Tahiti Pearl Regatta - Tahiti on the map

by Morgan Rogers on 6 Jul 2012 After four Sydney - Hobart's on the trot and the last being a testing one on boat and the combined international American and Russian crew, I thought a break in a warm sunny and friendly sea would be 'just good medicine' away from the Australian winter and thoughts of repairing the boat.

Located 3300 NM at 060o M of Australia is French Polynesia, it’s a bit of a hike and you do have to travel via New Zealand, but after all it is worth the journey to get to the virtually perfect yachting paradise. A place where the tidal influence is just 20 cm per day and 28 – 32 degs C ahead of the thrust of constant trade winds.

Heading over each May to the Tahiti Pearl Regatta is now high on the agenda, with at least one Australian boat competing each year in the 30 – 50 boat fleet (this year there were two) we intend to be providing some information nights at your local yacht club in Australia soon, warning: the information provided may cause a sudden urge to book a ticket and go!

Perfect in every way; the yachting is friendly and forgiving, there are no sheep stations to be won the locals knowing this are surprisingly forgiving at the start lines however the intensity of the after parties is just unbelievable with revelry every night well into the wee hours of the morning up to the prize giving finale, when everybody collapses exhausted! I do wonder how they get the energy.

On offer for the winning boat is a trip to France with four of the crew to compete in the vastly different 300 plus boat St Tropez regatta, not bad if you can capture this regatta and fabulous incentive to do well!!

The regatta itself is packed with 'tick that box' activities and sailing between Raiatea to Bora Bora or Huahine (about 30 NM each) where the Seven Wonders of the World give way to the seven colours of blue. Highlights of the regatta is the time that you have to visit a vanilla plantation, yes 80% of the world vanilla is produced here, fish farms with a difference showing not farmed trout but a look at sharks, turtles, rays and stone-fish, and if you do not see a fish farm, there are plenty in the ocean around your boat, if you’re not into fish then a wonder through the Black Pearl Farms is also a must. Why not do the lot!

Racing is early in the morning with instructions give on VHF, none of the crews stay ashore and why you would when the lagoons are so calm and the water just as inviting as any resort pool. Finish the days racing with an extended dip to explore the coral reefs and sea life, followed up by a Hinano beer and a party ashore – life does not get much better anywhere in the world.

TPR representatives will then ferry your crew and you to the resorts and motus for the evening activities – there is no need to drag the dinghy when racing.

Michele and I were lucky enough to spy a moray eel, cone shells, lion fish and sting rays whilst snorkelling just off the transom of the Lagoon 440, which we called home for the week.

Provisioning at the local was just as easy with a large selection of produce on offer at the local fresh markets or if feeling a little home sick a variety of Australian and New Zealand produce from the supermarket is available too.

Have a try at preparing the famously traditional Poisson Cru - fresh tuna (raw) salad with lime / lemon juice and chopped onions and cucumber – just the ticket... or take an extension after sailing the regatta to gather your thoughts in Rangiora or Fakarava, just hang out at the UNISCO listed lagoons for more fishing, eating and Hinano. Life does not get much better than this – have I said this already?

Check this one out and get organised with your crew as early as November the boats are reserved very quickly.
Many thanks to TPR, Tahiti Tourism and Air Tahiti Nui for making this trip possible.

Tahiti Pearl Regatta website