Arrival Tahiti

Zepher
Chris & Lyn Darch
Tue 29 Jul 2008 03:25
17:34.90S
149:37.23W
 
Hi Folks,
 
Well after a long slog motor sailing to windward we arrived at the entrance of Pape'ete Harbour Tahiti at 10:00 a strait forward entrance well marked channels as all of these French territories have, very well maintained and they need to be as these channels wind along the coast opening out it to flat calm anchorage's whilst the waves crash on the reef only 50 metres away , a wonderful sight from the inside but a bum clincher from the outside , I can see why before the days of GPS such disasters occurred only  good hearing would save you if you got the nav wrong , you can hear the crashing surf constantly on the outer reef , unfortunately on this boat only Ruth would have heard anything as the rest of us are stone deaf ! 
Another interesting thing is that the admiralty charts seem to be slightly out , we also have the French SHOM charts and had a few debates whilst picking our way around these channels which of them had the buoys in the right place, some were way out while others didn't exist, its not too hard though as if its dark blue its fine and light blue spells disaster and with the sun behind you its fine you can pick your way along, as theirs not much tide here , .2 to .3 of a metre a hard grounding would take a lot off pulling off !
We arrived at 11:30 and selected our spot , dropped the hook and issued congratulations all round on a job well done , Lyn surfaced after spending the past 24 hrs between the toilet and bed , it appears she had picked up a bug and when she appeared on deck we were starting our journey up the channel .
 For all the guys who did the Atlantic trip , Diana,Graham and Roger , this is a bit like our first landfall , you know the odd wreck on the reef just to remind you that attention to detail is essential , wish you guys could be here to see this entrance and channel , it must look spectacular from Google earth .
 Rob took the helm whilst the rest of us picked up the markers and route through , a job well done by all .. we all deserve a beer and as soon as Rob and Ruth get back from Carfours supermarket situated 200m away from the shore that's exactly what we will be doing !
 
A crew behind a reef ...