#51 NOW May 17, 2005 0200 Zone Time = UTC -10 hours S14’11 W145’56 Temp 82.2, Water Temp 89.4 Wind from the North @ 12 kts, Seas are 4-feet, Para-vanes up, Heading 227’M Miles Completed 478, Miles to Go 35, SOG (speed over ground) 6.1 kts. Good Morning World, Just a few miles to go and we will arrive at Ahe atoll in the Tuamotu islands. It is interesting to note that some of these islands were discovered 150 years before Tahiti. Early European navigators referred to them as “The Dangerous Archipelago,” many of them being discovered by some poor ship running into them during the night. It was not until the advent of GPS that navigation through this area became safe. The islands are all low-lying atolls with elevations seldom more than 20 feet, and very difficult to see when approaching them. These atolls, made up of coral reefs, are teaming with a great variety of colorful marine life. This is truly a world-class diving area, which we hope to enjoy. Which brings me to my next topic—scuba diving. Back in the Marquesas at Hanamoenoe Bay, I made my first scuba dive. Capt. Jim has been diving since he was a kid and has a great deal of experience. For those of you who know what a “Padi” card is—well, he holds number 46. So I was in very capable hands. First, I had to read the how-to book. A quiz and some pointers followed this. We then donned the gear and practiced a few things near the surface. All went well and before long, I was following the anchor chain down from the boat and along the bottom to where the anchor was set 29 feet below the surface. What a great new world awaits me, which I am able to explore so unencumbered. I look forward to some great dives in Ahe and Rangiroa, the next two islands we shell visit. A little problem has developed with our navigation lights. They keep burning out. I have replaced both the port and starboard lights twice and I am now out of spares. I am beginning to think that they are developing too much heat in their enclosures. However, ingenuity is a requirement for this job and I came up with the idea of using a bulb from the overhead light in the aft cockpit. It was a different shape, but of the same voltage and almost as bright. After filing one of the catches off, I was able to insert it into the socket and jury rig it to stay put. Hopefully, the problem will be solved for now. I think I will get some new fixtures when I get to Tahiti. We are closing in on Ahe and I had better watch where we are going. I don’t want to discover the island the way some of the early explorers did. Have a Great Day! Life is a Cruise, Larry and Jim Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/ Email: <mailto:donedream@pacbell.net>donedream@pacbell.net