together and proceeded to share munchies, cocktails and stories as we drifted across the bay back towards the boats. When we had drifted all the way across, one of the dinghies dropped an anchor and we chatted until well after dark.
We're starting our detailed look at the Tuamotus, looking at the weather and figuring out where to make our landfall. The Tuamotus are a large collection of atolls, basically just the rim of a volcano sunk to sea level. They are very low and difficult to see until you are quite close, with strong currents between them, and in the passes that allow us in/out of the lagoons within. Quite a contrast to the towering mountains of the Marquesas.
A few more boat chores and a little more study, then we depart in 2-3 days.
