Day 17 on Niue on board FGT Mon 6 September 2010 Position Lat 19-03S Long 169-55W moored at Niue – Zero Cape Petrel miles to Niue. (1274m from Whangarei NZ) Wind 10 to 25 knots South East. Boat speed av 0 knots. Barometer 1017 going up Sails – none!! Still none. cloud cover -100%. Air temp 28C water temp 28C – rain squalls – not a nice day
Fakaalofa Atu from Oma Tafua – Greetings from To Treasure Whales
Monday morning dawned rainy and windy – not a promising day for whale research however Team Whale motivated Team Falcon to get the lead out, smarten up and get the TTSoPac racing shorewards at warp speed of 2mph. Then with the gang on board we cruised quietly about the North coast in the lee of the wind spotting two groups of whales. Got some data going but nothing remarkable – no large splashes to bring gasps of amazement. We had on board Jo, your Niuean hairdresser and member of Oma Tafua, and Fijian Ki from the vaka. Nice group of folks for whale spotting with. After lunch of mahi-mahi over rice noodles and salad we tooled off around the West corner into a bit of wind and swell to Avatele to see a couple of blows but again no luck with photos. Turning around we coasted back with the wind doing a little surfing and admiring the rock whales. Rock whales are the blow holes where the waves hit the reef at the shore. They look like whales have just blown, and fool neophyte whale spotters. En route home to the anchorage we spotted one more pod so considered the whale day fairly successful. The Niue Yacht Club hosts a sausage sizzle Monday nights so the TTSoPac braved the elements and landed gracefully up on the wharf via the crane which the Sm likes better than struggling up the slippery steps after cadging help. The NYC was packed with folks from Team Whale, Team Vaka, Team Foftein, Team Falcon, Team Infinity, and Team Yachties. Lots of talking, drinking beers, and chowing down on sausages with onions wrapped in buttered bread. The Sm actually found himself outtalked by a couple of yachties who imparted their general sailing knowledge to all in hearing range. Next thing the Sm cosied up to the captain of the Infinity – 23yo Annie who stood about 2 feet taller than the Sm. Reminded the Sm of that song Big John – one hit from his huge right hand would send a fellow to the promised land. A very mature seasoned sailor who gave the Sm 5 minutes of her time. The Infinity crew are an interesting bunch of mainly 20 to 35 yo’s out for a good time with a good cause. The Sm retired early, bravely declining offers of more drinks from Andy the captain of the Foftein, due to the perilous nature of launching TTSoPac and motoring out in the pitch black seas and not wanting any further handicaps those already built-in. Soon thereafter it was goodnight nurse.
Another exhausting day in the South Pacific.
Mutolu Kia from Team party animal Sm aboard FalconGt
Check our website www.svfalcongt.com
Fakaalofa Atu from Oma Tafua – Greetings from To Treasure Whales
Monday morning dawned rainy and windy – not a promising day for whale research however Team Whale motivated Team Falcon to get the lead out, smarten up and get the TTSoPac racing shorewards at warp speed of 2mph. Then with the gang on board we cruised quietly about the North coast in the lee of the wind spotting two groups of whales. Got some data going but nothing remarkable – no large splashes to bring gasps of amazement. We had on board Jo, your Niuean hairdresser and member of Oma Tafua, and Fijian Ki from the vaka. Nice group of folks for whale spotting with. After lunch of mahi-mahi over rice noodles and salad we tooled off around the West corner into a bit of wind and swell to Avatele to see a couple of blows but again no luck with photos. Turning around we coasted back with the wind doing a little surfing and admiring the rock whales. Rock whales are the blow holes where the waves hit the reef at the shore. They look like whales have just blown, and fool neophyte whale spotters. En route home to the anchorage we spotted one more pod so considered the whale day fairly successful. The Niue Yacht Club hosts a sausage sizzle Monday nights so the TTSoPac braved the elements and landed gracefully up on the wharf via the crane which the Sm likes better than struggling up the slippery steps after cadging help. The NYC was packed with folks from Team Whale, Team Vaka, Team Foftein, Team Falcon, Team Infinity, and Team Yachties. Lots of talking, drinking beers, and chowing down on sausages with onions wrapped in buttered bread. The Sm actually found himself outtalked by a couple of yachties who imparted their general sailing knowledge to all in hearing range. Next thing the Sm cosied up to the captain of the Infinity – 23yo Annie who stood about 2 feet taller than the Sm. Reminded the Sm of that song Big John – one hit from his huge right hand would send a fellow to the promised land. A very mature seasoned sailor who gave the Sm 5 minutes of her time. The Infinity crew are an interesting bunch of mainly 20 to 35 yo’s out for a good time with a good cause. The Sm retired early, bravely declining offers of more drinks from Andy the captain of the Foftein, due to the perilous nature of launching TTSoPac and motoring out in the pitch black seas and not wanting any further handicaps those already built-in. Soon thereafter it was goodnight nurse.
Another exhausting day in the South Pacific.
Mutolu Kia from Team party animal Sm aboard FalconGt
Check our website www.svfalcongt.com
