Fun in Bora Bora
by Andrew and Clare 25 May 2018 15:26 AEST
Aboard Acapella, Martin, Clare, Andrew and Lili from Liward © Andrew and Clare
When last we wrote we were happily snorkelling the Coral Gardens in Tahaa in company with friends Rob and Sue on 'Athanor' and looking forward to a relaxing month or so ahead. However the best made plans etc.
What we thought was happening
We sailed back to Raiatea for provisioning and then headed for beautiful Bora Bora. We intended showing Rob and Sue around the island but as it happened we were there for one day when Andrew discovered a leak in the fuel injector system. This needed to be fixed before we could contemplate heading west across the Pacific.
We left Rob and Sue at Bora Bora and returned to Raiatea with the hope of either getting the problem fixed there or flying the injector pump back to Tahiti for repair. We arrived in Raiatea on the Tuesday which was a public holiday, so nothing happening that day, then we discovered that Thursday was another public holiday. The weekend was looming and the only recommended mechanic was booked out for a week. We decided that flying the Injector pump to Tahiti could hold us up, so we sailed overnight back to Tahiti arriving Thursday morning.
As it was a public holiday we spent the day catching up with many cruising friends and meeting others that we had only spoken to on the radio net. We had a good night with Martin and Ellen on 'Acapella' in the Taina marina, Papeete. People came and went and at one time we had twelve happy souls in the cockpit.
What in fact happened
Friday morning Andrew organised with Dieselec (the injector pump specialists) in Tahiti to work on our pump first thing Monday morning. We spent the rest of the day making trips back and forth to the supermarket, spending a fortune and provisioning the boat for the season ahead. We have been advised that there are slim pickings between here and Fiji.
On Sunday we moved the boat some five miles to the Papeete City Marina which is in walking distance of Dieselec. True to their word, first thing Monday morning, Dieselec fixed the leak by replacing four O rings and Andrew reinstalled the pump on Eye Candy that afternoon. It sounds like a simple job but the critical issue is not to get any dirt or foreign matter in the pump. Dieslec have a special 'clean room' for this sort of work.
In the meantime our Aussie friends Liam and Annie on 'Gone with the Wind' had flown from Fakarava to Tahiti as Annie had a very nasty tropical skin infection and was hospitalized and subsequently operated on. Liam spent some time with us on Eye Candy in City Marina and we were very pleased to see him and help in any way we could. Andrew had a less serious one of these infections last year. At the time we were heading to the Tuamotus but returned to the Marquesas for medical treatment; apparently a very common problem in the tropics.
Let's try heading west again
We set off Tuesday morning and sailed to the island of Morea to spend the night with Martin and Ellen before heading back to Bora Bora. Then disaster struck 'Acapella', their steering chain broke and their bottom rudder bearing is stiff. So they are now hauling out in Tahiti for repairs. This will take some time as a new bearing has to be sourced from Denmark. So if there is any truth in the saying that things happen in threes, lets hope we have seen the end of it. We had a very pleasant overnight sail back to Bora Bora arriving around midday Thursday. A nine day turn around is pretty well a record when considering the distance travelled, two public holidays, a weekend and working on Island Time.
It worked
So now we are happily anchored on the S/E corner of Bora Bora with Rob and Sue on 'Athanor' enjoying wonderful sunny days and perfect conditions. We are swimming with harmless black tip sharks, stingrays and eagle rays. We have also done the drift snorkel at the end of the island every day. It is so relaxing letting the current carry us across the colourful coral and seeing all the beautiful tropical fish busy darting about. Some are big and others are so tiny you wonder how they survive in the ocean and the current. It seems that every time we do this snorkel we see new things. It's a wonderful experience.
So what's next
We will stay here a few more days enjoying life and then head up to the township and think seriously about checking out and leaving this beautiful location. There are many boats in front of us heading for Tonga and beyond. We are in touch with them on the radio net and getting advice and insight on future destinations. We are looking forward to moving on.
The next post will be along the way westwards and may not have photos until we can get onto the internet.
This article has been provided courtesy of the Freedom and Adventure.