We sailed back to Tahiti yesterday morning by a beautiful flat calm day. Not a breath of wind and had to motor all the way. When we arrived in front of the pass through the coral reef to get to Marina Taina, we spotted a big red “thing” on the surface of the water. Coming close to it we saw that it was a broken pirogue (local one man outrigger canoe type boat). No one was around. We lifted the wreckage onboard (photo below) and looking at the pass, Mike decided that there was too much swell (some 3 meters) despite little or no wind to risk going through. Attached some photos of the waves breaking on the reef. You can see Tahiti behind and on some photos the masts of the boats in Marina Taina. So we turned round to get to the main pass in front of Papeete. Then the weather turned rapidly and from no wind it went to 20 knots; from flat calm sea, to having waves crashing on deck! But we reached Papeete pass without any problem and made our way following the channel alongside the airport runway through to the marina. An extra 40 minutes but safe!!

So here we are again in Marina Taina, same berth as we had last time. Luckily the nasty port side neighbour is not living onboard anymore and our nice starboard side neighbours, Charles and Noelle of TIGRESS are still here and welcoming.

Very hot here in the marina. We far prefer being in Opunohu bay in Moorea, our favourite anchorage (some photos below).

But the remaining parcels we were waiting for to repair the water maker and waste pump have arrived so we had to come back to collect them. Tonight Tahiti Ocean is organising a Jazz party on the quay to which we are invited and we are looking forward to that.

We will probably stay here until Saturday and go to the Intercontinental Beachcomber hotel on Friday where we were told by locals that they have great Polynesian dance nights. Also a yard contact from NZ will be in town on Thursday for a local weekend regatta and we will be meeting up to see what he can offer for our next lay up period in NZ. Believe the regatta is an annual event and could be fun if not sociable. Reports to follow.

We will also have our last chance this week to raid CARREFOUR and stock up with groceries. Although we don’t need much really. It is just that we will not see a supermarket anymore until we reach New Zealand so it is fun to go here!

We will also have to go to Immigration in Papeete and check out even though we will not leave French Polynesia until August. Papeete is the only place to check in and out!

Sunday today and Father’s day here in Tahiti and also in the UK. So Happy day to all the fathers!

Love

Mike and Catherine