Bora-Bora Yacht Club

We are now moored in the Bora-Bora Yacht Club (Uhu!), north of the Point Pahua.
The bottom is more that 50 meters (150 ft) deep. The view of the islands from the mooring would dwarf any TV program...
We came here through the south of Toopua, so we could cross all the Povai Bay. We did it under yankee alone, to enjoy the ride a bit longer... Everybody knows it, but this place is indeed exceptional.

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.490166666666667&longitude=-151.76116666666667&scale=16&currentdate=27%20Jan%202011%2C%2013%3A42%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A43%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A05.08%20kts%2C%2039%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%202%2C%20NE%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A28.0%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3EBora-Bora%20Yacht%20Club

On est maintenant sur coffre au Bora-Bora Yacht Club (merde quoa!), au nord de la pointe Pahua.
Il y a plus de 50 metres de fond. Avec la vue sur l'ile qu'on a depuis le mouillage, on a pas besoin de tele...
On est arrive par le sud de Toopua, de facon a pouvoir traverser la baie de Povai. On a fait ca sous yankee seul, pour en profiter plus longtemps... Tout le monde le sait, mais cet endroit est vraiment exceptionnel.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Bora-Bora

Today, we go to Bora-Bora. We leave early - 08:30 am - and head north for Taha'a, we'll exit through the Paipai pass. It's downwind at the beginning, and then some squall messed up everything.
The wind turns North, and even North-West, and drops... Fortunatelly, there is no swell (between 1 and 2 meters forecasted).
The wind picks back up around 3 pm, from the East, where it belongs. We are sailing along the reef of Bora-Bora, even with no swell, that is already quite something.
We cross the Teavanui Pass at 4 pm, and go south in the lagoon, to anchor in the lee of the Toopua motu. Crystal clear warm waters, as anticipated...

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.515166666666666&longitude=-151.774&scale=14&currentdate=25%20Jan%202011%2C%2021%3A40%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A297%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A02.15%20kts%2C%2032%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%201%2C%20NE%C2%BCN%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A28.5%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3EBora-Bora

Aujourd'hui, on va à Bora-Bora. On part tôt - 08:30 - et on se dirige vers Taha'a, on sortira par la passe Paipai. C'est portant au début, mais des grains viennent foutre le bordel.
Le vent passe au nord, puis même au nord-ouest, puis tombe... Heureusement, il n'y a pas de houle (prévisions : entre 1 et 2 mètres).
Le vent revient vers 15 heures, de l'est, à sa place. On navigue le long du récif de Bora-Bora, même sans houle, c'est déjà quelque chose.
On franchit la passe Teavanui à 16 heures, puis on fait du sud dans le lagon, pour mouiller sous le vent du motu Toopua. L'eau et chaude et transparente, comme prévu...

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Raiatea

Leaving Taravana Yacht Club - where we had a gorgeous dinner last night ("carte blanche" to the Chef) - we went south to the Uturoa Marina, in Raiatea, following Richard's advice (the Taravana).
Piloting between the two islands, we arrived smoothly, nicely docking the boat sideways... :o)
We'll be able to get the supplies we need, there is a supermarket just across the street.
We're almost docked in town, that's the first time it happens to us during this trip. Even in Arue, we where at a mooring. We are just behind the "Royal Princess", the one we had first spotted in Rangiroa. We are definitely way much nicer than her!

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.729&longitude=-151.4435&scale=18&currentdate=24%20Jan%202011%2C%2014%3A17%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A210%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A10.22%20kts%2C%20122%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%203%2C%20SE%C2%BCE%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A27.5%C2%BAC

