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Last year just under 900 people climbed Everest. It’s more than I imagined. Assuming the statistics listed on the web page I looked at are correct. Gotta be careful of the Trumpism…..Fake News Dudes.

The next question is, how many people sail across the Pacific in a yacht each year? The answer to this is less clear. I decided to make an educated guess. This year, with COVID, I estimate around 400 boats crossed from Panama, Mexico, Ecuador or Chile. This is based on how many boats we are told are in Tahiti, the main centre of French Polynesia and anecdotal accounts of numbers of boats around other island chains. Some boats will already be based in these locations and won’t have crossed this year.

Back to the numbers. Most boats we know have 2 people on board. There are a few family boats with up to 5 people on board, but there are also quite a few single-handers. So for purposes of this totally non-scientific assessment, I’m saying each boat has 2 people on board. 

So here’s the round up maths. If 400 boats crossed with 2 people on each, that’s 800. Less than climbed Everest last year. I probably ought to put a disclaimer in here. My overall point is, it feels like we’ve done something fairly special crossing to here. 

I’m quite happy to be shot down with my amateur analysis, partly because I am actually quite curious as to how many people do cross. If you can add scientific rigour to my research, feel free to contribute.😀

We’ve been here in Nuku Hiva for a few days now. It’s visually quite a stunning place. Look out for some photos. And the local people we’ve met have been lovely. The island is currently COVID free. Although this will change I’m sure as international flights are being allowed into French Polynesia now.

I did a 4 hour hike up a hill a couple of days ago with two friends . My legs were surprising okay the next day which was unexpected. We hitched a ride back down and a local couple took us for a drive round, then back to their house where they raided their fruit trees for mangos, pamplemousse, limes and bananas. We left with two big bags. Just lovely.

It’s 7.45 in the morning here. The supply boat is in so there’s a hive of activity on land. Dave is trying to sort out our supposed, plug and play data SIM card (hmmm). Big news today is I’m getting my hair cut. The lady in the tourist office called someone, who happens to be called Helene too. 11am is the date.

As we sit in the cockpit enjoying hot drink number two of the day, three big manta rays are circling the boat. Yesterday one was just doing somersaults in the water, clearly visible because it’s white belly was distinctive. How cool is that.