Captain's log

Sunday 25th June

Our four day stay in Rarotonga has been a great experience. The warmth and friendship shown in so many ways by the local community was wonderful. Every day people would arrive at the ship with gifts of fresh fruits and vegetables - we have enough bananas on board to keep us going for weeks. On one day alone we were visited by 250 school children who brought their letters and good wishes - the younger generation, our future, is what we are fighting for.

For the crew this was not just a break on a beautiful island but a time for more serious boat training. Every day our boats went out to sea for about three hours. The crews would return, sore bums, arms, knees, backs. Training in small inflatables takes its toll!!

I decided to take Saturday off, and forget the ship for a while. Myself and the photographer Steve Morgan hired a push bike and we peddled around the island - a distance of about 24 miles. Being a rather warm day we decided to make 'refreshment stops' at various tourist hotels en route!! Our last stop off was at the Royal Rarotonga Yacht Club - last bastion of the 'Empire'. We received a very warm welcome, even to the point they gave us the use of a small sailing dinghy. I suppose they thought the captain of the sailing vessel Rainbow Warrior should be proficient in small boat sailing!! We did not capsize, but ran the centre over a rock - no damage to the boat. After refreshments we bade farewell to the yachting fraternity and cycled back to Rarotonga harbour feeling tired but happy.

We sailed midday Sunday bound for Papeete, the capital of Tahiti. I wonder whether our welcome there would be as warm as Rarotonga?

Monday 26th June

With the wind almost dead ahead we could not use our sails, but motored. In the afternoon we had another session of boat work.

More launching, more bruised bodies. The air temperature is rising with midday reaching 33 degrees Celsius, sea temperature 30 degrees.

Tuesday 27th June

Weather fine and clear, but very hot. Again more boat training. At night the temperature drops to about 26 degrees Celsius. We averaged six knots today - nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday 28th June

Noon position 18 degrees 22 minutes south, 152 degrees 14 minutes West. Speed 5 knots. Nothing to report except sighting of a minke whale close to ship.

Thursday 29th June

Arrived off Papeete Port 1030 hours. The Port Authorities, through pressure at higher levels, are trying to make access to the ship very difficult. As I write, a large demonstration of more than 15,000 -- about 20 percent of the adult population of the island -- are marching in protest at a resumption of French testing. The French authorities want the Rainbow Warrior out of the way on grounds that we may incite problems -- the irony is that the problem is their decision on testing! We will stay outside Papeete until we are hear from local activists that we are to get a better berth.

Warm Regards - David Enever