Passe Taihaaru
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 6 Oct 2013 22:37
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Passe
Taihaaru
 The guide books say this is the
hairiest of all passes and sorts ‘the men out from the boys’. It’s skinny and
has a current between two and nine knots (always outflowing). Once started there
is no going back. We asked Beez and she said “bring it on.” Our first look from a distance. Sails
down and ready for action, Beez shouts YeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaa and off we
go.
 OK this is more interesting, the small white posts each side of the pass come into view.
I go and stand at the front, to aid Bear, hand signals at the
ready.
 
 What’s incredibly funny is the
accurately laid waypoints put your course over dry
land. A1 eyeball then.
 The pass opens
up.
  Immediately to our right the last wave breaks over the reef. In
we go.
 I feel I could lean out
and touch the steep sided reef.
 Marker post coming up.
 View
to the left.
 First set of buoys ahead. Keep them to the
left, bit of a rinse cycle going on. Bear felt an outward current of about three
knots so Beez was in gear and compensating.
 Last
little bit.
 We are through. Second set of buoys, keep well to the right. Now the water
is crystal clear and the coral heads are easy to see. I ask Bear to hold on the
spot so I can take pictures of Windarra coming
through (own blog).
  Windarra safely through, we then follow her across
the wide open lagoon.
 Crossing the
lagoon.
 View
to the left (with our very own coral garden – seen as a dark
patch).
 Beez at our anchorage on the chart plotter. The island is known as
Mopelia, Maupelia,
Mopihaa, Maupihoa
and Mapetia.
 Our view to the right.
 How did we celebrate ???
– a full blown egg event and a game of backgammon of
course.
ALL IN ALL A GREAT SENSE OF
ACHIEVEMENT
EXCITING AND
FUN |