Day 4 (Fri) - A Day at the Beach

Friday, June 21, 2013

Snorkeled around the boat in the AM and saw some good coral.

--> Sailed around the South end of Toopua and headed towards Bloody Mary's -- This turned out to be quite a common destination...

Passing by the Hilton

Our Frenchy Captain

--> Moored at Bloody Mary's -- Cary and Dorrie had drinks while we re-filled the boat with water --- after 5pm...

Looking back from Bloody Mary's to our Cat in the lagoon

We took our Formula 1 Dinghy to the public beach near Hotel Matira (towards the South end of Bora).  We must have had an awesome guide, cause we went right to it!!!!!

Our first goal was to look for the WWII guns at Matira.  From the beach, we asked some local teens sitting under a tree how to get to the Hotel Matira (I would have asked them for directions to the guns, but I was concerned that they were more interested in how long we would be leaving our dinghy near them, then they were in actually "helping" us).  They were friendly enough, and we did make it to the Hotel which was right near by.

"Private land" was the claim by the hotel receptionist when we asked for directions.  We did get to see a rusty cannon nearby (counts as a gun) and a friendly receptionist at the hotel:(.  

Dorrie and Bruce couldn't watch the dogs dodge the cars in the road by the hotel any longer, so we headed back to Matira Beach.

We played Aerobie in the lagoon at Matira Beach near the "Europeans".  The shade from the hut to the left was NICE, but the water below was even better!!!

You could walk f-o-r-e-v-e-r out into the lagoon (and you needed to in order to catch Bruce's throws:).  The beach was endless.  

Link to where we were at Matira Beach

Upon leaving, the Europeans gave us words of advice that we should watch our stuff, cause the kids under the tree had a crack-pipe.  I'm pretty sure that's what made them so friendly!!!

On the way back to Bloody Mary's, Bruce guided us on a tour of the Hotel Bora Bora.  The tour was cut a little bit short when we were escorted off the island by their friendly security.  I think we may stay there the next time we visit:-)

Link to Hotel Bora Bora Tour location

Our last dinghy stop was snorkeling near the Hotel Bora Bora.  Best snorkeling so far!
- something about KJ moving an anchor and medical problems... Anyway, we saw some great coral and "deep" rocks.

Hang onto that Ray Kyle!!!

Link to snorkeling near Hotel Bora Bora...

--> Dinner at Bloody Mary's!!! -- Selected your fish from the buffet before being seated on solid "hard"-wood stumps!  We chose: Marlin, Chicken, Shrimp/Tuna Kabobs, Tempura Fried Shrimp, Mahi-Mahi Special, and Coconut Ice Cream.  Very cool atmosphere...  From waterfalls in the bathroom to sand floors in the dining "room".

Day 3 (Thu) - Headin for Bora

Thursday, June 20, 2013

--> Sailed around the North end of Tahaa and headed to Bora through Passe PaiPai -- little did we know that we should really learn the details of this pass for our return trip! --- we beat the yellow Cat (they cheated through the pass)

Just getting under way from Tahaa (North of Raitea)

Circling Tahaa, the captain's been awake for hours...

West end of Tahaa with Bora in the background, wouldn't be a bad place to stay!

Kyle getting ready for the open ocean!

Approaching Bora in the Open Ocean

You know your in trouble when the captain still can't see land!

--> Anchored just South of Motu Tapa in Bora Bora (sailed around 4 hours in the open ocean today:-) -- Dramamine worked, but not as well for Dorrie

Nice spot to sleep zzzzzzzzzzzz

Kyle and I jumped from the Bimini port side, then took the dinghy (saw many rays) and snorkeled towards the reef and near Motu Tapa shown here...

It was a pretty nice day!

--> "BBQd" Burgers (outside and in)

Day 2 (Wed) - Leaving the Base

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Leaving Papeete, Tahiti -- heading for Raiatea -- 12+ hours of travel so far, just one more leg to go...

Went to the Dream Yacht Charter base just outside of Uturoa and got the 41' Catana Catamaran run through from Jerome (or was it Clouseau?)

He rattled off places to go - I think he mentioned every spot on the map as a good place to go, except on the island of Bora itself (natives aren't friendly - they aren't real Polynesians) -- Bruce, Kyle and I listened to Jerome but forgot to take notes...

Home for the next 10 days ----->>>>>

Dorrie, Chelsea and Cary went to the big town of Uturoa to provision the boat at Liaut supermarket, because Champion was closed (awesome French bread by the meter!!!). 

Spent 10's of thousands of Franc's on lunch meat of unknown origin...
By the way, the Provisioning was EXCELLENT!!!!!

Got a ride back in the "French guys" van -- groceries delivered:-).  Kyle and I went back later to get charcoal, death cubes, and more French bread (Apparently,  Tahitian old men have right of way in the checkout line -- Especially if they have a Coke, a meter of French bread, and they know the cashier:). Ate another loaf on the walk back. Free Internet at the base:) -- magic jack is cooooooool.  The ladies took showers before headin out (who needs hot water?).

This is a cool church between Uturoa and the base.

Map of our trip

--> Left base in Raiatea and sailed towards Tahaa -- first experience raising the sails

On the Albinoni and ready to set sail

Success!!!

We were less successful at making sure the fridge was turned on...  Got to learn some-how...

--> Anchored north of Passe Toahota near Tahaa -- Kyle, Cary and I jumped in right away --- 1st plunge into the South Pacific!!!

Kyle "claims" an eel was eyeing him as an appetizer as we snorkeled around the boat.  

Pacific water was MUCH warmer than the ladies shower earlier at the base!

--> Burritos

First night on the boat-- rocked to sleep zzzzzzzzzz

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