SAILING 1: 1981-1992

This page includes some of the story and photos of our first sailing era on Shanachie, throughout the 1980s and early 90s.

Our route, from the West Coast of California included: Mexico (Baja, Sea of Cortez, mainland coast), French Polynesia (Marquesas—Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou; Tuamotus—Toau, Kauehi, Taiaro; Society Islands— Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, Mopelia), Niue, Tonga (Vava’u Group), Fiji (too many islands to list individually, but including the Lau Group, Viti Levu, and the Yasawas), New Zealand, Cook Islands (Rarotonga), Line Islands (Caroline Island—with special permission from the owner), Hawaii, San Juan Islands, Canada (Vancouver Island and many other eastside islands, B.C.), and finally, Seattle, Washington, where Shanachie was sold in 1992 (and bought back in 1998!).

Shanachie’s original sailing route, hand-sketched

Shanachie heading to Mexico

Anchored off Isla Socorro, Mexico, on our way to the Marquesas, April 1983 (Only 2450 miles and 17 days to go!).

Land Ho! Arriving in the Marquesas after finishing our first open ocean passage, and 21 days at sea…

Arrival in the Marquesas at Atuona, Hiva Oa…Shanachie is far left, front. When we returned 22 years later, we found a busy, thriving harbor with over 30 boats anchored here, and the mud road was very much paved. Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel are buried about 30 meters apart in the cemetery on the hill in the background.

Shanachie anchored between friends Morning Star and Kate (also from Santa Cruz) in beautiful Hanaiapa Bay, Hiva Oa.

Shy girls of Hanaiapa, Hiva Oa. Little did any of us know then that the tallest young girl to the right of center, Heikapua Thérèse (Moke) Barbion, daughter of our friends, Anna and Teiki Moke, was to become a future Miss Tahiti in 1993.

Not-so-shy Fijian kids of Totoya Island, Eastern Lau Group, Fiji. The boat was named after the Beasley family’s yawl, Severance. The family stopped at the island for a visit, saw the villagers’ need for motor boat transportation, and so built the boat in this photo while teaching the technique to the villagers about a month before we arrived. A friend of the Beasleys was definitely a friend of these villagers!

Joe does some provisioning at Dick’s Place, Malolo Lailai, Fiji. This was our main base for supplies, and we returned to shop every 10 days or so after sailing to various islands 80 miles up into the Yasawa Group. The well-known destination surf resort, Tavarua, is 5 miles away, behind Joe (beyond the photo’s background), and was just being built at the time, in 1984.

Shanachie anchored next to our friends on the 123-foot J-Boat, Cambria, at Malolo Lailai, Fiji

The Bounty sails off Raiatea, French Polynesia (Tahaa is in the background), after her stint as a Hollywood star. The Bounty movie had been shot on Moorea shortly before this photo was taken.

Joe shares weatherfax info with a fellow seafarer

One of the amazing coconut crabs found on William Robinson’s island, Taiaro, in the Tuamotus. We couldn’t stay long—the anchorage was an open roadstead on a lee shore of gnarly-looking coral reef. Nancy’s hand gives perspective to the enormous (and powerful) size of these creatures.

Dolphins riding Shanachie’s underwater bow wake in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia

Shanachie, the Mother Ship, with Skip Allan’s Wylie Hawkfarm-28, Wildflower, tied to her stern

Joe and Nancy tie the knot in a wedding ceremony aboard Shanachie while anchored at Fare, Huahine, April 1, 1984, known as Poisson d’Avril (April Fish—or Fools’ Day!). It was officially recorded June 9th at Fare’s City Hall after a second, civil ceremony performed by the mayor once their birth certificates were translated into French.

Real friends help you do the laundry in a bucket when they visit on vacation! (Winnie Partridge, middle, Nancy on right).

Shanachie finally meets with her sister ship, Tequila, for the first time in New Zealand. Some of the design modifications Paul Whiting made after TQ (middle) was built are apparent on Shanachie (left), especially when the boats are side by side. Penny Whiting’s Northerner is to the right.

Baby on board… our future Admiral (Kali at 9 months old) properly wearing her safety harness (and nothing else) as we approach the island of Bora Bora.

Oh frabjous day! Kali enjoying life on a boat at 8 months old.

Kali ashore at the Hana Iti hotel building project on Huahine

Tahitians paddling their va’a (outrigger) as the sun sets under a tropical sky.

And yes, indeed, it does sometimes snow in Seattle!