TOP
how to deal with bad fuel on a sailboat

Dirtiest Diesel Ever & Our Routine in Paradise (Sailing French Polynesia)

We’re creatures of habit. So, it should come as no surprise how little time it takes to slip into a routine. But, not all routine is bad…especially when it’s in paradise.

As full-time travelers we’re hyper-aware of routines. As a general rule, we try not to let ourselves slip into one. We’ve all heard the famous quote, “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal”.  I think the routine Paulo Coelho is referring to, is the one that keeps us in our comfort zone.

The warm embrace of our comfort zone can be challenging to part with. It’s a safe place where we have a false sense of control.  We humans create a routine because it feels controlled and predictable.

What little feeling of control or predictability Jason and I had left, we threw out the window when we bought a catamaran to go sailing about the world (with zero experience). However, stepping outside the comfort zone doesn’t have to be quite this dramatic. Any form of travel is an adventure that takes us outside our comfort zone.

So, creating a routine in a completely new environment is a small adventure…because it’s not yet predictable.

We’ve been anchored here in Hiva Oa for a little over a week. Most of our time has been spent cleaning up Curiosity, sourcing replacement parts and catch up on the massive pile of editing, emails and work that amassed while we were sailing across the Pacific. But, the other slice of life, the really good bits, have been spent slipping into island life.

Click the play button and we’ll take you through our little routine in paradise. Oh, and as the title gives away, we also discover we have a batch of the dirtiest diesel we’ve ever seen. Its good and gunky!

I still can’t get over how early they get going here in the Marquesas, and how early they call it quits.  Who knew island time was 5 – 11 am? But oh, the bounty of fresh foods you can score around 6am is legendary!

I honestly didn’t expect the local produce to be this good.  I’d heard tales of the massive grapefruit but had no idea we would find such an agriculturally rich gold mine.  Our vegetarian hearts were in constant cartwheel mode.  Add freshly baked $0.65 cent baguettes to the mix and now I know why everyone calls this place paradise!  If I didn’t have a bad case of sedentary lifeaphobia, I might join the tiki gods and call this place home too.

hiva oa marquesas, french Polynesia

hiva oa marquesas, french Polynesia

beautiful volcanic landscapes

hiva oa marquesas, french Polynesia

life in paradise

Important Extras

Don’t get clogged up, get a Fuel Filter:  https://amzn.to/2pE8VdH

Bow and Stern Anchoring, A How & Whyhttps://www.gonewiththewynns.com/bow-stern-anchoring

Applying for a French Polynesia visa?  Here’s our experience:https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/sailing-french-polynesia-visa

Camera Gear – All Our Camera/Computer Gear is Listed Here: gonewiththewynns.com/camera-gear-review-2017

Kitchen/Galley – You’ll find my cooking gadgets, pots and more all in our gear store: gonewiththewynns.com/store

Dates This Video Covers: May 27- 30, 2018
Awesome Tunes for Videos: http://bit.ly/artlist-gwtw

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (42)

  • Bill

    Your videos just keep getting better and better. I love the new introduction at the start and really like all the drone footage. Keep up the great work and thanks for giving all us land lubbers a glimpse into the cruising life.

    reply
  • Yvonne Heaney

    Hi you two sweeties! I watched your video this morning with Charlie, our little chi. How exciting to be exploring the most beautiful islands of the world!!! I am so happy for ya’ll and applaud your bravery and adventuresome spirit. That produce looks amazing! Ours here in Red Oak, Texas is sad. I try to grow a little and savour every tidbit that makes it to our table. Cherish these adventures and each other for as long as you possibly can so us poor, landlocked relatives can continue to live life vicariously through your awesome videos! Love you to far away islands and back. Hope to see you next time your in Dallas!

    reply
  • Dave Gilchriest

    I love your enthusiasm and adventures .
    Reminds me of a Psalm:
    “”Those who go down to the sea in ships,
    Who do business on great waters,
    They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.”
    Look forward to your next video.
    Thank you for sharing your lives and teaching us.

    reply
  • The algae sludge looks like it might be a good topping for the veggies… just kidding. Your work inspired Greg and I to exit our RV for a week and enjoy a houseboat on Lake Powell. It is stunningly beautiful here, but is such a different way. Thanks for the great videos, and the information about the day to day life at sea. You guys are great.

