Thursday 9 May to Friday 10 May - Raiatea and Tahaa 

Set sail for Raiatea - 20 miles or so.  Entered through the Passe Avapehi and then went through the channel between the two islands of Raiatea and Tahaa - there are two islands surrounded by one reef.  Our first anchorage was on the west side of Raiatea in the lagoon, close to the restaurant Fish and Blue - our goal for the evening where we met up with Richard and Sally Ambler and the crew from Fatjax.  Richard has sent us loads of great suggestions for FP as they keep their boat in Raiatea and know it really well.

Fish and Blue was super chic with great dress shop attached - important as both Pippa and I were on the hunt for a new dress.  Next day we set off for the famous Coral Garden on the NE of the island.  We anchored off along the reef which was terrifying as the ‘bommies’ (coral heads) looked very close to the surface and it was hard to see whether we were about to hit one.  The Coral Garden was an amazing drift snorkel between two islands (motus) over very pretty coral and loads of fish.  It was very shallow but so lovely that it was worth the occasional brush with the coral heads.

Then off to anchor in Baie Huerepiti - to pick up a mooring owned by the family from Vanilla Tours which was the excursion for Friday - drove around the island of Tahaa in a 4WD with