Banquet

Christmas is just around the corner and planning is in full swing. This year we are lucky. A trained chef is skippering on SV Odysseus, so Christmas dinner is guaranteed. SV Tuvalu also does its bit and so we all sit on the Katinka Enjoy on Christmas Eve and make ourselves comfortable. The roast beef is excellent, as is the potato gratin and the beans wrapped in bacon are second to none. For dessert, we have an ice cream with hot berries, which just fits in. I only omitted the salad with cream cheese rolled in salmon as a starter because it was predominantly green. But it tasted just as good as everything else. I certainly don't need to mention at this point that we indulged in various alcoholic drinks. Christmas Eve simply can't happen without presents, so this year, too, there's a little something for everyone. While the women make their way to midnight mass, I take the bunk and have it all to myself for at least an hour.

Christmas on the Katinka Enjoy, Tahiti

The next day, the actual Christmas Day here in Polynesia, Christer from SV Hartor comes by. We have invited him for lunch. Christer and his Hartor are moored in a bay in the south of Tahiti and have a long journey to get here. But as he has rented a car for the long term, this is no problem for him. We are happy to see him again. We have goulash and a napkin dumpling. Served with coleslaw. More or less typical German food and Christer is happy about it. He proudly tells us that he was recently in Thailand and ate pork knuckle with sauerkraut in a German restaurant. I think Christer is more German than we are, because I wouldn't be able to down a pork knuckle with sauerkraut at 40°C air temperature. I don't know if it was because we had eaten so much the day before or if it was actually the temperature, but we all struggled to finish our plates. Nevertheless, it was a lovely afternoon, which we rounded off with a coffee and a Christmas stollen. 

Christmas party 2024, Tahiti

I think we should plan a diet for the next few days, but I think I'll come up with countless excuses as to why it failed again this time. Maybe it will work as a good resolution for the year 2025, I'll keep that in mind. 2025, the last year of the first quarter of this century, is dawning. You can't even think the thought through to the end, as quickly as time flies. We haven't come very far this year. We finished last year in the Marquesas. This year it will be Tahiti. We will leave French Polynesia in March/April 2025 and will have almost used up the two years we are allowed to stay with the boat. It was a great time. Starting with the Gambiers, the Tuamotus and the Marquesas, all the island groups had their own character. Of the Society Islands, we have only got to know Moorea and Tahiti so far, but even these two islands are different from the rest of French Polynesia. However, they all have one thing in common: the fundamental joie de vivre and friendliness of the people who live here. And this is also transferred to those who embrace this attitude to life. We did this for almost two years and will leave the islands happy. 

Christmas not without presents, Tahiti

Excited about new adventures in the Cook Islands, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Tuvalu and Fiji. The plan is to arrive in New Zealand at the end of October 2025. In order to implement our plans, I am currently struggling with the technology of the new Katinka Enjoy. I have managed to gain access to the ship's internal network almost by force. In addition to the chart plotter, I now have access to the ship's data via tablet and laptop and can also navigate via OpenCPN again. The AIS sends the correct MMSI and the new radio is also programmed with this number. Nevertheless, Raymarine will no longer be a satisfied customer for me. The salesman in New Zealand persuaded me to buy a Raymarine VHF again, as I can then continue to use the second station. As the Ray53 is no longer available on the market, I bought the successor Ray63. However, the new unit has a 12-pin connector for the second unit, whereas I have a 9-pin connector. In fact, there are countless adapter cables on the market, from 7-pin to 8-pin and 10-pin, but none that transfer from 9-pin to 12-pin. So I will have to tinker with something again. But I don't have time for that at the moment, because there are two other problems that are stubbornly refusing to be solved. Firstly, the Bluetooth signal is suddenly too weak for the transmission of energy data through the Venus box and secondly, the 12 V router that I use instead of the Starlink router blocks the transmission of the security certificate for certain sites. This is annoying because it is no longer you who can determine whether a site is secure, but Microsoft. Unfortunately, my knowledge of network configuration is only rudimentary, so I haven't found the right setting yet. But as you know, you're never too old to learn, so I'm currently training as a network administrator via Google.

Merry Christmas to all readers, from Katinka Enjoy

As far as the weather is concerned, we are entering the southern summer, which keeps the temperatures high, but unfortunately also brings very humid air with it. This week we got soaked to the bone at 100 meters because when it rains here, it does so like a torrential downpour. At least the temperatures stay high even after such downpours, so you dry off quickly if you reach a dry shelter. So, enough whining. As you can see, I have once again earned your pity. Wish you always fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip. All the best for 2025, especially good health. Thank you for following our blog. We hope that a few more readers will join us next year, so please keep the stories coming.