Tahiti Pearl Regatta fleet reaches Bora-Bora

by Denis van den Brink on 18 May 2012 Tahiti Pearl Regatta ninth edition is currently underway and featured today one of the most expected and most exciting part of its program, the Raiatea to Bora-Bora leg. A distance of 27 nautical miles under mild and at times tricky conditions that brought no big surprises in the final outcome.

Yesterday's winners confirmed all along the spectacular course inside the lagoon and towards Bora the same inspired will to perform. The A 40 L'Agathe, in the Monohull category, despite a slow start, was first out of the lagoon, and probably the only boat to avoid the windless spots dispersed along the course. The fast Joubert-Nivelt Plan gives a lot of time to her opponents, and Jean Pierre Basse and his crew decided to sail as hard as they could to broaden the gap to the finish line. Tapuni, the sleek 45 footers of the French Polynesian Armed Forces came a strong second.

Spirit, the only trimaran amidst a fleet of catamarans felt quite at home today in mild air and flat waters. Jason Gard and his crew from Cook Island literally flew along the 27 miles course. Frenchmen and actor Pierre Cosso seemed in the very beginning in a position to give the fats trimaran some competition. Becalmed right before the lagoon passes, he only could helplessly watch the trimaran sail away.

All 40 boats are tonite anchored in front of the Meridien Bora Bora Hotel where a traditional Polynesian Party will be given in their honor.

Tomorrow morning, the fleet heads back towards Tahaa.