May 2016

Hello everyone,

I had told you last month that this letter would probably reach you from the high seas, on a crossing from New Zealand to the Austral Islands ; it was without taking account of the principle that I have immodestly named " Antoine's Principle": "Any mechanical device shows, a natural, normal, stable state , that is the "defective" state ..."

As we were sailing off, one of our propeller shafts began to loose oil in abundance because an engineer had simply forgotten to put a lepsel at its place...And a few other gremlins materialized simultaneously; so it is once again high and dry in a shipyard that I send you this message.

Construction, repair, maintenance, its not less than the 5th time in 8 months that Banana Split is hauled out of the water. Here in Port Whangarei, along with Vaimiti.

And a few other gremlins materialized simultaneously; so it is once again high and dry in a shipyard that I send you this message. Fortunately, in this work I am helped by a robust crew, my daughter Vaimiti and her boyfriend Stéphane, both cooks, arrived from Bora Bora to accompany me on this crossing: as a bonus, the menu on Banana Split these days includes Crême Dubarry, Green curry, Asparagus risotto (with white truffle oil), not to mention Eggs Benedict for breakfast this morning!

May I introduce to you my new outboard motor, for the first time an electric one ? It reminds me of a character from Star Wars !

So the crossing looks promising, it just remains to put the boat in condition to do it; I'll tell you all about it !