Stuck in French Polynesia: Embracing Plan B and Dealing with Unexpected Challenges
0:00 Change of Plans: Holly and Ray, after initially planning to leave French Polynesia, face an unfavorable weather window and have to check back into the country.
0:54 Unexpected Delay: Their plan to sail to New Zealand ahead of cyclone season is thwarted by the sudden shift in weather, forcing them to stay in French Polynesia for a longer period.
1:30 Accepting Plan B: Despite initial disappointment, Holly and Ray make the best of the situation and enjoy their time in Bora Bora, including watching a local outrigger canoe race.
2:40 Exploring New Anchorages: They decide to move to a different anchorage in Bora Bora for a change of scenery.
3:40 Hawai Kiva Race: They witness the Hawai Kiva, a 3-day Polynesian outrigger canoe race, where teams paddle 80km across open ocean and lagoons.
5:16 Leaving Bora Bora: After two weeks with no new weather window, they officially decide to stay in French Polynesia for the cyclone season and set sail for Maria.
5:30 Insurance Deadline: They explain that their insurance required them to be in New Zealand by December 1st, making the trip to New Zealand too risky with the remaining time.
6:19 Difficult Sailing Conditions: They face challenging sailing conditions on their way to Maria, with no wind and scorching heat.
7:12 Engine Trouble: They experience problems with their starboard engine, discovering water in the sail drive. This forces them to seek a place for repairs.
7:53 Spare Parts: Luckily, they have spare seals on board, eliminating the need to source parts.
8:35 Rough Night at Sea: They endure a rough night with rain, lightning, and no wind, making for a challenging passage.
9:17 Arrival in Maria: They finally arrive in Maria, drop anchor, and plan to contact boatyards for repairs.