Hi Folks,

Ok next stop in our Blog catch-up was the Rangiroa Atoll in the Tuamotu’s, three quarters of the way between Marquises and the Society islands.

We set sail on 25^th April with S/Y Proteus, with whom we gave a traditional salute as they went past (photo) and had a whole range of sailing conditions from rock and roll (I’ve got a video of Trish rolling back and forth on the bed which I’ll post later) to dead still and boring and arriving in Rangiroa on 27^th April.

Wow what a place to visit – big coral atoll, approx. 100sq miles and amazing blue water, with a top class Japanese owned 5* hotel which we anchored up outside – no time to be wasted booking a meal for my birthday, although also celebrated the night before (28^th), with a traditional Babe Bash on board, including being tossed into the sea by Jack – thanks mate! Presents included:

·         Pair of disposable paper knickers

·         Hair cream

·         Spice spray

·         Gob stoppers

·         Multi-coloured tickling stick duster

·         Oh and some clothes from Trish, ta love

So come birthday was feeling a little fragile, and feminine waiter in hotel insisting that I had to wear a shirt with a collar didn’t help! Still had a great meal, yum yum!

Other events included:

a)      Great lunch with folks from S/Y’s Spent, Pearl of Persia & Purusha – magical setting on a platform overlooking the pass into the Raniroa atoll

b)      Meal in the grill restaurant with above minus PofP – also a great atmosphere & almost run single handledly by 1 guy that runs pick-ups from the hotel, hosts, cooks and returns you to the hotel – my god he was shagged by the time we’d finished (and the other 15 or so diners in the restaurant)

c)       Illegal drinks at Lili’s bar on the Sunday – enchanting beach bar place, run by Lili – she even managed to get us some drinks on Sunday, despite being illegal

d)      Went snorkelling off the pass into the atoll (locally called the aquarium) and was absolutely brilliant – met Morris the moray ell, Bert the black-tip shark, lots of coloured fish that I don’t know the names of!

Seems like we packed loads and loads into the 3 days we spent here – fantastic place and partying in the middle of nowhere – bring it on!!

Luv,

Paul & Trish (although Trish has not read my rumblings in this post as yet!)

xx