Blue Water Rally Loves Tahiti and Moorea
by Peter Seymour on 15 May 2008
Rally Yachts Papeete with Moorea in the distance Peter Seymour
Tahiti and Moorea proved to be great stopovers this year for the Blue Water Rally. Twelve years ago I remember our Rally arriving on the new yacht quay and a grand opening by the President of French Polynesia. This time our yachts arrived to find newly-installed pontoons, with water and electricity and much-improved security. There was again a major effort to welcome us. to Tahiti once more - on this our seventh visit
Welcome activities - a fun afternoon
Over the years we have great support from our friends of Tahiti Tourisme and for several months they had been planning a programme for us. Opening the proceedings was an afternoon of water-borne activities and shoreside displays close to the yacht quay. Most popular amongst our crews was the opportunity to experience the centuries old tradition of canoe racing. A small fleet of outrigger canoes, complete with vahines (local girls) in traditional dress, stood by to take Ralliers out into the bay. What was particularly impressive was the appearance of a traditional sailing pirogue, which enabled some to experience a form of transport introduced by the early Polynesian explorers.
A VIP welcome for the Rally
As a tribute to the friendship Blue Water Rallies have established with Tahiti and French Polynesia we were greatly honoured at a cocktail party hosted by several VIPs. In particular there were speeches of welcome from the French Vice President of French Polynesia, the Mayor of Papeete and the Director of Tourism and several government ministers were in attendance. The highlight of the evening was dancing by a young dance group led by Gabilou, a celebrated international singer from French Polynesia.
A day out - around the island
The formal programme continued with a great tour around the island of Tahiti for over 70 participants. The day included visits to various tourist spots, including the Gauguin Museum and Venus Point made famous by Captain Cook, who took his sights there. There was a magnificent lunch at the Gauguin Restaurant and even a demonstration of the local sport of spear throwing.
Plenty of activity and eating out Papeete style
Much make and mend on our yachts continued with the help of various local contractors. However, there was time each evening for Ralliers to eat out in the unique style of the Roulottes (fondly known as the Roach Coaches). Each night fast food vans opened up on a specially paved area close to the yacht quay and drew large numbers of Rally crews to dine out both cheaply and well. Others discovered restaurants in town, notably the Three Brasseurs - a pub restaurant which does, indeed, brew its own beer on its own premises. There were also daily visits to the amazing public market in Papeete - the largest and best in the South Pacific.
Thank you to the Yacht Club
During the build-up to the stopover we organisers have received an enormous amount of help from our friends at the Tahiti Yacht Club. In particular the Club Secretary/Manager, Michel Alcon, has been a close friend of ours for over 12 years and each day came to the pontoons to deliver mail and to offer assistance. I was, therefore, delighted to be able to present a Blue Water Rally plaque to the Yacht Club President, Jean Sjilyagi, and a much more personal gift to Michel Alcon
On to Moorea……
After a week most yachts departed Papeete for the short crossing to Cook's Bay in Moorea, although several were forced to stay for work which was still in hand. Nonetheless, there was a gathering of over 20 yachts at the rendezvous anchorage at the head of the bay close to the Rally HQ, The Club Bali Hai Hotel.
The Bali Hai Hotel has been our base for all our six previous Rallies and extended their usual warm welcome to the crews me whenever we came ashore. Many took advantage of the excellent breakfasts and lunches in the hotel restaurant and briefings were held there on two mornings covering cruising through the islands and onward to Tonga.
Getting around, and a BBQ and Dance Show
The island of Moorea has much to offer the tourist and Ralliers were soon getting around by rented scooters and cars, whilst others did it the somewhat harder way - by bike or on foot. In fact a strong walking group left early one morning to hike to the Belvedere - the viewpoint at over 2000 feet overlooking Oponohu and Cook's Bays. Some slight navigational error led to the trip taking somewhat longer than expected, but I can report that they all arrived back smiling seven hours later and the Bali Hai bar was kept very busy!
During our stay in Moorea it's a Rally tradition that we enjoy a BBQ and Dance Show at the Bali Hai Hotel. A great evening was had by all and we were delighted to learn that Eric and Marianne Plante's daughter, Rosemarijn, had become engaged to Marcel that day. We wish them every happiness.
On through the islands to Bora Bora
Over the next three weeks Rally yachts will be cruising independently to Bora Bora for their rendezvous around 25 May.
The next Blue Water Rally commences in October, 2009 from Gibraltar, and participants may join from along the route shown below. For more information, go to the Rally Website
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