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UPDATE
- TALLSHIP SOREN LARSEN RETURNS IN 2004 TO EASTER ISLAND - PITCAIRN
- MARQUESAS & TAHITI
2 April - 21 May - See more here
Tues 24 April 2001
Nuku Hiva, Marquesas
The ship has spent a couple of days here and having moved alongside
the wharf to take on fresh water is departing for Tahiti. They
expect to stop once in the Tuamotos before reaching Papeete.
Just in - Sally's Web Log report from Easter Island onwards.
See below! 
 25 April. Just recieved -
First Mate Sally Anderson's Web Log report from Easter Island onwards. This is written at
sea a couple of weeks ago as they sail towards the Marquesas. In this first installment
Sally reviews their time at Easter Island and the voayge to Pitcairn:
"Today is Saturday the 14th of
April and I think we are 150 odd miles off the Marquesas, the North Eastern group of
islands within French Polynesia.
One should never assume at sea, but the reason I only "think" we are here is
that not only is the GPS covered up, but now the compass too!!
We have taken the art of navigation another step back -
Polynesian Navigation. Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia form Oceania; a term used
to describe the area of the Pacific bound by Hawaii in the North, Easter Island in the
East, New Zealand in the South and New Guinea in the West. Oceania’s colonisation, we
believe, originated from mainland and island South East Asia starting nearly 3500 years
ago. The methods used to navigate the Pacific then is what we have adopted from about 300
nautical miles south of the Marquesas and I’ll elaborate on these methods further on
in the weblog The last weblog ended with the ship anchored off Hanga Roa, Easter Island.
 Everyone
was enthralled with Rapa Nui. The famous stone statues are known
as Moais. The quantity, variety and size of these statues held
us in awe. The quarry where they where sculptured still contains
many partly finished Moai. As the majority of Moais where surrounding
the coast, it was intriguing to speculate how they were transported
there from the inland quarry. But the Moais are only part of
the wonder of this amazing island. The three volcano craters
where spectacular sights, in particular Rano Kau, forming the
southern end of the island.
 The
Bird Man history was also fascinating. A boy from each of the
islands villages would be chosen to descend the cliffs at Orongo,
the sea facing cliffs of the crater Rano Kau. And swim to a
small island about half a mile off where he would collect a
particular birds egg and return with it, back up the cliff to
his village chief. The first chief to hold an undamaged egg
would rule the island for a year. The Bird Man images were stunning.
If you ever get the chance to go to Easter Island - GO!
Fri 23rd March
A busy morning spent preparing the ship to sail. "Old" VCrew returning to the
ship and "new" VC settling in. A wide assortments of fresh fruit, vegetables and
stores arriving. The deck looks like a busy market morning. The vegie nets on deck are
brimming with watermelons, avocados and pineapples and huge banana tree branches are
lashed about the deck.
At 1415 we sail off the anchorage with a fair North Easterly
wind. Easter Island lies at approximately 27 degrees South Latitude while Pitcairn lies at
25 degrees so our course is more or less westerly.
Sun 25th March
Bacon and Eggs day. The wind has freshened and we’ve been making a good 5
knots. Fishing buoys reported by the bow watch, so rescue boat launched for Man Over Board
practice. We have added a fourth group to the watch system, the day-workers. Everyone
rotates between the deck and day watches weekly. The day workers look after dishes and are
involved in deck maintenance and get the chance to cook dinner for a night!
Mon 26th March
 NE’ly winds, but light. The Jim Cottier School of Navigation
has expanded its syllabus. Now available, a beginners and an advanced class in celestial
nav!!
Celestial Navigation is the "in" thing aboard. VC and
PC alike are keen to learn as much as possible. Jim holds his classes most afternoons
after smoko.
If the moons up and not new, or the clouds allow stars at
twilight or it’s around noon, there’s a mad dash to get to the sextants.
Tue 27th March
Steady NE winds, force three. We have a stow-a-way from Easter Island. A lone cricket, as
in the insect, and a very loud one at that. His new home is somewhere on the windlass and
his chirping is quite entertaining for the bow watch at dusk, but most infuriating for the
fo’c’sle dwellers in the wee hours!!
Wed 28th March
In the early hours the wind abates to barely light airs. Main Engine starts at 0430 but
off again at 0830, the morning brings a NNE’ly wind, just on force three.
The first day-workers dinner!! The Pan - Celtic Dinner. A huge success, the theme being
National Dress, but not necessarily your own.
Thur 29th March
Another Man Over Board drill today and the chance for VC to take photos from the
ships boats of Soren under sail. The Upperstaysail has been bent off for some minor
repairs. Monica and Charlie, who are with us to Vanuatu, are in-charge of bending the sail
back on and do a marvellous job.
Fri 30th March
The Main Engine roars to life again at 0330. Light and fickle easterly winds.
A spider has been seen in the galley. One of the wonderful things about going to sea is
that there usually aren’t any spiders! This one gets bigger and hairier every time
his story is told. We think it has come from one of the banana branches. Within hours of
the sighting though the cricket seems to have gone?
Sat 31st March
Wind fills in from NE, Main Engine off at 1015. Wind veers to the SSE.
Rain squalls with fresh winds are about most nights. The light
weather sails and wind socks go up and down at least once a night watch, as well as all
the hatches and portholes being closed. A little unsettling for those who choose to sleep
in hammocks on the deckhouse roof!!
Sun 1st April
We learn of a Black Rat infestation at Pitcairn Island via the SatCom which may
affect our stay at Pitcairn, all doom and gloom until Terri appears on deck dressed as a
rat and Jim announces April Fools!!
Light Easterly winds. Handed all sail, for a swim. Nick
entertains all with his crazy acrobats on the tarzan rope. 1500 Main Engine on and under
way.
Today is VC Martins birthday and another day workers dinner, Italian style.
Spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread.
Squizz and Sally-Anne, our wonderful cooks, have been enjoying
there weekly evenings off. They both dress up to the "nines" dinner and get
waited on hand and foot all evening!
Mon 2nd April
ENE’ly winds arrive, Main Engine off 0900. Young Geoff (Woods) astounds us all again
by climbing to the Topgallant Mast. You can’t get much higher on the Fore Mast.
Tues 3rd April
Wind ENE, force two, backing to the NNW. We’re atop a high moving through.
1230 Land Ho! Cpt Jim gets the tot of rum. Henderson Island ahead!"
To be continued: Pitcairn and on north into French Polynesia.... watch this
space.
Below are links to Sally Anderson's Web Log reports from
the Galapagos to Easter island:
Part 1 tells of their passage from Panama
to Cocos island - 7/12th Feb. Click here.
Part 2 covers from Cocos
Island to the Galapagos - 13/18th Feb. Click here:
Part 3 recounts their journey
between Galapagos
and Easter Island, and their experiment in traditional navigation
methods, 22 - 28th Feb:
Part 4: Continues the passage
to their arrival at Easter
Island, 1st-19th March: Click here.
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