Sailing to the Cook Islands

Sailing to the Cook Islands

Garrett’s incredible journey to the Cook Islands continues as he navigates through breathtaking landscapes, customs, local culture and tackles unexpected challenges aboard his sailboat. Embark on an unforgettable adventure with Garrett.

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1. Sailing from Mati, French Polynesia
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2. An incredible hike on a favorite Island
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3. Nice and welcoming people in contrast to other islands visited
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4. Planning the 450 miles journey to Rarotonga, Cook Islands with the aid of an outgoing current expected to be about 3 knots.

An Unexpected Challenge in the Open Waters

After departing, Garrett faces a rough passage with large waves and windy conditions. Although initially anxious about dealing with such rough seas, he adjusts and takes it all in stride, reminding us of his adaptability amidst unpredicted events on this open water journey.

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1. Facing a legitimate rogue wave leading to soaked cockpit due to the massive size in comparison to usual waves
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2. Leaking gas causing the generator’s malfunction which is important for creating video content and powering his onboard devices.
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3. Solving gear issue (wind vane) amidst these challenging conditions by climbing onto the stern while holding on tight, with nothing underneath but deep blue waters, in order to manually solve the problem
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4. The resilience shown in continuing his journey despite multiple adversities encountered

Landfalls and Exploration in the Cook Islands

After arriving, he shares an anchorage spot close to other sailboats where they’ve all dropped their stern anchors out for safe keeping. Exploring Rarotonga, Garrett finds it easy to check into customs. This is largely thanks to friendly and efficient locals.

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1. Enjoying the beauty of Rarotonga and appreciating the easier communication due to shared language (English)
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2. Tasting delicious local cuisine, a bowl of coconut curry with chicken at an affordable rate
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3. Provisioning for the trip ahead in Tonga and Fiji, finding more healthier options than anticipated which were scarce in French Polynesia.
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4. Moving the anchor as he finds different areas to explore while on this island

Overcoming the Generator Challenge

Once Garrett moves around, he tackles fixing his generator. It’s corroded from the seawater ingress and is no longer sparking against the ground, a key component for its function. Despite feeling disappointed and salty, he stays optimistic and reaches out to another sailor (Mark) onboard Tar, asking to borrow his spare till he could source a replacement in Fiji which wouldn’t be before July.

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1. Learning about the challenge of maintaining equipment especially on open sea passages. The need for reliance and support from fellow sailors becomes apparent as situations demand sharing resources (generator)

Stuck in Rarotonga for a While, But Why Not Make It Worthwhile?

Suddenly, they’re all stuck there. Awaiting more favorable weather to leave because conditions aren’t ideal anywhere else except for where they are at the moment.

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1. Garrett decides to utilize his time effectively, focusing on filming projects around his sailboat and further exploring Italki.

A Future Journey With Renewed Resolve

As the journey to Fiji approaches, Garrett wraps up his time in Rarotonga and shares his plan to acquire a new generator once he reaches that next destination. Meanwhile, viewers are kept on their toes with real-time updates through his sailing videos.