Greetings from yacht Ensemble.
Yesterday we arrived at Raiatea after an overnight sail / motor from Moorea. The seas were flat, the wind at our backs at 10-12 knots, and a big bright full moon. It would have been perfect weather for the parasailor - but we hadn't managed to get a rigger in to change the blocks on the mast head - and with Peter and Carmen being 'first timers' prudence won out over my desire to play with my new toys...
We arrived at Raiatea and went through the reef at the Teavapil Pass to the town of Utaroa. We anchored off the marina until we were able to catch up with Dominique at the Municiple Wharf, refuel, and drop off the outboard to be repaired. We pick it up again on Monday - so have the weekend to explore.
We saw Mike and Karson (Wind Dancer) in their dinghy on the way to the shops and decided to have a look at taking a mooring buoy next to them near a hotel just south of the pass. Unfortunately - the spacing of the moorings was not conducive to catamarans - and when we took it we were less than 1m away from another boat - so decided to try instead the pearl farm on the west coast of the island where we had also been promised a mooring. After a couple of hours we arrived there only to find that the two moorings were right next to each other - and a bit dodgy (there was another boat due to arrive some time in the night...). So we turned around and instead took a mooring near the marina on the north west coast.
We were tired but after a quick dip, Peter and I took the dinghy to explore. Raiatea used to be the capital and is now the base for most of the charter boats. We stopped in to see about 20 catamarans forlornly berthed at the marina. The marina bar was boarded up - and the restaurant empty. Clearly the place has seen better times!
Today we plan to go to ile Tahaa and do some snorkelling at the 'Aquarium' and have dinner at one of hotels on the North East of the island...
Cheers
Dave
4May2012 039