10:14S 138:54W

 

After a few days in the stunning anchorage at Fatu Hiva it was time to move on.  We’d cleaned Bandit, got her back into cruising mode, restocked our diminishing fruit and vege supplies by trading with locals(we still have cabbage from Panama....does that stuff never die?) snorkelled on the rocks and had some lovely walks.  The next island of Tahuata beckoned and with good winds we set off at first light this morning.   The wind had been gusting strongly all night long, keeping us awake, so we were happy to leave early.

 

We had a great sail across to Tahuata with steady 15 knots of wind on the beam – why wasn’t it like this across the Pacific?  Friends already in the anchorage say it’s a gorgeous white sandy beach with palm trees - quite different from the striking black volcanic sands and jagged peaks of Fatu Hiva. 

 

We plan to spend the weekend socialising and relaxing before heading to Hiva Oa to check in on Monday.  Officially we should probably have gone there today but, given the anchorage is rolly and busy and our check in is not straightforward, we didn’t want to arrive with only one day to spare before the weekend, when they charge overtime.  Not being EU we need to post a bond to cruise in French Polynesian waters – equivalent to a one way airfare home.  Funny thing is, when we last looked we could fly to NZ for $500 each.....but they want $1500 per person.  We need to do some negotiating to make sure we get it back in NZ or US$- we’ve heard of boats getting it back in Polynesian French Francs – on the day they leave!  Not much use to us.

 

Anyway – all that is still to come.  For now we are going to enjoy this beautiful anchorage and we’ve even heard there is a bakery in the next bay that sells baguettes and pain au chocolate.  The shop apparently has internet – maybe we’ve reached civilisation after all.