Like cockchafers, we lie on our backs and look at the starry sky, which reveals more and more of these white dots of light as night falls. We try to keep our balance, which we don't manage at first. So we roll off our seats onto the green meadow, not without some laughter at the comedy of the situation. Once again we dig ourselves into our inflatable seats and this time we try to hold on to each other. It works better. We had bought the two seats at Boot in Düsseldorf before our trip. The trade fair that has everything for boating and is the leading one in Europe, if not the world. A thin, air-impermeable fabric is sewn together to form a sausage and has an opening at the front that can be closed with a quick-release fastener. With a twisting motion, you catch the air and close the sausage with the quick-release fastener, and the seat is ready. However, you need a bit of practice to keep your balance. After a short time, we manage it just in time for the start of the performance.
 |
| Opera evening in Papeete, Tahiti |
Culture is the order of the day today. Romeo and Juliet is being performed in the nearby park, Jardin de Paofai. We can watch a recording from the Paris Opera on a large screen free of charge. Anyone who wants to can spread out on the lawn in front of the screen. Before it starts, the music school in Papeete performs a few arias from other operas on a stage. Carmen closes the show before Romeo and Juliet begins. Our seats are comfortable and the unique setting of experiencing an opera in a park on a meadow makes the evening an experience. But that's not all, the next day the ballet The Nutcracker is performed in the same format. This time we are more practiced and manage to adapt to our seats straight away. Once again, a few shows are performed on a stage before returning to the Paris Opera via a screen. After these two performances, we agree that we have experienced enough culture for the next few months, and so we get back to preparing to take over the boat.
 |
| The Nutcracker, ballet in Papeete, Tahiti |
Insuring a European boat is not so easy if it is not traveling in Europe. When it comes to hull insurance with worldwide cover, the numerous insurance providers all wave a decisive 'no'. Only two insurance companies remain. However, a few details have to be provided. I have long since stopped questioning whether this makes sense. The application requires documents such as a sailing CV, a rig inspection, engine maintenance and the latest inspections of the safety equipment. In addition, a meaningful illustration of the yacht, not older than six months. I compile the documents and send them to the insurance company. In the meantime, our previous owner makes one last trip to Moorea. As his sailing skills are rudimentary, I assumed that he would use the engine this time too. Unfortunately, I hadn't reckoned with the ambition of a Frenchman. This time he wanted to give it another go and tried to set the mainsail. Somehow the 1st reef got in the way. Due to a lack of experience and because you simply have no feeling with the electric winches, you just keep pulling until something gives way. In this case, it was the reefing rope, which he simply tore off. I'll see what else broke when I inspect the whole thing later. In any case, it was very unpleasant.
 |
| Always relaxed |
Another unpleasant thing is the weather and the weather forecast. For two weeks now, the forecast has been for an easterly or north-easterly wind. However, we actually have a westerly wind in Papeete. As the harbor basin is open to the west, this leads to an unpleasant swell. The boats are constantly on the move. Unfortunately, we lost a fender because the lines kept rubbing against each other. In addition, a spring broke while we were away. Yesterday, the wind shifted back to the east and became stronger. The unpleasant movement in the boat quickly disappeared, and by the evening the boat was calm again. So the weather has kept me on my toes for two weeks, as I'm currently looking after two other boats while the owners are away. Apart from the aforementioned losses, everything is fine, and we have started to clean up our boat again. This was urgently needed as soot keeps building up. Well, and next week we will take ownership of our new Katinka. Until then, we wish you as always fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.
Comments
Post a Comment