MandM Cruising: Tahiti………..’Don’t bother’

Photo 1 – Tahiti Sunset

3^rd 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!

Photo 2 – Quick paddle racing

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.

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.

Photo 5 – Marion at work, headling replacement

Photo 6 – Mark at work, rig check

Photo 7 – Moorea aquarium clarity

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.

Photo 10 – Back in Tahiti, Sunday lunch at Coco’s Restaurant

Photo 11 – Coco’s view

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.

Photo 13 – On holiday, Teahupoo

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!