29 September - Lagoon Sailing

0600 position 16-44S 151-29W. Tied to the Guest Dock, Apooiti Marina,
Raiatea

The wind was picking up from the East the day after our hike, and Haamene
Bay is not a good place to be in an Easterly blow, so we got out of there
on Thursday morning and had a great sail around Tahaa to more protection
on the west side of the island. On the way we stopped at "The Coral
River", an area where water flowing over the barrier reef is funneled
between two motus. The continuously flowing water creates an aquarium
like abundance of marine life - sharks, rays, reef fish, corals of all
kinds, vana. It is spectacular snorkeling. After an hour there we
continued on to a calmer anchorage in Tapuamu Bay.

We had planned to sail to Uturoa on Raiatea the next day for fuel and
water, but half way there we found the winds in excess of twenty knots
and figured that in those conditions it would not be wise to go to the
fuel dock, which was on a lee shore. So we changed direction and headed
back to Apu Bay on the South end of Tahaa, which is also well protected
in strong trades.

We stayed in Apu Bay for two nights while the trades remained brisk, but I
was starting to get bored so we decided to check out the Apooiti Marina
adjacent to Raiatea's airport. I needed to figure out how logistics will
work when my daughter Kendra flies in to Raiatea and I go to meet her
there in a few weeks. It looks like I will be able to take the dinghy
right up to the airport terminal to pick her up. That will be different.
We also needed water. It has become very difficult to find drinking water
now in the Leeward Islands, but here in the marina we can fill our tanks
with a hose. That alone makes it worth the thirty dollars or so it costs
to tie up to the pier for a night.

We were unable to raise the marina office on the VHF so came in not
knowing if space would be available. We found one empty spot on the
Visitors Pier and as we backed into it Jeff and Sally from Bainbridge
Island, Washington, off of the Peterson 46 "Grace" came to catch our dock
lines. They were very helpful in getting us tied up and filled us in on
the logistics of the marina and surrounding area. We agreed to meet at
5PM for drinks and pupus and the party lasted past 9PM. Great folks and
great fun.

Last night was our first night spent secured to a pier in more than five
months. What a different feeling. Apooiti Marina seemed safe and secure,
but we didn't have the isolation we do while at anchor. I'm not sure I
like it.