The world was changing rapidly while we were in Fakara-va. We arrived back on Tahiti to growing international news of Coronavirus and local rumors of a quarantine. We decid-ed to head to Tahiti-iti’s south coast largely because of the swell forecast but it proved to be a fortuitous decision for reasons other than the surf. Not long after we arrived our neighbors in the anchorage swung by on their dinghy to ask if we had heard the news: French Polynesia was implement-ing a mandatory confinement period beginning at midnight of the following day. We took advantage of the advanced warning to go to shore and provision.
We are aware that we were incredibly lucky to be in the South Pacific, specifically French Polynesia, during the height of the COVID pandemic. We were sheltered from much of the world’s chaos and fear, but as we watched events unfold from afar we felt for those who were hurting. At the same time we were dealing with our own (admittedly very minor) challenges. The idea of being confined to a sailboat in Tahiti may at first seem romantic but the reality is a bit different. Talk about cabin fever!
We made a conscious decision to stay positive and focus our energies on activities that promoted sanity and growth. We created a routine. We woke early to do yoga on deck. We got exercise by swimming around the boat. We cooked healthy meals. Kimber focused on writing. And we put lots of love into our boat.