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| Photo 1 – Tahiti Sunset |
3rd April
14
Though the same can’t be said about Moorea, our only
saviour!
It feels a bit like deja-vu, trying to get out of Panama!
Tahiti is worse, and the only reason you would want to come here is to go to
the airport to leave! Okay, all jokes aside, I’m serious. There is nothing to
do here; there is no community, the reef is overfished, the water polluted
(perhaps we have been spoilt) the anchorage bouncy, and the town a half hour
bus ride away. Now most of it you could overcome while hanging out for the
cyclone season, but you just can’t take the French out of French Polynesia.
There is no atmosphere, no community, no camaraderie, and it is not just us
saying this! And the French think they are passionate Latinos….i don’t think
so!
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| Photo 2 – Quick paddle racing |
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| Photo 3 – Quick paddle for everyone |
So while trying to get parts shipped in all we have done in
Tahiti is watch quik paddles, go to restaurants, go to town to try and get
parts. We did take a bus a trip around the island once…..no real need to go
back.
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| Photo 4 Moorea sunset |
Our saving grace has been Moorea however. It is a lovely
island only 5 hours sail away, with a lovely anchorage and lovely people. We never
had a problem hitchhiking anywhere, and even had a local French guy pick us up
and take us to town to exchange our gas bottle after he saw our unsuccessful
attempt at the local shop. The fish are even friendly in Moorea with a resident
turtle turning up occasionally to scratch his neck and back on our anchor
chain. The anchorage was brilliant with a steady 2 knots of current keeping the
boat out of any bouncy waves coming through the pass, this also allowed the
cool night breeze flowing off the mountains to drift into our cabin keeping us
cool. The current also meant we had great visibility where even at night under
the moonlight we could see the sea shells (not on the sea shore) moving along
the sandy bottom at 10m depth…. it is a shell protection area. We took the
bikes off at the white sand beach park that was cleaned at least once a week,
and went on many adventures; up into the mountains, into town, around the bays,
and into the local prawn farm to get our fresh prawns. Often we watched the
local fishermen bring back their 2m tuna to sell fillets along the roadside,
and the local sailing school provided no end of amusement with the youngsters
constantly crashing into each other. Lucky the boats were made of aluminium,
though we did see one go into the support boat, full speed, and put a huge dent
in the fibreglass.
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| Photo 5 – Marion at work, headling replacement |
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| Photo 6 – Mark at work, rig check |
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| Photo 7 – Moorea aquarium clarity |
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| Photo 8 – Look out Marion, pet stingray |
We even managed to get some work done; windlass
reconditioning, Tommy Tohatsu reconditioning, more varnishing and head lining
replacement. The weather was not always brilliant with days of unsettled
weather occasionally keeping us on board where we watched ‘The Universe’ series
and watched boats drag anchor all around us. After the unsettled conditions
though we made the most of the sunshine exploring in the dinghy, coming across
a fantastic spot with aquarium clarity where the fish and rays came right up
touching you….really weird.
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| Photo 10 – Back in Tahiti, Sunday lunch at Coco’s Restaurant |
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| Photo 11 – Coco’s view |
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| Photo 12 – During a 50 knot storm the weather was so bad they closed the main harbour and the ferries had to come around our side of the island to get out |
But here we now sit….Tahiti….i have had two bouts of bronchitis
(doctor now has me on 3000mg of antibiotics per day) and one week of upset
stomach which hasn’t helped matters. But we still can’t get our heads around
the aloofness of the French. The 2014 Pacific crossing fleet are now starting
to arrive and it feels like it’s getting better, but we still can’t wait to get
out of here. Now waiting on one last part for the generator and we are
off….Huahine, Bora Bora, places we have only heard and dreamt of. We can’t
wait!
PBN: 28/4/14 More
boats have arrived including a lot of old friends, so bbq’s and impromptu ‘jam’
sessions with some serious musicians and catch up conversation has made the
last few weeks bearable, if not enjoyable.
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| Photo 13 – On holiday, Teahupoo |
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| Photo 14 – Javelin (spear) games |
PPBN: 8/5/14 After 60
days of trying to get a part for the generator delivered we are
leaving….without the part, but have another part on order with an agent to
chase it up and deliver it to wherever we are! Enough is enough, but the last
few weeks have been good; staying in the marina to provision, sightseeing Teahupoo,
visiting roulottes, restaurants, superyacht parties, Spear rock and coconut
competitions, tying up loose ends on the boat, Billabong juniors, and eating.
PPPBN: 11/5/14 Checked
out and left Tahiti yesterday!
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| Photo 15 - ….guess what? |
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| Photo 16 – Superyacht ‘Mondango’ |
