Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The Big City

0800 Position 17-32S 149-34W.  In a slip at Papeete Marina, Tahiti

We waved goodby to Mark and Blossom and powered out of Oponohu Bay at 830AM.  The wind and sea out in the ocean was even calmer than the day before and we had a lovely motor across the nine mile wide channel to Tahiti. 

Papeete can be accessed through either of two channels through the barrier reef.  The main entrance channel is right downtown, and is very busy with container ships, ferries, fishermen, other commercial traffic and yachts.  It is so busy that all vessels are required to obtain clearance over the VHF radio from "Papeete Harbor Control" to transit the channel.  The other entrance is five miles to the south.  It is too narrow and shallow for vessels longer than 100 feet, but it is far less busy and is closer to the region's primary mooring facility, Marina Taina.  We entered at the Marina Taina entrance and picked up a mooring there at1030AM.

Rob and Renee dinghied ashore to do some provisioning at Carrefour while Mike and I stayed aboard.  Rob and Renee returned a few hours later loaded down with provisions, and we powered north in the lagoon to the Papeete Marina where we found an empty slip just after 5PM.

Our newest crew member, Piers Akerman, was flying into Papeete to join the boat, with his plane scheduled to land at 11PM last night.  With flight delays, customs, immigration, baggage claim and a taxi ride, it could be well after midnight before he got to the boat so it made sense to be in a slip where he could find us easily. 

Mike and I walked up to the food trucks for dinner.  Rob and Renee had a bad experience the last time around there and decided to stay on the boat.

Piers had no problems with the arrival formalities, and he found us at 1130PM.  He got settled into the guest cabin with Mike and we were all asleep by 1AM.

The next couple of days should be interesting.  Our final new crew member for the trip west to Tonga, Doc Greenaway,  arrives tomorrow.  Rob is going to complete the formalities to allow us to depart French Polynesia and hopefully get the $1,500 bonds back for him and Mike.  We see a potential problem though.  Rob's and Mike's bond receipts are on the same piece of paper but Mike is flying back to California and Rob is departing on the boat.  Hmmm.

A canoe decorated for the evening parade in Fare, Huahine

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