Life After Landfall | Exploring the Marquesas Following Our Pacific Crossing

After more than 3,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, the crew aboard the Vision 444 catamaran Big Lost made landfall in the Marquesas Islands, transitioning from round-the-clock passage watches to life at anchor in French Polynesia. Cruising with Sailing Big Lost, the family arrived with essential maintenance to complete before fully settling into island life, addressing gear fatigue and hardware adjustments accumulated over weeks at sea.

Post-Passage Sail Repairs and Taiohae Bay

Arriving at the anchorage did not mean boat work was finished. During the passage, the boat’s Code 55 sail started slipping up the torsion cable. While offshore, the crew managed a temporary fix by “lashing it as good as I could while we were out there,” but the rig required careful attention once at anchor. With the urgent maintenance completed, the family explored Taiohae Bay on Nuku Hiva, where black sand beaches lined the coast, ancient tiki sculptures stood ashore, and dozens of sharks patrolled directly beneath the fishing pier.

Coastal Sail to Daniels Bay

After a week of chores, maintenance projects, and rest, the crew weighed anchor to sail around the corner to Daniels Bay. Cruising companions on Kaikoa had arrived the previous day, prompting a reunion. The two boats had been crossing paths since originally meeting in Staniel Cay in the Bahamas. Spotting their cruising companions, the call went out: “Where’s Kaikoa? My anchor buddy.” In Daniels Bay, a small coastal village sits tucked beneath cliffs and thick foliage, defined by curious goats and a quiet pace.

Hiking the Valley of the Kings to Vaipo Waterfall

Beyond the village, a trail led deep into the Valley of the Kings toward Vaipo Waterfall. The trek proved physically demanding, as the crew navigated rough terrain, ancient stone walls, and dense jungle overgrowth. The crew summarized the trek: “That was quite a bushwhacking experience. Several river crossings, muddy pits.” As the family moved along the trail, the parents called ahead: “Oh, Maddie, are you Where are you going?”

The trail eventually opened to reveal the towering cascade, recognized as one of the tallest waterfalls in French Polynesia. Standing under the falls, the family braved the frigid freshwater pool before heading back to the coast. The crew spent the remainder of the afternoon unwinding on the beach at Daniels Bay without passage schedules or weather windows to follow.

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