Tahiti Tour - 29 July 2024

We woke to another grey morning but it was not raining. We had an early breakfast and then at about 8.30am Andy and I returned the hire care and collected another as was agreed. We managed to drive this to Stormbird’s side with authority from the marina office. This meant that we were able to put the mainsail straight in the car.

We had to wait for a rigger to come and then we took the mainsail to the sail repairer which was in the back streets behind the airport. We then set off to drive down the west of Tahiti and the west side of Tahiti Iti the smaller part in the south to Tauhapou where the Olympic surfing is taking place. We drove down the road which borders the sea and the reef and essentially there are houses most sides for many miles. However, this is also an agricultural area and there is a lot of plants growing and polythene tunnels. There are some gardens you can visit but by the time we arrived it was pouring with rain so we carried on.

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the isthmus which was good bit the portions were enormous. The rain continued and so did we and the road hugs the sea but one house back as it were although there were public beaches from time to time. We eventually came to the Olympic area where there was no surfing going on but lots of security. As a result, we were able to drive up to the area and park in a car park. The rain had stopped and we walked up to the spectator area and looked over the course that you may have seen on the Olympic coverage. The picture of the day is this view. It is such a shame that the weather is so bad during this period.

We returned to Stormbird in the rain and once on board had a hot chocolate. We are expecting some strong winds over the next few days and from the southwest which is not good from the marina perspective due to the swell so we had tightened and added a few more lines. As I am writing this we are moving about quite a bit whilst watching the Olympics on the TV. We have decided not to go out to supper due to the rain and because we are so full from lunch.

Andy leaves tomorrow and Mark and Corinne return. I am flying home on Wednesday for a couple of weeks. This weather is not helpful or pleasant and I hope normal sunny and warm weather will return soon.

Tahiti is a lovely island with its reef and stunning scenery and peaks. It has a lovely coast and a nice atmosphere and feel. However, there is quite a lot of poverty and deprivation and everything is quite expensive. It is an interesting place to visit and I am glad I came but it is not as special as the Marquesas or Tuamutos.

Crewing Opportunity Year Two

In addition, in year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and probably across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and I will need some more crew.  

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we move through French Polynesia and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk