Burn that Mother Down!

Burn that Mother Down.

Who knew that the Coconut fronds and husks burnt so well.

Luckily the wind was offshore and the guardians just kept heaping stuff on there to "clean up" the beach Thanks to Markey Mark, Hugo and Ethan

Beach BBQ

We Moved, sadly from the South Pass back North to a beach just around the center of the Atol. Still deserted..We mapped a route in for the Tenders and While the guests were off seeing a Pearl farm in the Lagoon we set up the BBQ. Food Drinks tent and Tables went ashore, Firewood in the form of Coconut fronds and Husks were made ready. The moon was setting in the West as dinner was done. it was a great night. Thanks to the Gang...

Ze Bubbles.

Locked and Loaded
Our Temp tender is working out very well. It Dives, carries Paddleboards and beach set ups it tows boats off reefs, Sunset tours, and it tows well. Good addition...

Golds Gym Eat your heart out!

Morning gym set up. Even I would think of a work out here...followed by a swim, a snorkel around the boat or a paddle board over to a deserted Motu..Anyone?

End of the Day.

Another great day comes to an end. an early dive followed by breakfast..  Then a chilled morning.

We watched our last weeks activities on Video and said a sad goodby to 2 of our guests. Lunch was delicious Indian food. Followed by another dive...This time a drift dive through the pass. A short rest then a night dive...Scaaarryyy...Well it would be for me.. Dinner and an early night methinks after a very busy day on the Water..

Photo by Lenka 

Mahine Pizza

Mahine literally  hewed the approach to his Pizza place out of the rock. But then you get there!!He has little bungalows facing the Ocean. If you ever want to check out...This is where you come..Bring a book.

It was a sensational evening of Pizza, Laughs and Dancing on this remote Motu.

The food was amazing and the atmosphere as chilled as can be..Perfect Evening

Photo By Ethan Toal.

Fishing DogP

Photo by Lenka...

Tetamanu

Driveway to the Bar. After a great afternoon at the beach,  all needed a cooling Beer or a Sundowner at the Bar and this was the place..

Photo by Lenka Senkrikova

South Pass Fakarava

After an hour or so We headed down the lagoon following a well marked Channel, Yet full of Coral heads!! 3 hours later we arrived at the South Pass.Ethan was up the rig for 4 hours!  The South pass It is too shallow to get entry from the ocean for deep draft boats so this area is quite remote. The small village here is the same as 20 years ago. But smaller...The main village was  moved up to the North pass over the years as that is where the airfield and the sea entrance is. Our afternoon, after a fabulous lunch was spent drift diving the South pass, snorkeling with about 30 black tip reef sharks, paddle boarding and walking on the sandy beach.. All this before a fine Dinner of Who Dun it Murder mystery in a pirate theme..Sooo much fun..

Fakarava on Show

We had a terrific overnight sail to Fakarava towing the Ze Bubbles Tender...Unless you wanted to sail. However any time you get to go up wind in the trades..ie going East with no wind and no sea.. Well you take it. We arrived early at the North Pass and set about the day. Diving through the pass, Paddle boarding, snorkeling around and walking through the town. Nice way to start a great Day..

Where are we?

Memories of Sunny Days. Arriving to Papeete

And this was Dinner

We had a local boat stop by Rosehearty on the way to town and we bought 4 really nice fresh fish. The Chef Barbecued them skin on till done. Removed the skin and added coconut milk....Unbelievable.. Then a Tuna Boat came in lithesome really nice 15kg fresh Tuna. It does not get better than this.

Dinner Time

Dinner is set. The girls have done a nice job setting up the table. Every night a different theme. This a South Pacific Feel..Before the Fire dancers arrived.

Photo by Catherine "Hinano" Carr

Dolphins

As we mentioned before there was some great action in the Pass Tiputa. Here the Dolphin show.

It is best from a full outgoing flood that stands up the waves and allows the aerobatics to occur

Photo by Hugo "Boss" Thomas

Day 2. This was not in the Cards

Early morning (0430) squalls and heavy rains winds in to the 30's...$%#!! what a way to kick off.

More like Scotland on a summers day than the South pacific Islands..

However activities were planned and after an early breakfast off We went in the Ze Bubbles (Tender) to see the pass in full flow. A few high speed transits and sure enough We were escorted in by jumping dolphins. Amazing to see and these are not small dolphins.  The rest of the Morning was snorkeling at a little Motu called the Garden. Easy to visualize?. Lots of fish and nursery sharks. A nice lunch and a recharge nap and off for a check out dive, the first of many. The poor weather actually brings fish up towards the surface so there was lots to see...

Charter Day!

The Weather Dawned great...and all was ready. until the weather turned later in the day.

The plane arrived on time and all boarded the boat safely. We viewed the pass with the big current and saw a few dolphins jumping out there so a good omen . After boarding and a drink a fine dinner and a then movie..

Rangiroa

Rosehearty needed a good clean up, a little TLC and some prep for the this charter.We enjoyed the time in Papeete moving to refuel in town from Marina Tania on Friday  the 7th. We departed on Monday towing Ze Bubbles our Dive (Big) Tender. We arrived in Rangiroa to be greeted by an outgoing 8 knot tide caused by waves breaking over the far side of the lagoon (30 miles away) and this pass is one of only 2 exits for the water. Rangiroa is the 2nd biggest Atol on the planet so there is lots of water to get out.. When the swell is high. At Full power we were doing 4-5 knots over the ground... It does not look like much..from the outside and max elevation here is 10m...The Trees are taller.

We got Lei'ed

In the tradition of arrival in Polynesia we were all presented with these Lei's on arrival.

It is nice to be back. The Delivery Crew Galapagos to Tahiti 2018

Last Sunrise at Sea

Well for this trip..

0600 sun up and up with the gang to Prep the boat for arrival to Papeete. Pilot on board and off to Marina Taina.

All good on board and now time to convert back to charter mode...Thanks to the guys for the last 4,200nm

Last of the Downhill.

We will miss this sailing downwind as we near the end of this trip from Antigua to Tahiti from April 12th until May 31st. Always with the wind aft the beam, it does not get better than this. A Full Moon sailing in the sky with Jupiter, Saturn and Mars lined up to the East and the Southern cross shining bright. Tahiti just over the horizon with an Eta of 0700 tomorrow morning.  Papeete awaits.