This Is Why We Crossed The Pacific

Departing Nuku Hiva after weeks in the Marquesas, the crew aboard Sailing Big Lost secured a weather window to tackle an offshore passage of nearly 500 nautical miles toward Raroia Atoll in the Tuamotus. Connor and Kelly set their watch rotations expecting three days at sea, settling into open-ocean routines with fishing gear deployed astern.

Early into the run, the crew streamed a trolling line hoping to land fresh protein. “We just got a rod in the water. We are hoping to catch a wahoo,” Kelly noted, recalling a wahoo ceviche prepared earlier in Nuku Hiva. A strike hit the lure shortly after deployment, but the hook failed to hold: “WE LOST IT. DRAG WAS TOO TIGHT.” Bringing the tackle back aboard confirmed the lure remained intact as offshore swells began building.

Sporty Offshore Conditions on the Passage

The first day tested the crew as choppy seas swept the route. “All right, well, day one was a bit sporty. Both of the kids got sick and weren’t feeling well,” Kelly recounted from the cockpit. While Connor and Kelly handled sail trim and helm watches through uncomfortable conditions, the crew monitored the forecast for winds to moderate over subsequent days.

By the third morning, seabirds circling offshore provided the first indication of approaching land. Nearing the atoll in darkness presented tactical navigational constraints, prompting the crew to throttle back. “We went like three knots all night long because A, we lost our wind, and so we were motoring, and B, because we didn’t want to show up here uh before daylight because we have to navigate through a cut,” Kelly explained, preparing the vessel for daylight visual navigation across the coral approach.

Coordinating Entry Through Raroia Pass

Arriving outside the atoll, several cruising boats staged offshore to evaluate current and sea state through the cut. With slack water and good light critical for dodging coral heads, vessels established contact on VHF channel 17 to coordinate their inbound sequence.

As the sailing vessel Kaikoa made its approach, Connor and Kelly hailed nearby traffic on the radio to determine transit order: “Good morning, sir. I was just curious I’m motoring up wondering if I should stand by out here and you want to follow Kaikoa or if I should jump in behind them. Over.” After receiving clearance to proceed first, Big Lost motored through the pass and entered calm water inside the protected lagoon.

Lagoon Shallows, Marine Life, and Cruising Connections

Inside Raroia, clear water transformed daily routines. Launching a paddleboard shortly after anchoring, the crew watched a solitary blacktip reef shark glide across the shallows. Calm lagoon waters allowed the family to unwind after rigorous ocean miles, turning stand-up paddleboards into surfboards and towing the children behind the tender across sandbars.

The anchorage also fostered connections with fellow voyagers who had completed the Pacific transit. Reflecting on their timeline after beginning their voyage in June of 2024 with no sailing experience, transiting the Panama Canal, and sailing thousands of miles, the family found that sharing sundowners and reef excursions validated every mile covered.

Passage Metrics and Transit Summary

Frequently Asked Questions