Palmyra lived up to its reputation as a wilderness jewel. Nesting
terns of several varieties numbered in the thousands. Boobies and
frigates abounded. What a cacophony. All Palmyra resources of the sea
and land are protected under joint management of The Nature Conservancy
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. It is occupied by a small staff from TNC
and visited regularly by scientists from agencies and universities. The
inference that less contact with humans has benefited these species is
hard to miss.
Only 12 or 13 yachts each year visit Palmyra. The reason seems to
be that most cruising yachts are sailboats and Palmyra is quite west.
Sailboats wanting to return to Hawaii or make French Polynesia are faced
with unfavorable winds. This is not an issue for Nordhavns, of course.
We returned to Hawaii in six days, averaging better than seven knots,
very close to the wind. As we left Palmyra, we brought aboard an
80-pound ahi or yellowfin tuna. The sashimi was heavenly.
While at Palmyra, our Iridium satellite telephone and therefore
e-mail access failed. We continued to communicate with ham radio, so
family and friends were able to follow our progress toward Hawaii on the
Pacific Seafarers Net web site. Other than a few electronic failures or
lapses, we had no mechanical failures after 6,200 nautical miles on this
trip, in three months. It is a credit to the design and execution of
the Nordhavn and the suppliers and installers of the fine equipment that
we enjoy, on board.
We returned to our slip at Ko Olina Marina, near Honolulu on June
- We plan a week-long trip to Hanalei Bay on Kauai. When we return
to Oahu, we will prepare Ice Dancer and leave her in her slip while we
fly to our home in Anchorage, Alaska for the summer.
Dick and Gail Barnes
Aboard Ice Dancer
Nordhavn 50 #22
Palmyra lived up to its reputation as a wilderness jewel. Nesting
terns of several varieties numbered in the thousands. Boobies and
frigates abounded. What a cacophony. All Palmyra resources of the sea
and land are protected under joint management of The Nature Conservancy
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. It is occupied by a small staff from TNC
and visited regularly by scientists from agencies and universities. The
inference that less contact with humans has benefited these species is
hard to miss.
Only 12 or 13 yachts each year visit Palmyra. The reason seems to
be that most cruising yachts are sailboats and Palmyra is quite west.
Sailboats wanting to return to Hawaii or make French Polynesia are faced
with unfavorable winds. This is not an issue for Nordhavns, of course.
We returned to Hawaii in six days, averaging better than seven knots,
very close to the wind. As we left Palmyra, we brought aboard an
80-pound ahi or yellowfin tuna. The sashimi was heavenly.
While at Palmyra, our Iridium satellite telephone and therefore
e-mail access failed. We continued to communicate with ham radio, so
family and friends were able to follow our progress toward Hawaii on the
Pacific Seafarers Net web site. Other than a few electronic failures or
lapses, we had no mechanical failures after 6,200 nautical miles on this
trip, in three months. It is a credit to the design and execution of
the Nordhavn and the suppliers and installers of the fine equipment that
we enjoy, on board.
We returned to our slip at Ko Olina Marina, near Honolulu on June
13. We plan a week-long trip to Hanalei Bay on Kauai. When we return
to Oahu, we will prepare Ice Dancer and leave her in her slip while we
fly to our home in Anchorage, Alaska for the summer.
Dick and Gail Barnes
Aboard Ice Dancer
Nordhavn 50 #22
