Tag Archives: tahiti

Sunset at Point Venus

Tahiti Tour with Wayne

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Wayne met me in LA and we flew back to Tahiti together.  We arrived with 5 large bags and 2 backpacks weighing in at almost 300lbs.  Yep, we brought back a lot of boat parts, spares, replacements, and other necessities.  You see, it is far cheaper to purchase items in the States and bring them over then it is to purchase locally at 3x the price.  Or purchase in the U.S. and have it shipped to Tahiti.  So, as visitors come in to visit us they will be our “pack mules.”  After spending a full day unpacking the bags and putting items away we decided it was time to tour the island.

Tour of Tahiti

We grabbed a rental car at the airport and spent half the day provisioning.  I’m sure it was loads of fun for Wayne, but it is a necessity.  And really he wasn’t about to complain as we purchased 10 cases of Hinano beer.  The next day we took Wayne to see our favorite Grotto where we enjoyed a tasty French breakfast.  See Tahiti Excursion for details on the Grotto.

We circled back past Marina Taina, through downtown Papeete, to the other side of the island where Tres Cascades is located.  You can read about these beautiful falls in the “Tahiti Excursion” blog and at Tahiti Heritage.  This beautiful site never disappoints – with its raging falls, running rivers, green foliage and colorful rainbows.

Tres Cascades in Tahiti

Tres Cascades in Tahiti

Fun little MOAI located downtown Papeete and in front of the Papette Marina.

MOAI in downtown Papeete Tahiti

MOAI in downtown Papeete Tahiti

We returned the rental car, hopped back on Sugar Shack and headed the 5 miles to Point Venus. See our blog “Point Venus” for historical details and lots of fabulous photos.  We took a water tour around the point, showed Wayne the striking lighthouse and walked the black sand beach.

Point Venus Lighthouse

Point Venus Lighthouse

We were gifted with an glorious and unobstructed view of the sunset.

Sunset at Point Venus

Sunset at Point Venus

Since we only have Wayne on-board for a short stint, we wanted to get a move on.  Matt checked the weather and to our disappointment, there was a “maramu” heading our way.  A maramu is a very strong southerly wind which only occurs in this area in the winter.  It can cause some serious havoc while underway.  So, we decided it was best to make our way to Moorea to wait out the maramu.

Sugar Shack anchored in front of Intercontinental Hotel

Boat Tasks in Tahiti

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We did not stay long in Point Venus as we had many boat tasks to do before my flight back to the states.  So, we headed to Marina Taina after our brief exploration of Point Venus.  It was a short 5-mile journey to the North Pass.  We hailed the Port Captain to alert them of our arrival and received permission to enter the pass.  It’s not a particularly pretty island, especially coming from the North Pass.  There is a huge industrial area to the left and the downtown Papeete Marina.  Then you pass rows and rows of houses and building on shore.  So much for the majestic beauty of the Tahitian Islands.

Entering the South Pass in Tahiti

Entering the North Pass in Tahiti

We had a little less than 5-miles from the entrance, past the airport, to the Marina Taina anchorage.  We took it slow and easy as we checked out the view.  Somewhere around mile 2, we were joined by two very strong and energetic Polynesian outriggers.  One stayed on our port while the other paddled in our wake.  They stayed with us for well over 3 miles and maintained our 5kt speed!  They were working hard!

Polynesia Outriggers Keeping Up With Sugar Shack

Polynesia Outriggers Keeping Up With Sugar Shack

MARINA TAINA ANCHORAGE

We had hoped to hop on one of the 186 mooring balls offered by Marina Taina.  However, when we stopped by to inquire about availability in April, the manager said they were first come first serve (no reservations taken).  Hurumph. So, when Matt and I arrived, we passed several empty mooring balls on the north side of the anchorage.  We wanted to see if there was anything closer to the marina and found a sweet spot in shallow, turquoise water.  After finding a mooring, we fed our bridle and a back up line through, swam on the mooring and called it a good day.

We were directly across from the Intercontinental Tahiti hotel which boasts of huts over the water.  Unfortunately for them, they are surrounded by boats.

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti Surrounded by Cruisers

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti Surrounded by Cruisers

TASKS, CHORES AND PROJECTS

We had lots boat tasks, chores and projects to do.  Of course, it was self-imposed and not totally necessary to get done, but I wanted to complete them before Wayne came aboard.

Fist things first, we went to the marina office to let them know we picked up a mooring ball.  Unfortunately for us we were on a private ball and had to go back to the boat to move her to the “anchorage.”  We are still in gorgeous water, but now far from the marina.

