Tag Archives: izzy’s burgers and more

Huahine Yacht Club View

Huahine Hide Out

Leave a reply

The first weather window to Huahine opened up and we took it. Following this small window was another “blow.”  We needed to get to our Huahine Hide Out. We need to go “east” but the prevailing winds are coming from the east so it makes a sail trip difficult.  Not only do you have to tack a bunch of times, but you also head into the wind and the waves.  Well, the wind was still coming easterly but at least they had calmed down (from 25-30kts to 15-18kts).  So off we went.

We had a lovely sail with only 2 tacks which is remarkable considering we were going into the wind.  It took us a little longer and sailed a little further than planned, but we made it.  Pretty awesome day.

Passage

  • Raiatea to Huahine
  • Miles to Destination:  27nm
  • Total Miles Sailed: 40.8nm
  • Max Speed: 9.8kt
  • Avg. Speed: 5.7
  • Moving Time 7 hours 11 minutes

We took advantage of our Huahine hide out by visiting with friends, doing a few boat projects, and getting caught up on paperwork (blogs, banking, etc…)  Matt had to find and fix a few “leaks” around the hatches, we replaced a ceiling panel in the office, and we put together lists of things that need to be done when we get to Tahiti.

In between all the “chores” we had some fun too.  We hit “Izzy’s Burgers and More” several times because the food is amazing, the service is great and we love to patronize Isabel!  This is (left, back, front) Mike “Easy” Steve and Lili “Liward” Matt, Floris and Ivar “Luci Para 2” me, and Helen “Wow”

Izzys Burgers & More Huahine

Izzys Burgers & More Huahine

A few great sunsets at the Huahine Yacht Club during happy hour with 500xpf ($5) cocktails and 450xpf ($4.50) beers.

Huahine Yacht Club View

Huahine Yacht Club View

Huahine Anchorage

Matt and I usually anchor in the “flats” which is a shallow area in between the two passes.  It is less crowded and in beautiful shallow water (top photo).  Most monohulls anchor or take a mooring closer to the village of Fare (middle photo).  Our friend on Luci Para 2 (Floris and Ivar) use their kayak instead of a dinghy to protect the environment.

Not much of a Huahine Hide Out as we are out and about, but the anchorage is safe and protected.  Always a good thing.

My friends on Luci Para 2 (Floris and Ivar) take me to the shell museum.  Check out the next blog for details on our shell adventure.

We had a small weather window to get to Tahiti but we decided to wait until the next one. Why?  Because some friends of ours were playing a gig that we wanted to attend. So, stay tuned for the blog when we show you how a Polynesian concert is done!

Walk About and Small Hike

We explored with a 5-mile walk around a few bays and went half way up the mountain.  First we crossed over this lovely little bridge surrounded by gorgeous trees, plants, and flowers.

We walked along the shore and came across this sweet path with short, leaning palm trees.  I loved how uniform they looked as they reached out toward the water and sun.

Beautiful views of the Marina Apooiti Bay and hillside.

Huahine Views

Huahine Views

Back to the boat for some relaxation.

Because we are trying to fill our blog with posts through the year, some of these posts may be a bit shorter.  I am concerned we won’t have internet in the Gambiers so I am trying to populate and schedule out blogs during our stay there.  So we don’t go “dark”.

Events in this blog took place in early October.  Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind our adventures.

Jumping for Joy

Sacred Sites, Eels and Memories

Leave a reply

Taking the Lemberger’s to see sacred sites, visit sacred eels and made sacred memories. We took John, Missy and Carl on 4 passages to get from Tahiti to Bora Bora.  We sailed from Tahiti to Mo’orea to Huahine to Raiatea/Taha’a and then to Bora Bora.  Three of the four passages are about 20-25nm or 5 hours.  However, Mo’orea to Huahine is an overnight passage at about 90nm or 16 hours.

Overnight passages can be challenging for anyone.  You don’t have a point of reference, like the horizon.  You are rocking and rolling in all sorts of directions and you are tired.  Our guests held up well and slept through most of the passage, which was good news.  We only had a sliver of a moon and a few phosphorescence playing with us.  Nothing but smiles the next morning.

Lemberger's Onboard Sugar Shac

Lemberger’s Onboard Sugar Shac

Early in the morning, we were surprised to see 3 whales.  A mamma, baby and companion.  Unfortunately, we were not able to get our cameras out fast enough to share with you.  But, take my word for it – it was amaze balls! As a consolation, here are a few photos of the pretty sunrise.

Sunrise on the approach to Huahine

Sunrise on the approach to Huahine

Our first stop was off Point Teapaa near Motu Vaiorea.  We anchored fairly close to the beach in 3.5 meters of water.  The boys enjoyed a little SUP time.  As you can see from the photos, we had this little motu to ourselves for a short while.

Huahine Private Motu Adventures

Huahine Private Motu Adventures

John and Carl took the SUPs to the beach while Matt drove the ladies in Sweetie.  We had the beach to ourselves and enjoyed an awesome lazy afternoon.

Beach off Motu

Beach off Motu

FARE, HUAHINE

After jollying around at the beach, we headed to Fare, the main village on Huahine.  We hopped in a rental car and made our way to Pote’e Museum which is one of the largest and most sacred Mare’s collections on the island.

Pote'e Museum

Pote’e Museum

Matt and I goofed around the grounds while waiting for them.

Pote'e Museum

Pote’e Museum

Just past the museum is a small hiking trail to another mare.  The trail is called Chemin de Randonnee and was a really nice stroll through the forest and trees.

Hiking Trail to Marae

Hiking Trail to Marae

There were some enormous trees and alluring vista views at the top.

Super cool tall trees

Super cool tall trees

Anguilles Sacres de Faie

Missy and Carl are extremely brave and have an uncanny way with all animals.  We stood on the wall overlooking the river when we visited the eels last time.  This time, we got in the water and got up close and personal.

Sacred Eels

Sacred Eels

We worked up an appetite after our explorations and headed to Izzy’s Burgers and More.

Izzy's Burgers and More

Izzy’s Burgers and More

RAIATEA AND TAHA’A

It was a short 23 nm trip to Raiatea.  Unfortunately, we had no wind and ended up motoring the entire way.  We took John, Missy, and Carl on a big hike to the top of Tapioi.  It was a particularly hot day and there were not many places to hide from the sun.  But, the reward at the top of the mountain was worth it.  The top right photo shows our friends at the bottom and they hiked to the top of the radio tower.  5 miles and 11,323 steps.

Hike To Top of Taipi

Hike To Top of Tapioi

It is easy to take lovely photos with vistas like these.

Hike to Tapioi

Hike to Tapioi

We had a little fun with some jumping shots.

Jumping for Joy

Jumping for Joy

And can’t forget Matt’s “screaming tree” pose.

Top of Tapioi

Top of Tapioi

Aquarium Snorkeling

Our Own Personal Aquarium

Leave a reply

Our 5-hour passage from Raiatea to Huahine was spectacular.  It is not often that we are able to raise the full main and jib as we tend to sail conservatively. However, we had fairly light winds at 15-17 kts so we through caution to the wind.  Heading to course had the wind hitting on our nose.  So, we sailed a zig zag course to catch the wind and fill the sails.  Everyone enjoyed being at sail but were anxious to see a bit of the aquarium.

Rocco and Linda enjoying time aboard Sugar Shack

Rocco and Linda enjoying time aboard Sugar Shack

We anchored off of Huahine Iti (the smaller of the two islands) at Pointe Teapara.  There is a beautiful, but popular beach just off Port Bourayne.  It was crowded full of locals and the passengers from a large 40-meter yacht called Imagine D.  They had a few Polynesian musicians, full food/beverage spread, floats and a javelin spearing contest (who could spear a coconut).  Pretty fun to watch.

Huahine always provides some amazing sunrises and sunsets

Sunsets abound!

Sunsets abound!

Matt made his super tasty chicken roti for dinner, brownies for desert and topped the night off with a little rum tasting.  A sampling of rum from Antigua (English Harbor), Bonaire (Ron Rincon), Diplomatico (Venezuela), and St. Croix (Captain Morgan Private Reserve)

Our Personal Aquarium Pool

We snorkeled three spots off of Huahine.  The reef, the Avapehi Pass, and the “nursery.”  The reef had a large selection of fish and colorful coral.  The pass had much larger fish as the waters were a lot deeper.  The pass also had several different species that we had not seen before.  But the best snorkel was the “nursery” at it felt like we were swimming inside an aquarium.  There were tons of fish, perfect clarity, and a bountiful underwater life.  Here are few pictures.

There are lots and lots of clams and they all have different colored lipstick on.  The top left shows one with green outline, yellow lips and spots whereas the center one has bright blue lipstick.  The top right is a Christmas tree worm that retracts when you come close to it.  They come in yellow, blue, purple, green and red and are no bigger than an inch.

Coral and Clams at our Aquarium

Coral and Clams at our Aquarium

Tons of fish species all around.  However, my favorite fish is the center one. His top and bottom dorsal fins are transparent.    I think the bottom right is a puffer

Super pretty fish at the nursery

Super pretty fish at the nursery

We swam with lots of schools of fish as well.  The sea life was spectacular.

A variety of fish schools

A variety of fish schools

Rocco found a shell and as we were swimming back to the dinghy a school of butterfly fish hovered about.  They were eating out of the shell.  No fear and tons of curiosity.

Rocco becoming one with the fish

Rocco becoming one with the fish

I think Rocco is part fish or was a fish in another life.  He thrives in the water and is genuinely excited to see everything.  It is such a pleasure to share this experience with he and Linda.  Swimming in our very own aquarium.

Snorkeling in the Aquarium

Snorkeling in the Aquarium

On Shore at Huahine

We did make it to shore and stopped by Izzy’s for her fabulous burgers.  We also found Marae Tahu’ea on the way to the Pearl Treehouse.  Marae Tahu’ea was dedicated to the sea-god Ruahatu.  The marae’s platform (called an “ahu”) was made up of upright coral and basalt slabs with an interior fill.   This marae dates between 16th and 18th century.  The top photo is Roco, Izzy and I, the center is Linda watching over Sugar Shack and the bottom is Marae Tahu’ea.

Huahine Adventures

Huahine Adventures