Atuona, Hiva Oa – by Gary

 Finally, after 27 days sailing from Galapagos, we made landfall in the eastern most archipelago of French Polynesia, the Marquesas.  The passage had not been without trials:

• enroute Vicki developed some worrying health issues
• beset with very light winds and calms, we made slow, uncertain progress
• with the sails slatting and thrashing in the oily swells we did considerable damage to both them and our and rigging, and 
• to top it off we grew an amazing crop of goose barnacles on Mojombo’s bottom, ensuring that even when wind arrived, progress remained painfully slow.

So perhaps you can well imagine our relief and excitement to finally make our destination; the little town of Atuona on the island of Hiva Oa.  And what a brilliant place to make landfall, we just loved it – reckon it’s got to be one of the most likeable little villages on the planet.

Snuggled at the foot of a rugged, mist shrouded volcanic peak on the windward side of the island of Hiva Oa, it is green, lush and flower filled.  The stunning setting endlessly changes with the sun, the clouds and the passing rain showers.  The local Polynesians charmed us with there warmth and open friendliness.  There were even some kids for ours to play with.

The anchorage was a perfect spot to unwind and undertake repairs to Mojombo.  And out of the ocean swell Vicki’s health rapidly improved – although with Atuona’s limited health facilities we still lack a definitive diagnosis.

Our repairs included dropping the forestay to do some work on the roller furling foil – here taking it ashore.  Tolly  (yellow top)from the boat Le Mistral was generous in his assistance.

The town’s stunning natural setting, one to rival Rio!

Warm smiles were always waiting to break out among the locals

Towns and villages throughout the world love to claim a celebrity as their own.  Benalla has Ned Kellie, Bordertown Bob Hawke, Salzburg Mozart, and Atuona??  Would you believe that most famous post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin  He lived his final years here, dying of tertiary syphilis

.

Flowers riot through the lush greenness.

One of the few surviving colonial buildings – now a general store.

But it’s the locals that really charmed us!

_ _ _