Sunglasses... check. Sunscreen... check. Provisions... check! The crew of Gemini made sure to stock up at Marukai and get plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and other delights. Lisa and Anton made it clear that we would not be eating canned food or pasta from a jar on this trip. So with everything else in order, Gemini and crew departed Kewalo for the neighbor islands, all smiles after looking at the weather forecast for the week.

Before setting off for the neighbor islands, the crew of Gemini decided to first make an anchoring stop off Waikiki. With the brilliant blue waters today, the idea of a quick swim call is just irresistible. It's also an opportunity to test out the new Bruce anchor and get the new anchor rode wet for the first time. New gear on this trip: new Bruce (claw) anchor and rode  (200 ft of rope + 50 ft of chain) and new roll up inflatable dinghy. We're bringing the outboard from Iorana so we don't have to row in Lahaina (yeah right!). 

Cruising out to the neighbor islands, Gemini and her crew first took a detour and made a brief stop in Ko Olina, on the leeward side of Oahu. Angelyn joined us on the first day of the cruise and so we thought we would drop her off on the west side. Smooth sailing from Kewalo and around Barber's Point, we arrived just at sunset. Where to go from here? Leaving from Ko Olina adds a few more miles to the course to Lanai and with normal ENE Tradewinds, points us more into the wind. But this is the Pacific Offshore "Challenge" after all! 

Sailing for 22 hours upwind from Ko Olina to the south of Lanai, is exhilarating but a little bit exhausting. You don't get much (any) sleep really, especially when fishing boats come out of nowhere and try to run you over at 0200. Actually had to call them on the VHF radio to avoid a collision. Remember: "Red over White Fishing at Night" and sailing vessels giveaway to fishing vessels. So a little bit damp from the warm Hawaiian sea spray, the salty crew of Gemini is more than eager to set foot in our first destination.