Easter Island stay

This image shows our boat, Columbia, a ft. 50 steel cutter, anchored off the port of Hanga Roa. "Port" is actually a little overstating. There are no ports on Easter Island. Just places where you can anchor, and place where you don't. The Chilean Coastguard keeps a watchfull eye on sailing vessels. The few that arrive there - not too many.

The first day, with half the crew onshore, we had problem with our anchor. The wind piped up, the chain wrapped on a coral head, and jammed the boat on a short leash. It was hard work to retrieve the anchor. Motoring in front off Hanga Roa, not having a reliable mooring available, we decided to head for open water, to wait for the wind to ease and the weather to improve. We hove-to under third reef and stay'sail, and drifted towards South.

Our problem was the dingi. We didn't have time to bring it up, and now we were towing the dingi, with the engine, in a 35kts gale. It was filling with water from the breakers. The dingi was also Columbia's lifeboat (!). It was usually kept inflated, on deck. So, we couldn't loose it. But bringing it on deck with all that water was not possible.

As soon as the wind abated slightly, we prepared everything to retrieve the dingi. With only the captain, the dutch girl and me on board, I was the only volunteer. I put on my wetsuit, a safety line, brought the lifeboat alongside, jumped in and bailed the dingi, until it was possible for us to heave it on deck. It was a strange sight, to see the boat from outside, huge Pacific rollers between us. I was happy to have the paddles. I took a picture so I could think about that later on.

Comming back on deck would be a nice challenge, I thouoght. But it proved not to hard. A well timed pull and leap was all it took. We only manged to bring the dingi partly in, on the lee deck, before the wind piped up again. We lashed it securely against the doghouse. After all,we managed to save the dingi before dark.

We waited out until the gale ceased. The wind had backed, as it had to, after the passing of a short front, and was now bringing us North again. Following the advice of the Chilean Coastguard, we now went for shelter in Anakena Beach. A lovely tropical beach, with a row of Moais. Perfect.