Quittant le Taravana Yacht Club - ou on a eu un super diner hier soir (carte blanche au chef) - on se dirige vers le sud, a la marina d'Uturoa, a Raiatea, suivant les conseils de Richard (le Taravana).
On fait du pilotage entre les deux iles, et on arrive comme une fleur, en crabe au ponton... ;0)
On va pouvoir faire tout l'approvisionnement dont on a besoin, il y a un supermache juste de l'autre cote de la rue.
On est pratiquement amarre en ville, c'est la premiere fois que ca nous arrive durant ce voyage. Meme a Arue, on etait sur un coffre. On est juste derrire le "Royal Princess", qu'on avait repere pour la premiere fois a Rangiroa. On est beacoup plus joli, sans contestation possible.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Taravana Yacht Club

Yet another small piloting leg, from Tapuamu to the Toamaro point, south of Taha'a, where the Taravana Yacht Club is (aka Marina Iti).
We did it in the morning, we arrived around 11am. That was good, because it started raining just after that.

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.683666666666667&longitude=-151.4855&scale=16&currentdate=22%20Jan%202011%2C%2014%3A26%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A51%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A04.72%20kts%2C%205%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%202%2C%20N%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A270%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3ETaravana%20Yacht%20Club

Encore une petite etape de pilotage, de Tapuamu a la pointe de Toamaro, au sud de Taha'a, ou se trouve le Yacht Club de Taravana (aussi appele Marina Iti).
On a fait ca le matin, on est arrive vers 11 heures. Et c'etait tant mieux, parce qu'il a commence a pleuvoir juste apres.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Taha'a - 2

We left this morning for the bay across the lagoon, Tapuamu Bay.
From there, we rented a small motorbike and went south, down to Marina Iti.
It was gray and rainy today, but the island is quite nice too...

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.6175&longitude=-151.54416666666665&scale=16&currentdate=20%20Jan%202011%2C%2019%3A20%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A291%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A02.08%20kts%2C%2036%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%201%2C%20NE%C2%BCN%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A28.0%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3ETapuamu

Quitte le mouillage ce matin pour la baie de l'autre cote du lagon, la baie Tapuamu .
De la, on a loue un scooter pour aller dans le sud, jusqu'a Marina Iti.
Il faisait gris avec de la pluie, mais l'ile est tres jolie aussi...

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Tahaa, motu Tautau

A quick sail today, piloting around the northern tip of Taha'a.
The lagoon is much wider than Huahine, and we were always downwind.
We anchored next to a big luxurious hotel on the motu Tautau, just across the Tapuamu bay.

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.604166666666668&longitude=-151.55733333333333&scale=14&currentdate=19%20Jan%202011%2C%2016%3A47%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A105%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A13.82%20kts%2C%2060%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%204%2C%20NE%C2%BCE%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A29.0%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3EMotu%20Tautau

Un peu de voile aujourd'hui, du pilotage pour aller de l'autre cote de Taha'a, par le nord.
Le lagon est plus large qu'a Huahine, et on etait toujours portant.
On a mouille en face d'un hotel de luxe sur le motu Tautau, juste en face de la baie Tapuamu.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Tahaa

We left the beautiful Huahine this morning, for Tahaa.
And tonight, we are anchored in the lagoon of Tahaa, just behind the entrance of the Toahotu pass.
We had a nice cool sail, all downwind in about 15 knots of wind, very nice.
Once anchored, we were hit by some squall, heavy rain and 30 knots of wind. It's good to be in a nice anchorage.

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.643&longitude=-151.43033333333332&scale=13&currentdate=18%20Jan%202011%2C%2018%3A59%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A42%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A18.71%20kts%2C%2030%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%205%2C%20NE%C2%BCN%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A28.5%C2%BAC%3Cbr%3ESous%20le%20motu%20Mahaea

On a quitte la jolie Huahine ce matin, pour Tahaa.
Et ce soir, on est mouille dans le lagon de Tahaa, juste derriere l'entree de la passe Toahotu.
C'etait une etape agreable, tout au portant dans environ 15 noeuds de vent, tres bien.
Une fois mouille, on s'est ramasse des grains, de la pluie et 30 noeuds de vent. C'est bien d'avoir un bon mouillage.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Huahine

