Marina Taena, Tahiti

We are back on Tahiti after spending a very pleasant few days on Moorea, mostly in Oponuhu Bay. After the rendezvous was over the weather improved and we went diving on the reef with some very tame rays that must have been used to being fed as they came right up close expecting a handout. We also saw mant reef sharks up to about 4 feet long. The water was crystal clear and very warm. We also travelled round the island and Jen and I got some tattoos as shown below.
The sail back to Tahiti was much quieter than on on the way out and we had to motor quite a bit. We got the first fuel since Galapagos and the bowthruster worked perfectly once again.
We are now anchored up outside Taena and will complete provisioning for the rest of our time in the Society Islands. We leave for Huahine tonight a distance of about 100 NM.
Some photos of our travels during the past month





tattoo on left chest
Jen's tattoo right flank
Ua Puo, Marquesas

The Mormon Church on Takaroa
The RC Church on Fakarava
6 man offshore canoe race, Rangiroa
one man inshore canoe race, Rangiroa

29 June

The very narrow pass in Aratika














Hiva Oa














Asian lady inserting mother of pearl into an oyster in Fakarava












Ron in his Sunday best after church in Nuku Hiva















Nuku Hiva













Aratika













Sailing Waka, Papaeete, Tahiti

More photos to come

nuku hiva

hiva oa, landfall

mt belvedere, moorea

moorea sunset

cooks bay moorea

aratika

moorea, oponuhu bay

canoe race

moorea

I managed to find some intermittant internet and posted some random photos from the past 6 weeks. I'll try to upload more if I can

23 June

Wednesday's update from Callisto:

We are now back in Moorea having done the Tahiti-Moorea Rendezvous last weekend. About 40 boats and their crews participated and the fun began with a cocktail party and a demonstration of local dance by a local troupe. On Saturday morning there was a Race/rally from Papeete to Uponuhu Bay on Moorea a distance of about 25 miles. The day was quite blustery and winds were up to 25 kts and Callisto averaged 9 kts all the way with occasional speeds of 10.5 kts. This still was not enough to beat the catamarans which are becoming increasingly popular and we finished in 12th place. Anchoring was a little exciting with all the boats crammed into a small area and the weather turned nasty with steady winds to 25 kts and quite a bit of rain. That evening was a barbie and we met a number of boat crews that we had met before on our travels.
On Sunday, were more activities including canoe racing, local dance and demonstrations of other local, traditional sports. All most interesting except for the weather which remained poor all weekend.
On Monday, Jen and I took a trip around the island in search of a tattoo artist and we will most likely go back there on Thursday once we have decided what we want done. Yesterday, the weather improved and we did a hike up Mt Belvedere and saw spectacular views of Moorea and both Cook's Bay and Uponuhu Bay. We will probably stay in Moorea until Saturday and then go back to Tahiti to provision and fuel for the rest of the Society Islands and then on to the Cook Islands.

17 June

Latest update from Callisto:

The Admiral and Jennifer arrived on Tuesday night after managing to get on a stand-by flight ahead of the thousands of people who were stranded by a firemaen's strike which shut down the airport in Papeete for international flights. There were many unhappy people in Tahiti and I would expect in LA, Paris and Auckland as well.

Getting back into the marina in Papeete was a little exciting as my bow thruster was still acting up and this time while backing onto the dock the thruster kicked in and would not shut down. I did two 360's before I managed to shut down the main battery breakers and get the thruster to stop, much to the amusement of the local peanut gallery. Fortunately, I didn't hit anything and despite all manner of warning lights that came on, nothing caught fire or melted high current cables.
I did manage to get onto the dock stern to and with the new solenoid and electronic control box Ann brought from the US, I was able to fix the problem and I now have a happy bowthruster. She brought many spare parts and I will be fitting some of them over the next few days before going back to Moorea for a while.
I have been told that I need a haircut and that is probably true, we will have to see if it happens.
Next update in a few days.

12 June

Callisto still hasn't got a good enough internet connection so here is the latest update:

I've spent the last ten days or so on Moorea having left Papeete on June 1st. On getting to Papeete, I discovered my bowthruster wasn't working and fortunately it was flat calm and lots of room in the marina and I got in stern-to without any mishap. I picked up my nav station chair which had been welded and spent two days in Papeete. Very noisy and expensive so it was off to Moorea about a 3 hour sail. I went to Oponohu Bay first which was almost deserted and very beautiful. Moorea is even more dramatic than Tahiti scenery wise and I spent 5 very quiet days there reading. I tried to fix the bow thruster hoping that the problem was poor contacts due to corrosion but after cleaning all electrical contacts to bare, bright metal it still wouldn't work and the solenoid got smoking hot. I doubt it will go without a new solenoid and a new electronic control box and these have been ordered from the US and will arrive with the admiral on the 15th. After five days in Oponuhu Bay I went over to Cook's Bay, which was a bit more populated but still pleasant. The scenery was a little less impressive but there were a few stores, a gas station and the Bali Hai Club , a bar/restaurant that looked like it had been built in the sixties.

There were quite a few superyachts there and a very impressive newish looking 200 footer called Kokomo that looked incredibly fast even at anchor.
I got back to Marina Taina in Tahiti yesterday afternoon and will do some food shopping at the local Carrefour.

I should be able to get two more novels in before the Admiral and Jennifer arrive. I must admit, I'm looking forward to some company.
After they arrive, we are going to do the Tahiti/Moorea Rendesvous on the 18th with the Latitude 38 crowd, which should be a lot of fun. Internet is still lousy so no photos, I can share right now which is a pity. Otherwise, all is well will update in a few days.