JUMP FROM MAUI TO MOLOKAI

This morning I picked up the hook and headed over to Lahaina Harbour to enquire about a berth.  Unfortunately, the harbour master informed me she had no berths available.  I was disappointed, I really wanted to go ashore in Lahaina and just as importantly I wanted to tie up alongside a berth and to walk ashore.

I decided to move on.  Soon I was headed across the Pailolo Channel towards Molokai.  The trade wind between the islands picked up strongly, with a handkerchief sized jib and triple reefed main we blasted across at eight plus knots, spray and seawater everywhere.   Around two in the afternoon we reached the south coast of Molokai and ran west along the coast with the wind astern.  I took all sail down and we ran bare poles, in comfort, with the wind vane steering down towards Kaunakakai Harbour.

By three thirty we were anchored in Kaunakakai Harbour.  The guide says the wind howls through the harbour – its correct, its been howling all afternoon.  The Coastguard are warning of these strong winds continuing until Thursday.  Oh, how I long for the snug anchorages of Alaska, BC and New Zealand.

Kaunakakai is a commercial harbour and there is a tug and barge alongside the wharf.  One other yacht came into the harbour and anchored in the afternoon.  I watched him motor in from the west, it took him some time and must have been a rough ride.  We haven’t talked yet as we are separated by wind and waves.

Last night I watched ‘Salmon Fishing in Yemen’.  An unusual movie and I enjoyed it.  Better than cutting up bodies in the outback from the night before.

I cracked a couple of beers for sundowners. Heineken is about the only beer I have that can be drunk warm and I found that dinking from a pot mug makes it better.  The Captain then issued an extra tot of rum for a good hard sail today.  That made me happy.  Sundowners was accompanied by Pavarotti tonight.  I have no idea what he is singing about really, but the sound he makes is incredible.  I was fortunate enough to see him live in Auckland, what a presence and voice.

Early in the morning when all is quiet, before the wind picks up, I will go ashore and have an explore.  I don’t know how long I will stay here, I will see what I can find.  There are not many places to go between here and Honolulu and I haven’t managed to get a berth in Honolulu yet.