Since we were technically in the marina’s anchorage, they wrote us a letter stating we had a “residence” here so we could get an annual contract with the local internet/phone provider, Vini.  So we headed over to Vini to sign up for our hot spot box, pay for the year of service up front and connect it all up.  At $50 per month for 10 gigs it added up fast.  Plus, we had to put 2 months deposit down.  But we should have internet access in “most” islands throughout French Polynesia.

We checked in with Tahiti Crew to see if they had an update on our long-stay visa.  Nothing yet.  Then researched local canvas shops.  We needed to find someone who could repair our small spinnaker (remember we tore the clew off) and our sail bag.  Success, Ocean Sails Tahiti could repair it before our deadline of 24 June!

I managed to get a lot of boat tasks done:

  • Ospho all of the interior/exterior stainless steel
  • Oiled/stained all of the interior/exterior wood/teak.
  • Bleached all ceilings
  • Deep clean both heads and all cabins
  • Complete food inventory in preparation of our shopping spree when I get back

More Beautiful Photos from Tahiti:

The photo below was taken from the boat looking at Morea.  Beautiful little island hiding the sun.

Sunset behind Moorea

Sunset behind Moorea

Sugar Shack anchored in front of Intercontinental Hotel

Sugar Shack anchored in front of Intercontinental Hotel

Sunset off Point Venus

Point Venus, off Tahiti

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Point Venus is an unexpected beauty.  We did not plan on stopping here but are really happy we did.  You might wonder how this bay got its name?  Well, Captain Cook set up an observation point to watch Venus pass in front of the sun. Cook’s observatory set up to record the transit of Venus.  On this point is an impressive lighthouse, park, upscale crafts market and small eatery.

We landed Sweetie on the black, mysterious sandy beach.  Mysterious because how many black sand beaches have you been on – what is it hiding?  Hmmmm.  The sand sticks to everything and gives your feet a funny freckle look.

Black sand beach at Point Venus, Tahiti

Black sand beach at Point Venus, Tahiti

Polynesians voyaged in canoes across French Polynesia, thousands of years ago, guided solely by the stars.  The voyagers detected each island by its zenithal star (vei’a).  Can you imagine traversing the Pacific Ocean with nothing but astronomical knowledge and nature?  We on the other hand thoroughly enjoy using a half-dozen instruments and digital charts to navigate.

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THE HMS BOUNTY

The HMS Bounty,was a Royal Navy three-mast ship.  She was made famous by the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” starring Marlon Brando.  Fletcher Christian, the second in command staged a mutiny against Captain Bligh at Point Venus.  The Captain and 19 sailors escaped.  Meanwhile the rest of the crew settled in Tahiti.  The sculpture below presets the mutineers’ names and the Tahitians who accompanied them.

HMS Bounty Marker

HMS Bounty Marker

PIROGUE – CANOE’S

The Tahitian word for canoe or “pirogue” is “Va’a.”  These were used to travel between Hawaii, New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands.  This is no small feat as they  are thousands of miles apart.  There were two types of pirogues in Polynesia.

  • Single Hull with an equalizer used for fishing and short trips between the islands.
  • Double Hull used for big journeys and war.

In addition, Polynesians used pirogues as a receptacle for dead people to transition from life to death.  Young boys used Pirogues to transition into becoming a man.  They boys transition would be through their first shark or bonito fishing exposition.  Certainly a beautiful and ancient Polynesian tradition.

Pirogue - Polynesian Outriggers

Pirogue – Polynesian Outriggers

LIGHTHOUSE

The lighthouse called “Te-ara-o-Tahiti” or “Tepaina Venuti” was built in 1867.  Coral rubble and cut stones from the Gambiers were used to construct it.  It is an eight-floor square lighthouse that originally measured 25 meters high.  However, seven meters were added and its electrification was realized in 1963.  During the war, 1939-1945, the inhabitants hid the lighthouse by painting coconut trees, palms, and nuts on its lower facades.  The lighthouse standing in the middle of the coconut grove became virtually invisible to the Japanese enemy.  Consequently, they had no reference point to land.

Te-ara-o-Tahiti lighthouse

Te-ara-o-Tahiti lighthouse

Here is a photo of Captain Cook

Captain Cook

Captain Cook

This beautiful statute had no plaque, but it was too pretty to not show you.

Sculpture representing history

Sculpture representing history

Additional photos at Point Venus:

Sunset off Point Venus

Sunset off Point Venus

Point Venus Bay

Point Venus Bay