Shroud Repairs (Older Post)

Ben attaching our new shrouds

(This is an older post I forgot about...)
June 2
The replacement shrouds that we ordered from Tahiti arrived! With the help from our knowledgeable friend, Ben on s/v Kyanos who  “skinny-upped” the mast and installed the new lower shrouds. Ben has a lot of rigging suggestions as he has a boat similar in design to ours and suggests putting up running back stays for extra support in certain winds. So, we do.
Now, we are ready. We are waiting for the next “weather window” to set sail for the Tuamotus. There has been a huge low pressure down in the latitudes of 30’ and 40’’s- known as the ‘roaring 40’s” which has pushed huge seas up and around these islands. We are waiting for this to settle somewhat before venturing out into open ocean!

Big wave hits the wharf in Nuku Hiva

Just yesterday, as we sat on the shore at our favorite snack shack, Chez Henri’s, soaking up the FREE INTERNET he just installed for us media-hungry cruisers; a huge swell crashed into the break wall and over it spilled flooding the patio with water! We picked up our bags and stood on the chairs while the water passed through! Amazing. Over and over the waves broke on the wharf sending plumes of spray washing onto the wharf. Luckily, no one was in danger and we all watched cautiously in case there was a really big one that might take out a bystander.
All the tied up dinghies bobbed and jumped around with the surge almost landing a few right on top of the dock! We watched the swell roll into the bay and create an enormous shore break that the young islanders took advantage of by jumping off the break wall directly into a coming swell with boogie boards to ride into shore! That’s an easy way to catch a wave!

Local boat wreck after the big swell

We watched from shore as all the boats in the anchorage bobbed around in the swells.  We decide after awhile to go back to the boat just in case we needed to move if the swells got any bigger.
Suddenly, I see a crowd gathering on shore…one of the local fishing boats broke loose of its mooring and crashed into the shore rocks! They began the rescue of hoisting the battered boat up the rocks with a crane and the fire engine truck stood ready, too.  Not sure if anyone was hurt.  Shit happens!
The rainsqualls, wind and swells made for a pretty sleepless night.  In the morning the swell has died down and the anchorage is back to normal. We will be getting ready to leave for our next passage to the Tuamotus.
Wish us an easy passage!