Moving on from Raiatea and Tahaa
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Mon 31 May 2010 20:11
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16:45.550S 151:29.430W
Monday 31st May
We've now circumnavigated Tahaa after
stopping at most of the bays including Hurepiti Bay. We first made our way to
the bay because we thought we could have a tour of a vanilla plantation but it
turned out we'd misunderstood. The pilot book stated that there were 3 moorings
for "Vanilla Tours" so we picked one up and Blue Magic and Miss Tippy picked the
others up, except they were actually on "Sophies Boutique" buoys. After
venturing ashore we found out that the vanilla plantation tour was actually a
4x4 tour around the island which we didn't wish to do, plus Alan the tour guide
didn't work weekends and it was a Saturday. It wasn't a completely wasted trip
though as Sophies Boutique was lovely, it was in the most beautiful
setting.
 Sophies Boutique
After a couple of purchases to
justify using the mooring buoys, or at least that was the excuse we all used
with the men, we went for a stroll along the road. The bay was very picturesque
and the road climbed the side of the mountain so we had a fantastic viewpoint.
Unfortunately the road ran out after a while, it always does on these little
islands, they only tarmac some parts. So we turned round and strolled back the
way we'd just come and returned to the boats for a quiet evening.
 Hurepiti Bay and the boats at
anchor
 Walking back up the road with
the kids trailing behind
 On our way back we came across
a pamplemoose (grapefruit) orchard. They grow to be so big I don't know how the
branches hold them up.
 A nice spot for your
home!
We decided it was time for a bit
of civilisation so on Sunday morning we moved along the coast to the
Taravana Yacht Club in Apu Bay. We managed to pick up another buoy, one that
belonged to the yacht club, you either pay for your mooring on a nightly basis
or eat ashore. We booked in to eat with Chsalonina, Briet and Blue magic and the
food was great as well as the friendly hosts, so a lovely evening was had. The
pontoon was very high up from the water so at the end of the night we thought
someone was bound to fall in as it had been difficult enough 4 hours earlier.
Amazingly we all managed it fine! The same cannot be said for Amy today
though. She went ashore this morning to take the rubbish and as she was
climbing up onto the pontoon the dinghy moved from underneath her and her legs
went one way and her body the other until she had no option but to fall.
Unfortunately non of us witnessed it, we just laughed as she returned to the
boat soaking wet! It's a shame we were planning on moving over to Huahine as it
was a nice location to be based for a couple of days, but we have to move on
sometime!
 More houses out on the reef
with their boats moored next to them. Not a bad life!
 Whilst navigating the 2 mile
wide lagoon between Raiatea and Tahaa there are just random building on the low
lying reefs. They're actually quite handy as they help you spot the
reef!
We left Apu Bay to re-fuel
at Raiatea before heading to Huahine, the island that we missed on the way here.
But whilst we were crossing the lagoon head on to the wind we realised our 26
mile beat into the wind would not be too pleasant, especially not today in these
high winds so we're now anchored in Pufau Bay on the west coast of Raiatea and
we'll set off first thing in the morning.
Oh and by the way we have also
had rain on Bank Holiday monday, it's not just the UK!
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