A few more days to go

Historical segments of the SPOT data for the "EYE of the World" expedition can be reviewed on the SPOT Adventures website.  Current SPOT data is also shown in real time.

  

SPOT Adventures: EYEsail

Speedy Progress

Speedy Progress

Nice Speed

Nice Speed !

Almost 1/4 of the way to Marquesas Islands

SPOT Coverage Map

Crew expects to travel through a No-Coverage Area

French Polynesia: Tahiti and Her Islands

Galapagos Islands to Fatu Hiva Island

The crew is sailing to Fatu Hiva Island which is the youngest of the volcanic Marquesas Islands (French: Îles Marquises, or Archipel des Marquises, or Marquises) at about 1.3 million years (wikipedia.)

maps provided by Tahiti Guide

maps provided by Tahiti Guide

maps provided by Tahiti Guide

Marguesas Islands according to wikipedia:

..... "Although French and Tahitian are the only official languages of French Polynesia, and therefore of the Marquesas Islands as well, the Marquesan languages, in their various forms, remain the primary means of communication within the archipelago."

..... "Unlike the majority of the islands of French Polynesia, the Marquesas are not surrounded by protective fringing reefs."

..... "The South Equatorial Current lashes the islands mercilessly, which has led to sea-caves dotting the islands' shores. Except for where the valleys empty into the small bays, the islands are remarkable for their mountain ridges, which end abruptly as cliffs where they meet the sea."

The Road to Fatu Hiva Island

The road: Galapagos to Fatu Hiva Island

in the Marquesas Archipelago of French Polynesia

2995 nautical miles (3447 miles)

Galapagos to Fatu Hiva


Fatu Hiva Island

(Google Earth)


Fatu Hiva Island: Harbor in Virgin Bay at Hanavave
(Google Earth)

The following photos are from Google Earth's Panoramio albums ...

Virgin Bay, Fatu Hiva Island



Virgin Bay, Fatu Hiva Islands



Virgin Bay, Fatu Hiva Island



Virgin Bay, Fatu Hiva Island

Offshore News Updates

Now that the EYE is offshore, communication is based on Ham Radio or Satellite Phone.   Make sure to occasionally check out Alan's Journal on the EYE website where he is posting "On Board Updates" from the Radio.  These offer us a great look into the crew's daily life on board.

Changes Onboard

Moving On
Alan called home this morning to say they would be off today for the Marquesas Islands.  The visit to the Galapagos Islands has been short and sweet.

SPOT During the Transit to Marquesas
The long transit to the Marquesas Islands could be a 25-day transit (+/-).   Some of which will likely be out of range of the SPOT satellites, so their website tracker is expected to be helpful only part of the time.  Large regions of the mid-Pacific, including Hawaii, do not have SPOT coverage.   (Hmmm, I thought satellites were all over the skies.)

Trevor's New Adventures
Alan also told us that Trevor has finished packing and has moved off the boat to a local hostel.   This is no surprise and is all according to Trevor's long-established plans for graduate school, a new job and other exciting new adventures.  Even if only for a few months, the EYE of the World, Inc. organization and crew have been so very fortunate to have Trevor onboard.

When I saw the picture below on the EYE website it brought tears to my eyes.

Trevor is going to be missed onboard !

Paul and I were lucky enough to meet Trevor in Virginia that weekend before they all started sailing south. He is a wonderful young man, has become a great friend of Alan’s, and I know the success the EYE has had up until now is a reflection of his participation. 

Alan tells us Trevor is staying on Galapagos for a few days, traveling around and sightseeing, and then will  visit with some of the schools following the EYE when he gets back home. We wish him the very best in his future plans, and also hope he’ll share some stories about boat life with us on this blog when he gets back.

A Crew of  3,  or 4, or 3

Will Summers is the newest crewmember, though has been on the boat since Panama. Alan has had really great things to say about Will, “he’s awesome” was one compliment. So as we say sadly say goodbye to seeing Trevor onboard (but hope to hear more of Trevor's other new adventures)  we also look forward to getting to know Will among the EYE family.

