2 September 2024 – Tahiti

It was another great day weather wise and Mark went off to the local shop to buy bread and croissants. We had our usual breakfast of fruit and yoghurt and bread and jam etc.

After breakfast Mark and Corinne went back to the hospital and to see the eye surgeon. This appointment went very well and he was happy with progress which was good news.

John – the guy we met at Shelter Bay marina came quite early during breakfast and he first of all looked at the hatches. Some of them have been leaking through the handles and we had a lot of water come over on our way back from Moorea.  He took certain handles off and it was the fact that the handles were not tight enough on the screws which had allowed the water to come in. These were addressed by putting in glue a bit like Araldite into the holes and leave to dry. With certain hatches the rubber needed to be taken off and be refitted with the right glue and sealant. He fixed a couple of these and they will set overnight. There is one which needs a new rubber seal and two he sealed on the outside but probably will need to be re set in somewhere like New Zealand.  He also glued some of the deck on the lazarette lockers which had become a bit loose. Once he had done this he said he would come back and finish off tomorrow.

We talked to John and asked him whether he would like to come to Bora Bora and the other Society Islands over the next few weeks and he is thinking about it.  

We had a lunch of salad and cheese and bread which worked fine. We then decided to head off to a beach for a swim. This was only about 15 minutes down the road Plage Vaire. We parked up and the beach was not too crowded. It was sunny and lovely and warm. We had a great swim and a snorkel and they call this area the Coral Gardens. The coral looks like plants under the water and it is in very good shape and has many lovely reef fish. The water was so clear and it was a great snorkel and felt a bit like being in an acquarium. We dressed and there just happened to be an ice cream van on the beach which sold local coconut ice cream. Mark, Corinne and I had coconut ice cream which was delicious and creamy. Keith had a pineapple ice cream which he said was great.

Once we were done we headed back to Stormbird and Mark started a chicken curry he had wanted to make which took a long time to prepare as he made the curry base first. He cooked off the chicken so it was all ready to combine at the end. He then made some Stormbird Daiquiris – which are rum, banana, coconut cream and pineapple juice juiced up. They are delicious.

Mark then put the curry together with rice and broccoli. The sauce was fantastic and there were so many flavours blended together to make a rich curry sauce which was a treat. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and felt at the end like contended hippos – assuming they feel like this!!.

It is now dark and cool and pleasant sitting in the cockpit reading and with our thoughts, The lights are on the shore and at various boats in the anchorage. It had been another enjoyable day albeit that various jobs had to be done and get in the way sometimes. However that is life on a boat when circumnavigating. The picture of the day is the boys in our Tahitian shirts. !!  

Urgent Crewing Opportunity

Mark will take Corinne home so if anyone would like to join Keith and I to see some more of The Society Islands now and until 29 September 2024 please get in touch. This could be a unique opportunity to see these islands. This is your chance.

Crewing Opportunity Year Two

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 then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. 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