It was sunny as we sailed through the only pass
in the reef around Bora Bora and into the wide, wide lagoon. It truly looked as
the brochures describe – the pearl of the Pacific, with its aquamarine marine
deeps, various turquoise from rich to very pale in the shallows and silver golds
where the reef runs just below the surface as it spreads out from the
surrounding motus (coral islands). Then the heights of the islands two peaks
shooting up deep green into the sky for 2,400 and 2,170 feet, not in the
distance but right there in front of you.
We anchored out
on the reef so we could swim in the turquoise with the surf rushing over the
coral heads which is exhilarating. Surprisingly there were fewer reef fish here
than we have seen in the other islands.
Unfortunately
out arrival in Bora Bora seems to have marked a change in the weather and the
winds have been howling and whistling through the rigging for some hours now. We
moved to a mooring at the Bora Bora Yacht Club which is very comforting when the
wind speed reaches 39 then 42.5 knots as it did when we were side ways on to it
out on the reef and were pushed over at a nasty angle sending trays and hats
flying.
Traditional buildings skirting the lagoon and the clever dinghy lifts
seen everywhere in the Tuamotus and Society Islands along the
shoreline.
From the yacht
club it was quite a long walk into the small main town of Porai but we relished
the opportunity to walk and trogged in. The town is long and thin following the
road, the coral dust was blowing high in the strong wind and colourful pareos
(Polynesian sarongs) whirled outside the few shops. It was like a film set for a
spaghetti western. We went to post our cards and peruse the goods as well as
diving into the Chinese supermarket, which wasn't bad, before returning to the
boat then showers and beers at the yacht club which also did out laundry – can't
be bad!
The wind
wasn't letting up, it spoilt snorkelling as it was so strong we thought it might
overturn the dinghy and flood the outboard engine. Walking was dusty and no fun
so its off to Maupiti a very small island further on said to be like a miniature
Bora Bora.
From Bora
Bora Maupiti seen in the distance under the
clouds.
