Vaitape, French Polynesia

"Pardon me, have you any Grey Poupon?" -Kevin, to another crew, as we (hypothetically) nearly collide with their boat Rains and heavy winds hit during the night. Arlene dreamt that the keel was sitting on the bottom (she was wrong). Ardice lay awake ...

"There is a fuzzy line between optimism and pure fantasy." -Tom, later that same day Once again, we had an early morning. Coffee and two pamplemousses later, we were off. Part way up the channel, we had to pause to de- outboard the dinghy. No problem. ...

Paul woke me up this morning with what sounded like a voice of panic. I thought for certain the Buttercup had drifted during the night. Paul, however, wanted to show me a beautiful sunrise. After the color died I promptly went back to sleep. I was ...

We woke up just before cast off from the wharf. I joined my sister up on the jogging track to watch us glide past Raiatea. Then Pas showed up as well. I got lattes for all of us, and we (Paul and I) enjoyed the view of Taha'a. Pas joined us again, and ...