Impi

This is the anchorage of Hamoenoa Bay on Tahuata. I count some 20 masts on this photo. It is one of the only anchorages near Atuona port of entry on Hiva Oa where vessels can stay comfortably.

It appears that this anchorage will be restricted to 8 vessels for a maximum of 4 days from next year onwards.

Other changes are also going to become mandatory in 2026-27.

These are being introduced to reduce the tensions in the cruising community.

If you want to know more about this click the link in the comments.

Phew! We have been doing a lot of research over the past couple of days. Brent is fast becoming a real weather guru and I have been researching and commenting on cruising in French Polynesia: the ups, downs and the possible future.

My blog should be out in the weekend on our website.

Just thinking that maybe the main points to reduce the tensions are:

🫶streamline customs and import procedures so yachts don’t have to wait 3 months for spares

🫶incentivize dealers to stock more common replacement parts such as fuel filters

🫶train young people in the skills required to help cruising boats

🫶consider the appointment of lagoon rangers in tension spots to stop vigilante locals

🫶authorities to be consistent in monitoring the use of the lagoon waters and acting upon issues locals find disturbing

🫶communicate to cruisers clearly where anchorages are and what services are available in each island

🫶enable opportunities for exchanging culture and customs

🫶consider a total online system for immigration and customs as to reduce impact of yachts in ports of entry

🫶consider the impact of multiple rallies on the territory as opposed to individual sailors

🫶involve individual cruising boats in the dialogue between authorities, locals and rallies

That’s it! Piece of cake 🙃!

Thanks to the amazing Jackie Lu for this foto ❤️

Last nights Ozzie/NZ get together Bora Bora Yacht Club !

Great to meet all the boats that will be traveling west with us! With Jackie Lu

⛵️

Woohoo! We just received our New Zealand residency visas! Just in time to enter the Cook Islands without having to pay for immigration. How cool is that?

We are absolutely stoked to join our new tribe!

Today we drove around Bora Bora in our and admired the island´s outstanding landscape.

The dramatic peak you see behind me is Mount Otemanu.

Around 7–13 million years ago, Bora Bora was an active shield volcano rising from the Pacific seafloor. Over millions of years it became extinct and it eroded.

The central volcanic “plug” remained, forming the jagged summit of Mount Otemanu.

Today it stands about 727 m (2,385 ft) above sea level and cannot be climbed to the summit because the upper cliffs are extremely steep and unstable.

What’s fascinating is that the flat-topped appearance isn’t because the mountain was “cut off.” It’s the incredibly hard volcanic core—the magma that solidified inside the volcano’s central vent. Over millions of years, the softer outer layers eroded away, leaving this dramatic spine of resistant rock.

Interestingly, there is no “B” sound in the Tahitian language.

The original name was Pora Pora, meaning something close to “first born” or “created first.”

When European explorers recorded the name, they heard it as “Bora Bora,” and that spelling became the international name.

Wishing you all a great start of the week.

Big boy on the hook! Tuna is the dominant fish here in French Polynesia but we are looking forward to some mahi-mahi from the central Pacific.

Still no decent weather window to head further west. Rain and gusts of wind today make us feel privileged to be in this free anchorage in Bora Bora.

Although most places have mooring balls that cost $40/ night this anchorage is still free. It is deep, 21m, so we have 80 m chain out.

The mountain ahead of us is beautiful though! Hoping for better weather tomorrow!