Good Bye Tahaa - Hello Bora Bora

Russ and Roz on our 41st Annieveray

Good Bye Tahaa, Tuesday, August 10, 2010

After several days of resting and recreating on Tahaa and Raiatea (snorkeling, walking, and making a few short shopping trips over to Uturoa  on Raiatea), our time was winding down. 

Uturoa Port on Riaitea

We formally celebrated our 41^st anniversary the day after our actual anniversary at the Taravana Yacht Club at their Polynesia Dinner show with other sailing friends moored in the Apu Bay. 

It is hard to believe that a year ago, we were celebrating our 40^th at the Berkeley Yacht Club.  We called it our Triple Triumph Party – Retirement, Anniversary, and Bon Voyage all rolled into one big blast.  This year we are having a blast in a Polynesia.

Earlier in the day, we presented the proprietor of the Taravana Yacht Club,  Richard with a Berkeley Yacht Club burgee.  He had had one previously, but it had blown away during the last hurricane.  It now is displayed behind the bar.  So BYC is once again proudly represented.

Photos from Dinner and Dance Party:

Taravan Rum Pumch

Young Musicians

The Feast

The Dancers

Russ shaking his booty

Good Bye Taravana and Tahaa

We had a terrific evening.  Tahaa has been a lovely place to visit and being at the Taravana Yacht Club made it extra special.

Hello Bora Bora, Wednesday, August 11, 2010

We arose early, stowed our gear, loaded the water tank from the hose on the TYC dock, said our goodbyes, and were headed out the pass by 9:45 a.m.  We had a lovely sail over to Bora Bora, making the short passage in a little over 5 hours.  The wind was farily mild and the few squalls helped us pick up our speed.  Naturally, there was a squall coming through the pass at Bora Bora which kicked up the adrenalin, but we managed fine and were glad the pass was on the western side.  The swells and breaking surf on the southern reef were far more daunting. 

We arrived and moored in the bay in front of the Bora Bora Yacht Club.  Our friends on Trim and Freezing Rain were expecting us and Pincoya (about ½ an hour behind us) to arrive.  Don on Freezing Rain was in his dinghy passing up the mooring ball to us.  Ken passed up the mooring ball to Pincoya.

Marie on Freezing Rain was waiting for all of us to come over for an extended happy hour.  The Margaritas were already being mixed and on ice.  I had purchased tortilla chips and two big avocados in Uteroa a few days before.  The avocados were perfectly ripe for guacamole.  We had a nice Puerto Vallarta reunion and catch up evening.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A Calm Morning

 













Russ and I took the dinghy over a couple of miles to Viatape (the only real town on Bora Bora) from our mooring. 


 There was a nice tail wind all the way which also happened to be a soaking head wind on the way back.  We spent the day exploring the little town, visiting shops, checking out the grocery stores, and reserving tickets for the Saturday express over to Maupiti, a small island west of Bora Bora.

Maupiti can be very difficult to get in and out of because the pass through the reef is quite narrow and the swells approach from the south.  Sometimes these swells can be quite large making it very dangerous if not impossible for boats to get in or out of the pass.  As we are basically cowards when it comes to going through narrow and possibly dangerous passes, but didn’t want to miss Maupiti, taking the Express from Bora Bora seemed like a perfect solution.  It would be a nice day trip.

Ken and Lori on Trim came over for dinner on Thursday evening.  We had purchased a roasted chicken in Viatape earlier in the day. Lori made a salad.  With garlic bread, wine, and brownies, we had a feast.  After dinner, Ken and Lori showed us how to play mahjong.  We only played a few hands so that we could get the basic idea.  It is the kind of game that seems simple enough in the beginning, but actually requires strategies that take a lot of practice and experience.  Kind of like sailing, and we are still learning that!

All is Well on Worrall Wind