South Seas Shuffle in the Societies

The Society Islands, one of five island groups that make up French Polynesia, run roughly 200 miles from the south end of Tahiti northwest to Bora Bora.  Huahini, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Bora Bora are loosely referred to as the Leeward Islands because the prevailing south-east winds put them directly downwind of Tahiti and Moorea.  So we planned both sets of visits by the kids to start in Papeete, Tahiti, and end in Bora Bora, making all the sailing easy downwind legs.

We didn't want to subject our visitors to the 160 mile bash upwind back to Tahiti, so while Scott and Deanna flew home from Bora Bora, we figured on motoring back to Papeete aboard Moonshadow. Upwind, yes, but we're tough, salty old sailors.  We can take it!  

But we got lucky.  There just happened to be a window of 15-18 hours of North wind shortly after Scott and Deanna departed, so we dashed back to Tahaa, caught some sleep and proceeded through the lagoon to Raiatea, then on to Papeete, sailing on a port tack reach the whole way.  

This gave us a chance to witness the awesome power of the southerly swell crashing onto the reef on either side of Moonshadow as we entered the pass to the lagoon around Tahaa.  

These waves served a sober reminder why we never attempt such things in the dark.

Back in Papeete, we tied up to the new modern docks, located along the old quay where, until recently, yachts tied up "Tahiti Style" - stern to the quay, anchored from the bow.  John took the picture below in 1971 from atop the barkentine Stella Maris's fore-royal yard arm.  The two white hulled, clipper bowed yachts in the picture are a Herreshoff ketch and the gaff-schooner Fairweather, which John lived and crewed aboard at the time.

You cannot find that building in the photo's background today; nor any of the other buildings that lined the Boulevard de la Reine Pomare IV all those years ago; nor the millions of Vespa scooters that whizzed by the yachts on the quay, driven by beautiful Tahitian women wearing pareos and flowers; nor the flatbed trucks converted to busses with palm roofs and steps up the back.  No, Papeete is nothing like the romantic image that was seared into John's memory at the age of 19 forty-five years ago.

So we were anxious and happy to depart Papeete for Moorea where a record 70 other yachts participating in the 2016 Pacific Puddle Jump Rendezvous dropped anchor in beautiful Cook's Bay.

Cook's Bay, Moorea.  Capt. Cook never anchored here, choosing neighboring Opanohu Bay to the west.

Organizers somehow managed to take over the Bali Hai Hotel on Cook's Bay for the three day event attended by about 200 cruisers from all over the world.   All of us converged here after sailing over 2800 miles from ports all up and down North and Central America.  

Dancers from the Marquesas and Tahiti performed authentic dances from the times long before Cook sailed these waters.  

The performers were eager to portray Polynesian life and traditions unique to their heritage.

And it's really, really entertaining...

... but not nearly so entertaining as watching your cruiser friends trying to dance like  Tahitians...

Moonshadow friends Mark (Speakeasy) and Allen (Nauti-Nauti)

...some did better than others.

Moonshadow friend Gina (Carthago)

The Rendezvous was a bit like a high school reunion where you run into friends you haven't seen for some time.  We all share a common strain of our DNA that makes us alike.  We all like to talk at length about fixing water pumps.  We have all crossed that ocean.  

Then the games began.  Evidently a big sport in old Polynesia was to see how many cruisers you could send to the hospital with muscle and joint injuries!

But seriously, where else can you get a chance to jump into an out-rigger canoe?  And what are the odds that a bunch of laid back cruisers are going to be so damn good at it?

And what are the odds that this scrawny crew would make the finals?

Besides the crew from Moonshadow and Speakeasy, boat #3 had Prince William in the bow.  How could we lose?

So here is this year's mob of cruisers all doing pretty much what we do aboard Moonshadow.  Having the time of our lives.  Some we'll see down the track, some will be friends for life.  Some we'll never see again.  

Photo: Latitude 38

From the Moorea Rendezvous, we returned to Papeete and prepared Moonshadow for our next set of visitors, our son Ryan, wife Shelly and their kids, Brandon and Natalie.

Their 5:00 AM arrival allowed us to sail across the 12 mile channel to Moorea that same day.

So after umpteen hours of travel, we put the kids to work sailing Moonshadow.

Soon enough, we were enjoying watching the grandkids rediscover the joys of boats...

...turquoise water...

... paddle boards...

... and new friends...

They remembered that these paddle boards go way faster towed behind a dinghy.

Just like riding a bike!

Although maybe a little faster this time around.

There was no shortage of things to do.

Like selfies, in and out of the water.

We found there was a dolphin discovery program at a nearby hotel.

With Natalie a life long dolphin lover, this was a no brainer.

Or maybe it's a girl thing!

Looks like they all had fun.

But then, anything you do with grandkids is fun!

Before long we were enjoying the sunset from our anchored spot between the island and the reef.

The sail to Raiatea would take almost 13 hours, so we let everybody sleep while we woke at 0200 to get underway.

It was a full day, but we arrived at the pass on the reef at Raiatea by early afternoon with plenty of light to navigate safely.

And before long, we were all back in the water.

This was the 4th of July so we quickly dressed ship.

Happy Birthday USA.

Time for a diving contest!!

Ryan showed us how.

Keep your feet together?  Now you tell me!

What's the 4th of July without watermelon?

We were anchored in a deep bay called Faaroa.  At the end of the bay, there are two rivers.  The one on the left is navigable by small dinghies for nearly a mile up stream.

So off we went.  And the river didn't disappoint.

So much of the south seas island look like they are tended by professional gardeners.

And the colors are so vivid.

We quickly found flowers to adorn these three beauties.

We met James, who offers a botanical tour of his land and plantations, explaining the plants and their medicinal and or nutritional benefits in his homegrown version of English.

Behind this crew is a vanilla plantation. Vanilla is a big crop in the Leeward Islands.

James opened a coconut to pass around for a taste of coconut water.

Ryan's reaction was priceless.

On the move again.  This time we're off to Tahaa.

Tahaa shares a common reef with Raiatea which surrounds the two islands and provides a navigable  lagoon inside the protection of the reef.  So this resulted in almost 20 miles of smooth flat water to our next anchorage.

Vacation-like behavior!

 

Evidently it is possible to dive with mask and snorkel.

Every day ends with a pre-sunset swim...

... which is always followed by a beautiful sunset.

The multi-player-paddle-board-balancing contest was a riot.

They make it look easy?

Piece of cake!

You just have to be willing to look silly.

Meant to do that.

 Natalie obviously hates the water.  

And she is so camera shy.

There.  

We got this.

Time to show off.

Whad-up?

Just chillin'.

TAAA DAAA

Winner!

This anchorage in Tahaa was the same spot we visited with Scott and Deanna, where we snorkeled in the "Coral Garden".  

Just like last time, the fish were so tame. They practically climb inside your face mask!

Next we sailed on to Bora Bora where we had dinner at the famous restaurant Bloody Mary's.   The floor is white sand and the food is outstanding.

With the kids scheduled for a late flight from Bora Bora, there was time on the last day 

for one last dive.  

With sting rays.  These guys look pretty menacing as they prowl around then swim straight at you.

But they're pretty harmless.  More like puppy dogs.

And Natalie, who is part fish, had no fear.

She got more ray-petting done than all the rest of us combined.

s'all good!

Back aboard Moonshadow we had just enough time for one last dive competition.

This time:  the HUG DIVE.

 Getting ready to go.

It all went by so fast...

...before we knew it, there they were with their luggage waiting for a ferry across the lagoon 

to the airport.

With months before we see family again it wasn't easy to say goodbye.

So our job is to fill those months with lots more fun!