NEW CREW! Across the Pacific with a Manchester Lad, California Bro, and my Parents!

Sailing Across the Pacific in French Polynesia – A Stunning Voyage

Welcome to our latest update from Elixir’s journey around the world. We are excited to share with you a part of our voyage where we sailed through the stunning Society Islands, which are located in French Polynesia. These beautiful and remote tropical islands lie pretty much in the middle of the Pacific.

At this time, Elixir was nearing the halfway point of our Voyage around the world, and it became apparent that the sailboat needed some Tender Loving Care (TLC) before embarking on the second half of the Pacific Crossing towards The Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga. As we spent time in French Polynesia, our stay slowly began to come to an end as we made our way through the Society Islands, which seemed to become smaller but more beautiful the farther west we sailed.

A Challenge and Visit from Family

While on this journey, we faced a problem when our ankle winch stopped working. Max took it apart to find out that during the Pacific Crossing, water had filled up inside it. This raised concerns about whether we would be able to get it running again.

But not all was work-related! It was also very special as both of my parents came to visit, which hadn’t happened in a while, and we were spending a lot of time with Jasper and Georgie who had spent the past 1.5 years anchored in Mota.

A Meeting With New Crew Members

Our time was filled not just with maintenance but also meeting new crew members, Nathan from Manchester, England, who had joined us for service and Emily – an ex-Elixir crew mate who returned. During their stay, they were given tasks to do on the sailboat. One of which included replacing Elixir’s water pump.

The Replacement of Elixir’s Water Pump

This raw water pump is a crucial part that pumps saltwater from the sea up through the heat exchanger, so it can exchange heat with the engine coolant and maintain engine temperature. As there was leakage from this important part, Max decided to buy a new one and fit it.

By watching the video, you get to see Max explain and execute each step in detail, including removing the old pump, cleaning up the parts, and fitting the shiny new water pump, which is tested by turning on the engine. The team was relieved not to have to worry about seawater leaking from the engine anymore.

Moving Through the Society Islands

We moved from one small Pacific island to another. Each had its unique beauty and challenges, like finding and seeing marine life like Mantas. We enjoyed exploring these isolated areas that felt removed from society with their limited supplies and imported groceries.

An Idyllic Island Experience

In Mal P, we decided to stay for a day in an anchorage where we were the only boat. This experience was highlighted by the chance sighting of mantas close up. After a while here, it was time to move on – another 100 miles to our next stop, Maiti, a stunning atoll.

Continuing The Journey

With great experiences and beautiful memories, we look forward to sailing Elixir in more remote locations across the Pacific Ocean. We’re sharing this lifestyle with many viewers by allowing them to join us on this exciting adventure as it unfolds.

If you’ve enjoyed following this journey so far, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to the channel for updates and future episodes. And for those wanting a more interactive experience or interested in opportunities to sail on Elixir, check out our online store and Patreon.