After
a three week period sailing around the Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, the World
ARC fleet have assembled in Tahiti. The crews have been enjoying a ‘free cruising’
period during which they’ve choose when and where to go.
During
their explorations the crews have hiked up to waterfalls and swam in the plunge
pools, sat down to traditional dinners with locals in village halls, snorkelled
with sharks, rays and reef fish, done drift dives through entrance passes and
seen how the Tahitian black pearls are cultured. The islands of French
Polynesia have a lot to offer and the participants have been enjoying these to
the maximum.
“The anchorage was
idyllic, opposite a beautiful, expensive hotel development. The
snorkelling in The Aquarium, an area of reef right in the middle of the pass,
was exceptional. I wish we could have stayed longer or, at least, spent
more time enjoying the island but sadly ‘boat maintenance in exotic locations’
took precedence.” Starblazer
Some
of the yachts arrived in Tahiti sooner than others, many to complete
maintenance and repair work. The World ARC agent, Laurent Bernaert of Polynesia
Yacht Services has been busy attending to all these maintenance issues to ensure
the fleet return to good health before crossing the second part of the Pacific.
Having arrived in
Tahiti, the World ARC crews will enjoy a rendez-vous programme, based in the
city of Papeete. They will receive a briefing about where to visit in rest of
the Society Islands before a welcome cocktail at the town hall. On Friday,
nearly all the participants and some family and friends who are visiting, will
complete a tour of the island to explore it in more detail.
Following
this programme, the yachts will disperse to continue their free cruising of the
Society Islands or participate in the Tahiti Pearl Regatta, before meeting up
again in Bora Bora.