As the first winter storm with a large north west swell was approaching we decided to leave the Big Island and head to Hale o Lono Harbor on Molokai which is a safe anchorage in most conditions.

The mountains of the Big island blocked the trade winds so we had to motor for 8 hours in the lee of the Big Island before we caught the wind.

We sailed through the night and the next evening we arrived to Hale o Lono harbor. Our plan was to stay in Molokai for the first winter storm but the harbor was swarming with bees.

The next morning the bees were back so we decided to pull anchor and head to the east side of Oahu before the storm arrive.

We took safe anchorage behind the reef in Waimanolo Bay, where Jason grew up sailing, surfing and fishing.

After that first storm, another storm was right behind it and so on. So we decided to stay behind the barrier reef as it was the safest place to anchor during these more powerful than normal winter storms.

Eventually we were forced to leave safe anchorage by the authorities because of Lanikai Community complaining about a boat in their view.

The ocean was pretty big so its was going to be a dangerous exit but the authorities said if we didn't leave they were going to impound our boat so we had no other option than leave with out a main sail and one motor not working good.

We end up making it safe but we lost one motor trying to leave and it was a pretty scary and life threatening experience.

We were really lucky to had Jason’s friend Conrad help us sail our boat through the ruff Chanel to Kauai. GOOD NEWS we made it safely back home.