There is about 80 miles to do to go to Huahine from the Opunohu Bay.
We left at noon, and got caught in a thunderstorm, we had to tack to exit the pass. The wind came back from the East after that, but pretty strong, force 6 to 7. We were doing a good steady 8 knots... Too fast! Otherwise we would have to wait for daylight to enter the pass in Huahine...
So we dropped the main, keeping only the yankee and the staysail, still doing very good speed.
We had a nice night - no squall - and we entered the pass at 6:30am, and anchored in Fare. 9 boats are anchored with us.

http://donpedro.lediouris.net/voyage/locator/locator.html?latitude=-16.713166666666666&longitude=-151.039&scale=18&currentdate=7%20Jan%202011%2C%2009%3A21%20PST%20%28GMT%20-0800%29%3Cbr%3EHDG%3A99%2C%20Speed%3A00.00%20kts%3Cbr%3EWind%3A16.87%20kts%2C%2079%3Cbr%3EWind%3A%20Force%205%2C%20E%C2%BCNE%3Cbr%3EWater%20Temp%3A28.0%C2%BACare%20-%20Huahine

Il y a environ 80 milles a faire pour aller a Huahine, a partir de la Baie d'Opunohu.
On a derape a midi, et on s'est fait choper par un orage, il a fallu tirer des bords pour sortir de la passe. Le vent est revenu de l'est ensuite, mais assez fort, entre 6 et 7 Beaufort. On marchait a un bon 8 noeuds... C'est trop rapide! Autrement, il va falloir attendre le jour pour entrer dans la passe a Huahine...
On a affale la grand'voile, en route sous yankee et trinquette, on faisait encore une tres bonne vitesse.
On a passe une bonne nuit - pas de grain - et on est entre dans la passe a 6:30 le matin, pour mouiller a Fare. 9 bateaux avec nous au mouillage.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

The mystery of the fish with a prop/Le mystere du poisson a helice

We are back in Moorea, at the entrance of Opunohu Bay, just like last time with Sky, Brendan & Chloe.
About last time, after she went snorkeling, Corine came back saying something like "I've seen some fish, it was moving using its prop". Everyone else went like "Of course my horse", and had a good laugh..., but she insisted "Yes it's true, it's definitely possible, why don't you guys believe me?". And everyone else went laughing louder.
Well, here is a possible explanation, that seems to match.
There are those big sea snails named "lambis" all over the lagoon in Moorea, they're pretty big, the shell is about one foot long, and half a foot wide. Some are covered with some kind of sea weed that grows in spirals... And when the lambis moves, it's using its foot (some kind of an ugly tongue), it's like hopping, leaving a track like a snail in the sand behind them. So, if you see such a shell, covered with spiral sea weeds, hopping like that, you can easily mistake it for some fish with a prop!
Mystery solved!
"Ah you see? I was right!"

Nous voila de nouveau a Moorea, a l'entree de la baie d'Opunohu, comme la derniere fois avec Sky, Brendan & Chloe.
A propos de la derniere fois, en revenant d'un seance de plongee, Corine nous a declare "J'ai vu un poisson a helice, c'est comme ca qu'il bougeait". Tout le monde a bien rigole, sur le mode "Mais bien sur...", mais elle a insiste "Si c'est vrai, c'est possible, pourquoi est-ce que vous ne me croyez jamais?". Et tout le monde de re-rigoler, plus fort.
Et bien voila une explication possible.
Partout dans le lagon, il y a de ces escargots de mer, des "lambis", ils sont gros, la coquille fait bien 30 centimetres de long, et 15 de large. Certains sont couverts d'algues, qui poussent en spirale... Et quand ils se deplacent, les lambis utilisent leur pied (une espece de grosse langue degueulasse), c'est comme si ils progressaient par petit bonds, en laissant la trace d'un escargot dans le sable derriere eux. Quand on voit un tel coquillage, couvert d'algues en spirales, faire ce genre de petits bonds, on peut tres facilement le prendre pour un poisson a helice!
Mystere resolu!
"Ah tu vois? J'avais raison!"

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com