    FYI: our cats Buddy and George are also on the houseboat with us. They LOVE it, so much more room than the RV.

    reply
  • Keith Rowell

    I think you 2 are amazing. Your travels are are very nice to see all the different types of islands and the people. All so very informative on life out to sea.thanks for sharing. Injoy an as allwase safe travels

    reply
  • Yvan Dion

    Lovely video (as usual). Thanks for sharing !

    reply
  • Roger B

    When I couldn’t access your newest video, I turned on the TV and accessed you-tube and watched your video. However, I happy to learn you discovered something was messed up and I viewed your video again. Love the cats and your drone videos.

    reply
  • Jose M HernandezPol

    Can’t wait for the next video.
    Stay safe guys.

    Capt blue

    reply
  • Steve

    Wow, your French has greatly improved! Nikki, your accent is getting very good!
    *Thank you* guys for all of your beautiful adventures, I miss sailing so much …. Please keep those fantastic videos coming

    Now back to Dirty Diesel:
    That sludge is algae growth, a sure sign that your diesel had water in it.
    Biocides like the Biobor JF that you have, will kill the microbial growth, but it will not remove the water.
    Mr funnel will remove *some* water, but I would not bet my life on it. The filter on Mr Funnel is rated 50um (50 micron) or about the size of human hair.
    10um is the min recommended, 2um if you have common rail injectors.
    If you think you have water issues, you can use a product such as K 100 MD, it micro encapsulate the water and allows you to burn it. (K 100 does *not* contains a biocide. Using one or the other does not cure “all” )
    I would respectfully suggest to consider installing a water separator+filter such as a Racor 2um. ($225 to $350) You can find cheaper ones at 10um for about $125
    The above (water separator + K100) is what is used by our engineers for our emergency generators and fleet of emergency vehicles.
    Disclaimer: I am not working for one company or the other and have no vested interests in you purchasing anything.
    “An ounce of maintenance is worth a pound of cure”

    reply
  • Don

    I’m with Claire on the Cookbook idea…as if you don’t have enough to do…your meals look and I’m sure are delicious.
    I volunteer for the Beta version-just to help out.

    reply
  • Clint Hulsey

    Thank you again for your videos! I look forward to them and enjoy them bunches!

    reply
  • Warren mangan

    Hi Nikki that last photo looks like ‘Annie get your gun ‘ on my phone small screen .
    I guess you illustrated why island time is so slow when you want to get somebody to do work for you It’s always manYana /tomorrow .
    I’m amazed how you find sort of usable Internet
    Cheers Warren

    reply
  • Rachel Sears

    Hi Jason and Nikki,

    The map on your site is still not working. Can you give us a real-time update? We all want to know where you are now.

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      They are anchored off NW Tahiti at the moment, working hard to get the website updated & working at 100%!
      Curious Minion

      reply
      • Warren

        It must be frustrating for them . They are such good communicators to be let down by technology is hard .
        glad you can help out a little bit
        are you uploading videos off thumb drives for them ? cheers Warren

        reply
        • Curious Minion

          Thanks Warren. It is actually more difficult to mail thumb drives at this point than it is for them to use weak WiFi. Even if it takes 2 days to upload a video, that’s faster than mailing them!

          reply
  • Carol Goering

    I want you to know I came across your videos earlier this year and couldn’t stop watching. Tomorrow I’m heading to Nokomis Florida to pick up my first RV, Coach House.
    My husband died one year ago. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions. Since we pretty much stuck to ourselves, no close friends in the area and all family living out of state, I have 4 dogs which makes normal (car, hotel) travel impossible unless I want to pay $100 a day for boarding. I felt trapped in my home and very lonely. I’m excited to start my new chapter traveling, .
    Thank you!

    reply
  • Katrina Bright

    Fun find! We just booked our honeymoon in the French Polynesia during Christmas time. Can’t wait to read/watch more of your adventures 🙂

    reply
  • Alan Solomon

    Good soil is so important for good eats.
    I would be a good customer at the boulangerie and gobble up all the chocolate croissants, turnovers and breads if I dare.
    Safe travels.

    reply
  • Anna

    I second the comment about writing a cookbook. I recently went vegan and most everything you cook looks wonderful.
    Safe travels.

    reply
  • Brandy L. Austin

    Love watching your videos each week. We live in Frisco, TX and are working towards our dream of doing exactly what you’re doing. I just finished my MBA (at 42) and I’m substitute teaching on the side to see if I could handle “home schooling” our now 6 year old “miracle baby”, though we may have our 21 year old help with that now that she is graduating college herself. Positioning our careers to continue working a bit as allowed while out of U.S. keep posting! Thanks for the work you put in and we love the cats!

