South Pacific 2004 Voyage:
V199 Easter Island to Tahiti
See Previous 2004 Voyage Logs
NEW See Noreen's Voyage Log account
Easter Island was by far the most mystical place I have visited. There was a certain feeling about the island and its people were so proud of their island, their Rapa Nui. The days I spent ashore were better than I could have dreamed. The island and its history had such story to tell that the two days were not nearly enough. It is one of the places you must add to your “places to visit” list. Part One: 
Noreen Hill's Log part 2.
In Oa Pou voyage crew ventured ashore for a walk between the towering columns of rock while crew swam in the dark, almost black waters off the ship.
See Easter Island to Pitcairn and Tahiti picture gallerys here
19th May: Soren in Moorea, Tahiti Ship anchored in Cooks Bay for 2 nights prior to final destinations at Point Venus and Papeete on Thursday 20 May!
Saturday, May 15, 2004 12:08 PM
Yesterday (Fri 14th) we sailed from Fakarava 90 miles overnite & now anchored at
Apataki. Bright & colorful Tuomotus lots of snorkelling and walks on the atolls and finally meals on deck!
VCs are making the most of their last days on board - this 49 night voyage from Easter Island is finishing in Tahiti on the 21st, a week away.
Games of Scrabble on deck and seeing who can spit the pip of an olive the furthest (it has been a long trip .. Ed. ), good fun!
Tony says we will here stay tomrrow to have beach bbq & celebrate Marys b`day.
Depart Sunday for Tahiti, may stop at Moorea for one day before Papeete.
Hello to friends and family from all the crew onboard.
Cheers
Noreen
13th May 2004
Soren Larsen entered the lagoon at Fakarava atoll early yesterday evening - it is a wide pass into the massive lagoon and presented no problems - and then motored 5-6 miles to an anchorage and had a nice quiet night inside the protection of the coral reef.
They will stay at Fakarava tomorrow and then plan to go on to an uninhabited atoll the next day - the place is a particular favourite of Mary's from her 2001 voyage and therefore a most suitable spot to celebrate her birthday!
10th May 2004
Soren Larsen is under sail- on a broad reach starboard tack as the ship heads west away from the Marquesas and towards the atolls and lagoons of the Tuamotu group of French Polynesia.
| Position date & time |
|
2004-05-09 23:42:00 |
|
| Latitude |
|
11° 4' 52.80" S |
|
| Longitude |
|
142° 0' 52.80" W |
|
| Speed |
|
8 knots |
|
| Heading |
|
220 degrees |
|
| Wind speed |
|
14 knots |
|
| Wind direction |
|
E |
Soren Larsen arrived in to French Polynesia at the Marquesas on 29th April.
Tony and Eliane went ashore to clear customs at the town of Atuona on isle of Hiva Oa.
They will spend the next 7-8 days exploring the islands and anchorages of these spectacular islands.
Sunday 2nd May 2004
Have just had heavy rain! but today is OK but with very high humidity so we're all rather sticky. Yesterday we left Atuona on Hiva Oa, a very roly anchorage & sailed 12 miles to the Isle Tahuata to a good quiet bay called Vaitahu, where Capt Cook anchored in 1774!
Today some of the Voyage Crew went to church and said the singing was excellent.
Tonight we sail to Isle Ua-Pou about 74 miles north and west. The plan is to stay there Monday and depart Tuesday for Nuku-Hiva.
Alls well - Tony.
Position date & time |
2004-04-25 23:42:00 |
 |
Latitude |
14° 59' 24.00" S |
Longitude |
134° 12' 21.60" W |
Speed |
6 knots |
Heading |
298 degrees |
Wind speed |
16 knots |
Wind direction |
ESE |
Pressure |
1009 mbar |
Wind & swell wave height |
3 meters |
Wind wave height |
1 meters |
Wind wave period |
6 seconds |
Swell wave direction |
SSE |
Swell wave height |
3 meters |
Still slow progress, with 400 ms to go.
pos eta Thrsdy 29th. Otherwise all well here. Had large school of dolphins playing round ship last nite. Sailing again in humid tropical weather! |
Friday, April 23, 2004 1:59 PM
So far slow progress. Light head wnds since Pitcn. Today calm
and very hot, stopped for 30 mins to allow crew to swim! Still no wind
so now motoring towds Marq, still 730 miles away! eta in 6 days or so.
