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700 Miles Without a Forestay

Carolyn and Paddy were all smiles when we met them at Shelter Bay Marina in March. And today, after completing a somewhat worrisome passage to the Marquesas, they are all smiles again. 

latitude/Andy
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

During the eight years since they departed Sydney, Australia, aboard the Oceanic 46 Kristiane, Paddy and Carolyn Mitchell have undoubtedly faced many challenges. Perhaps that’s why they reacted calmly and rationally when they lost their forestay April 24, while en route from the Galapagos to the Marquesas. At the time they were still nearly 700 miles from the closest landfall — and had only enough fuel aboard to motor 200 miles.

"I am afraid that I am in a bit of trouble," wrote Paddy, 68, via Sailmail. "…I am now using a halyard as a forestay and am under a very reefed main only." The retired Australian naval officer’s strategy proved to be both prudent and successful. The couple made landfall at Nuku Hiva six days later without further incident — having averaged more than 100 miles a day under their jury rig.

Upon arrival, they contacted American expat Kevin Ellis of Yacht Services Nuku Hiva, who set Kristiane up with a temporary Spectra forestay, so the Mitchells could sail another 700 miles to Tahiti for proper repairs with a bit more confidence.

Every year Kevin, Annabella and their kids get to meet dozens of international cruisers who pass through Nuku Hiva, a clearance port that probably offers more boating services than any other island in the Marquesas.

© Kevin Ellis

Kevin, who was profiled in the January 2015 Latitude 38, has been helping cruisers in a variety of ways since making Nuku Hiva his home nearly a decade ago. As you might have guessed, he fell in love there with a lovely Marquesan girl, Annabella, and soon abandoned his cruising ambitions in order to make a life with her. Today, the couple has two adorable kids and their business offers just about every shoreside service a visiting cruiser could need, from repairs to horse rentals.

When we met Paddy and Carolyn in Panama a couple of months ago, Paddy predicted, "I think the best part of our circumnavigation is yet to come." Despite their little rigging issue, that statement could still prove to be true, as roughly 4,000 miles of tropical island-hopping lie ahead of them before they complete their loop at Sydney. As the British say, "Remain calm, and carry on."

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Lewis and Alyssa have not only gone over to the dark side buying a catamaran, they’ve gone over to the really dark side where they bought one damaged by a tropical cyclone.