Life Onboard in Ailuk plus time with SV Aorai.

We enjoyed being the only boat in Ailuk but on the other hand we very much enjoyed the company of the other boats that shared the anchorages with us for awhile.  Many of our photos are of our time interacting with the villages but we did various activities onboard and with the other boats as well.

A popular activity - swimming under the keel (and the RHIB on the other side)

and some spearfishing

Giant clam

and burying your baby brother is also another hobby

and, of course, maintenance continues ... using 5200 to reseam one of the tubes with my junior pantless assistant

Trickle is put into service while the glue drys on the RHIB.

Johnathan helping me check out the chainplates.

Work continues on the blanket

Lots to journal about.

Dinner - fish we speared, barbecued on Yves' wood fired BBQ, aboard SV Aorai.

Measuring supplies to bring to the village.

SV Aorai.  Yves can anchor rather closer to the water than we can

SV Aorai.  Yves can anchor rather closer to the water than we can

Junior paddleboarder

But the paddle is more fun as a shovel.

Swimming with Tananui

Benjamin guarding Yves's pirouge

Dinner with the crew of Runaway on SV Aori.

SV Aorai sets sail

SV Aorai and SV Runaway head out.  SV Runaway never use their engine and do not have any form of self-steering.

Back at the sweatshop Victoria makes a new swim suit/rashguard

Trevally for dinner - a fish shot by Johnathan.

Feasts and Games in Ailuk

We were well looked after in Ailuk with the various feasts and picnics.  Liz described them in her blog posts at the time and some pictures are below:

Benjamin attacking his pandanus

Darlene preparing pandanus.

Tug of war (with one of our dock lines)

Tug of war.

Like in Fiji, volleyball is popular here and these ladies are good.

The boys playing volleyball

Musical chairs

Benjamin being chased by the girls.

On our arrival at Enejelar we were brought some giant clam meat.

Giant clam meat.

What's cooking ?

Turtle !  A rare treat in Ailuk for special occasions.

Very tasty. No parts were wasted.

Water heating for coffee on the picnic

And some fresh pork for the picnic

and some fish we speared.

Liz learning some Marshallese

and Victoria teaching crocheting.

Marshallese Chicken.

We were almost always sent home with leftovers.

The massive feast at Anious's 50th Birthday Feast

Lots of time to sit and chat.  In this case at Anious's house in Ailuk village.

Benajmin and his friend Emila.

Farewell pot luck dinner with Anious and Emily before we depart after six weeks in Ailuk.

Handicrafts in Ailuk

Ailuk is also know for its beautiful traditional handicrafts, especially baskets.  Liz has written about it here and below are some pictures.

Victoria and Liz with the boxes Emily made for us.

Emily teaching Victoria.

Emily teaching Victoria.

Anious, husband of Emily, and Victoria with the necklaces Emily taught her to make.

The ladies in Enjelar are always busy.  In this case making handicrafts

Darlene teaching Victoria to make plates.

Heading ashore with supplies from Majuro to trade for handicrafts

Supplies from Majuro to trade for handicrafts.  We traded or sold the supplies at cost as bought in Majuro.

Handicrafts from Enejelar.

More handicrafts