All well aboard - Tony.
| Position date & time |
2004-04-20 11:42:00 |
|
| Latitude |
23° 1' 33.60" S |
The satellite info indicates that the the light breeze has gone to the North and the ship is motor sailing overnight. |
| Longitude |
131° 36' 19.20" W |
| Speed |
6 knots |
| Heading |
325 degrees |
| Wind speed |
2 knots |
| Wind direction |
N |
| Pressure |
1011 mbar |
| Wind & swell wave height |
3 meters |
| Wind wave height |
0 meters |
| Wind wave period |
2 seconds |
| Swell wave direction |
SSW |
| Swell wave height |
3 meters |
| Swell wave period |
14 seconds |
| Primary wave direction |
SSW |
NEW Soren Larsen Noreen Hill's log of Auckland to Easter Island - part 1 here
Tuesday 20th April 2004
Hi all. 18.30 sail from Pitcairn! All hands aboard! And every body
in good spirits, a great visit. The large fenders bought in Auckland proved to be a good investment and no damage done by the aluminum large Pitcairn boats that ferried everyone out to the ship.
Motor-sailing at present but should be sailing soon with the F3 SE wind
towards the Marques as.
Tony.
Noreen writes:
We were welcomed with open arms & the hospitality the locals gave us was most appreciated. The Voyage Crew spent 2 nights ashore and crew each had a day to explore the island. Stacey & I were ecstatic when we saw the multitude of fruit and vergies we received from the families. Inevitably we wished we could have stayed longer at this unique place - what an amazing group of people, thank you Pitcairn! cheers, Noreen
Monday, April 19, 2004 7:39 AM
Hi all Still at PITCAIRN. Weather very good yesterday. Rain over night and today though. All
Voyage Crew except one spent a night ashore staying with the Pitcairners. Half the Permanent Crew including me had good day ashore yesterday and the second half of the P. Crew went ashore this morning. At moment rain has stopped and still overcast.
I went for good walk visited Christian’s cave and given excellent lunch
by Tom Christian and wife. The V.Crew are really enjoying their visit – which for some is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream!
All well aboard. Tony
Saturday, April 17, 2004 11:37 AM
We anchored off Pitcairn at 13.30 today!
Already 20 Voyage Crew have been picked up in the Pitcairn longboat and taken ashore. They will remain 2 nights returning to Soren Sunday pm. Permanent crew - half ashore tomorrow [Saturday] and half ashore Sunday. Apart from swell, weather is settled almost no wind so far so good. If it stays quiet I may go ashore tomorrow.
Tony
Friday, April 16, 2004 10:58 AM
Hi all We have Henderson Island 11 miles on the radar! At present speed
is slow 3.5 kts should pass Henderson in 3.5 hrs and ETA Pitcairn
about 1800 hrs tomorrow Friday evening. All well aboard all looking
forward to arrival!
Wed 14th April 2004
Tuesday, April 13, 2004 11:38 AM
Hi all Well the wind did back for 5hrs! as I wrote Saturday and then shifted
against us! A small low 200 miles South of us is the problem so we tacked
and stood NNE slowly increasing our distance from Pitcairn!
1245 today we tacked & are making SW and so we are at least decreasing the distance to Pitcairn! (Still 500 miles away)
As the low is slow moving I cant give an eta for Pitcairn at present.
Easter has been celebrated as usual with much eating of chocolata! The
Easter chicks [cooks] giving all Easter eggs
The weather is sunny sailing good with F4
All the best, Tony.
Saturday, April 10, 2004 1:50 PM
At last after 3 days of head winds… yes we have been beating
towards Pitcairn. This am the wind shifted to the SE after putting
in 4 tacks. One of our voyage crew, Martin, said “I have sailed in several tall ships thousands of miles and this is the first time I haved tacked!” Good old SL!
Last few days saw f7 & rain every watch. It is still over cast but wind is fair making 6.5 kts! Two days ago we sighted a large pod of Sperm whales, the first large whales we've seen this voyage!
Today is Good Friday So happy Easter to you all at home. All the best.
Tony.
Tuesday 6th April - Noreen writes:
Very light winds gave us the opportunity for a mid ocean swim 360 miles from Easter Island and 800 or so miles from from Pitcairn.
Couldn't get much further from land where water is 27 deg and the clearest blue imaginable. Spent 1/2hr off the side of the ship before returning to the deck to watch a spectacular sunset, and the moonrise is even better. Awesome day - all in great spirits prob due to constant sunshine and warm weather!
++
Sunday 4th April 2004
Hi all. The variables! Wind has boxed the compass. Some light rain but
we are sailing! The wind has come Easterly so are making our course at
5kts. All is well aboard. Today is Sunday so make and mend - no work except
to sail the ship. Nice to relax read a book. New Voy Crew settling in and having got their sealegs all well now. Tony
+++
Sat 3rd April 2004 - A brief message from Captain Tony Davies confirm that they have left Easter island and commenced this 49 day voyage to Tahiti.
We are on our way! Sailed off the anchor. Perfect conditions
F4 Sthly wind fine weather. New vc & old vc all well PC also in
good spirit. Good to be at sea again Pitcairn here we come!
