Day 1 (Tues) - Headin to Tahiti

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Being retired, and with nothing to do, I "finally" accepted Bruce's invitation to sail in the Society Islands.  Of course, I had no idea where that was, but I had no reason not to go!!!

The next 10 days is a "brief" synopsis of our trip!

Place: French Society Islands in the South Pacific

Players: Kyle, Jim, Cary, Chelsea, Bruce, and Dorrie

Original Plans:

• Tue:  Fly to LAX, Papeete
• Wed: Fly to Raiatea, Checkoout the boat, Learn to crew, then sail East to Tahaa and Anchor near Fa'aoroa bay
• Thu: Raiatea to Bora Sail Day
• Fri:   Take a 4x4 Safari on Bora in the AM, evening open
• Sat:   Bora Hike Day (Peak/Guns), Snorkel Day
• Sun:  Bora to Maupiti sail day
• Mon: Maupiti Hike day (Snack Tarona/Peak)
• Tue:  From Maupiti sail around Tupai then back to Bora
• Wed: Sail back to Tahaa
• Thu:  Return to Base on Raiatea by 9am.  Explore Raiatea then fly back to Huahine, Papeete, LAX, then home

Actual Trip:

• Tue:  Fly to LAX, Papeete
• Wed: Fly to Raiatea, Checkoout the boat, Learn to crew, then sail East to Tahaa and Anchor near Fa'aoroa bay
• Thu: Tahaa to Bora Sail Day (over the top of Tahaa)
• Fri:   Explore Southwest Bora Bora (Matira Beach)
• Sat:   Bora Hike Day (Peak/Guns), Snorkel Day
• Sun:  No wind, so stayed on Bora.  Snorkeled in Northwest Bora
• Mon: Hiked on the Reef near the airport and went to Viatape to re-provision the boat.  
• Tue:  Sailed around Bora to the Southeast side.  Snorkeled in the Coral Garden (coooolllll!!!!)
• Wed: Sailed back to Tahaa via Tupai.  Looonnnggg sail day, but liked seeing the dolphins in Tupai:)
• Thu:  Return to Base on Raiatea by 9am.  Hung out at the hotel and chilled:)  Nice pool, showers and lunch...

After MONTHs of "planning", we headed to the airport's in Sacramento and Austin on Tuesday.  Some of us left earlier than others which made LAX a layover for some, and a warm sprint for others:-).  The end result was that we were all on the Air Tahiti Nui red-eye from LAX to Papeete, Tahiti.  This gave us 8 hours of air-time to re-charge ourselves and our cell phones:).  Some charged better than others.

Tahaa

Raiatea

Bora Bora