    reply
  • Lisa Cantrell

    Hi Guys, I don’t live in French Polynesia but an old family friend does, well in Tahiti and I don’t know if you’ll be going that far away from the Marquesas. Kevin shapes surfboards and SUPs. His contact info is here : http://www.kevinheminwaytahitiansurfboarddesigns.com/tahiti-contact-surfboards.html Tell him the Cantrells all say hi.

    reply
  • Luke

    The videos are beautiful and very well put together! Really enjoy all your insight on the details sailing and maintaining the boat! Keep doing your thing!

    reply
  • Deborah Kerr

    Kinda like mowing the yard…… lol…Love your travels & adventures!! Keep smiling 🙂

    reply
  • Michael Magill

    Morning Jason & Nikki, another great video to watch and wonder what it would be like to be with you two. What a beautiful place to visit. It just seemed that it was Paradise and you got up way early, got you daily provisions and would back on the boat by 11 a.m. Can’t beat that.. Videos are amazing and we look forward to the new ones each week, to see what you were up to , and how live was treating you both!!

    reply
  • Brenda

    With all that work, no need to go to any gym! Looks so beautiful there, now I want to go too!

    reply
  • Tammy B.

    You two are an awesome team. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Nikki, all your meals look yummy. I agree that a cookbook should be a project for the future. Safe travels. Blessings,

    reply
  • Bill

    You look good in Greens!

    reply
  • I would have never thought that diesel fuel was so inexpensive in the middle of the ocean. We’re currently in CA. Can you say expensive?
    Love your videos. Look forward to a new edition every Sunday.

    reply
  • Lisa

    Could you just please do a 2-hour movie every week?
    Please???
    10 mins is NOT ENUF!! 🙂
    (I know, video is a lot of work.)
    I appreciate all your efforts so that we can see what it’s like way down there!
    Thank you!

    reply
  • T C Spencer

    When was your arrival date and how long are you staying?

    reply
    • JOHN SCHRETLEN

      T C the last line of the comments under the video says “Dates This Video Covers: May 27- 30, 2018”.

      It takes a lot of time to put out a video. Perhaps if we could get Jason to walk back to the boat faster he might have more time to edit and not be four months behind.

      reply
  • Mary Can

    Aunt Cindy and I watched Sunday Funday together this morning. It is so beautiful there! The videography is stunning.

    Wish you were here having breakfast with us or better yet, we were with you. Discussing an April visit. Love you bunches! Mom and Aunt Cindy

    reply
  • Rachael Pevy

    So happy to see the videos flowing again we missed you! We are looking to follow in your footsteps in 12-18 months so hopefully Nico and I will run into you guys somewhere exotic and gorgeous. Love to see a few videos on your favorite destinations so far by region, which ports/marina’s you’d recommend and the best deals or free places to drop anchor. We will be on a budget so any advise on saving $$ and where to go that is cheap but awesome would be a great help. love you 2! xxx Rach

    reply
  • Lorrie

    I agree with Theresa, too much work for me, but love watching your videos and enjoy you upbeat attitude. The video music is enjoyable and fits moment. Could you note the music in the videos, starting with this one?

    reply
  • Therese Sandhage

    I laughed when you talked about what you did all day and how it was “nothing” yet a lot. That’s what farmers feel like almost every day. I’m sure there’s other professions that feel that way too but I’m familiar with farming.

    I enjoy your videos. Watching your sailing videos helps me know I don’t ever want to be responsible for a boat. So I’ll have to be monetarily rich to sail so I can hire people to do all that work. ?

    reply
  • Linda Browder

    What do the people do with the rest of the day. I am sure a good, long rest is involved. Enjoy following you two so much

    reply
  • Lindalinda

    What do the people do with the rest of the day? I am sure a good, long rest is involved! LOL

    reply
  • Pam McClure

    So lovely there. Thanks again

    reply
  • Jerry

    I enjoy watching your video’s on Sunday (or whenever they arrive) and keeping up with your travels/adventures. Can you give us a long range goal for the next 12 months of where you plan to be in one year from now?

    reply
  • Jim S.

    I did’t realize just how much upkeep and cleaning is needed to keep sailboat in prime condition.

    reply
  • Claire

    I really think you should author a cookbook, online or otherwise, of the recipes you make while traveling in an RV or boat. Every time I see your meals in your photos and videos, they look delicious! Please consider letting your fans in on your cooking talents.

    reply

Post a Comment