Will, Adam, Trevor, Alan

Movie Review - "Getting to Know S/V William T. Piquette"

There is a really great film just recently out.  It wasn't in 3D, but it is sure to win some Accademy Awards for best film, best actor, best director, best special effects, and best red-footed booby bird on a bow. It was called "Getting to Know S/V William T. Piquette. (GTK-WTP)"

Great camera work. Great acting. One of the characters, "Alan", has a radio and is a ham. The other actors do not have radios but they are even bigger hams.

The plot ends with an exciting cliff-hanger --when the camerman character, "Will", and his camera go tumbling over the side toward Davy Jones' locker.

The sequel should be great - "GTK-WTP: Remembering Will".  Is the "Will" character really gone, or will he be rescued and return to the story? Will the "Alan" character be able to take Will's wet camera apart and clean out all the salt water? Will "Bobby the bold bow bird" character stay with the crew? Perhaps the sequel will solve some mysteries: e.g., where are the bicycles being hiding?  What was the "Adam" character hiding in the toilette? (clearly he was up to no good in there)? Why isn't the head sail being stored in the head?  Why do the characters have all that unnecessary hair on their heads?

Keep a weather eye out for this movie. It is probably coming to a screen near you. GTK-WTP.... you don't want to miss it.

Making Friends Along the Way

I received this wonderful email and picture from a couple who had met our Guys in Panama last week.

Good morning-

My husband and I were in Panama last week. We met your boys on the Island of Taboga. We were eating in a little restaurant and started visiting with them. What nice young men! When I found out how long they had been gone, I told them that I would email and let you know that a Mama had checked them out. Having 3 children, I know it is hard not to get to see them and check that they are ok. These guys looked great! They were so polite and seemed to be having so much fun. When they told us which boat was theirs--my husband remembered that he had watched them out on the deck doing some work earlier in the morning when we sat on the shore watching the boats.

I have included a picture of me with the boys--so you have the word of a mother--not just theirs that they look good.

We will enjoy following their journey on the website.
 
Debbie
Springdale, Arkansas

San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island

The crew reported they are bound for Wreck Bay on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Archipelago.

San Cristóbal Island

Map from JunglePhotos

The following information is quoted or paraphrased from wikipedia and junglephotos:

Galápagos

The Galápagos islands of and its surrounding waters are part of a Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve.

The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population of around 23,000.

The capital of the province of Galápagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, lies at the southern tip of the San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island.

San Cristóbal Island

This is the first island in the archipelago that Charles Darwin visited during his voyage on the Beagle.

It currently bears the name of the Patron Saint Christopher. Its prior English name was given after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.

It has an area of 558 square kilometers (215 sq mi) and its highest point rises to 730 meters (2395 ft). San Cristobal Island is the fifth biggest island of the Galapagos. It comprises three or four fused volcanoes --all extinct.

It is the only island with permanent fresh water: The largest fresh water lake in the archipelago, Laguna El Junco, is a small lake located in the highlands of San Cristóbal.

Because of the water, the island was settled early in Galapagos history, and was the home of the islands' governor when Darwin visited in 1835.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the Galapagos' administrative capital and the second biggest town, with about 3,000 inhabitants. Most are in the small-scale fishing but some are employed in the tourist industry, and there is also an Ecuadorian naval base here as well as an airport with flights from the mainland (although most visitors land at Baltra.)

The other town on the island, El Progresso, is currently a sleepy farming community with about 500 inhabitants.

This islands hosts frigate birds, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue and red footed boobies, tropicbirds, marine iguanas, dolphins, swallow-tailed gulls.

Its vegetation includes Calandrinia galapagos, Lecocarpus darwinii, and trees such as Lignum vitae.

Panama to Galapogos: 676 miles mid-transit

Speed in Miles per Hour

Tacking in Changing Winds



Arrival at Wreck Bay off San Christobal Island

Offshore News Reports

While 0ffshore and without cellphone or Wi-Fi connectivity, the crew is sending reports via HF Radio:

Day 1, Wed. March 31st

Day 2, Thu. April 1st and Update 9:30pm (A Fishy Tale)

Day 3, Fri. April 2nd

Day 4, Sat. April 3rd