Tag Archives: society archepelago

Piazza's and Mitchell's

A Reward After a Horrible Sail

Is the reward worth a bad passage?  The sail from Huahine to Mo’orea wasn’t going to be great, but we didn’t think it would be as bad as it was.  The forecast had no rain and decent winds with the hope of a little sailing.  However, we had howling winds on the nose (20-25 kts with 30+ gusts), 2.7 kts of current pushing us backwards and 2.5-meter waves that were really confused.  We left at 1530 and arrived around 1330 the next day.

We were relieved to stop the rocking, pounding, and disastrous motion.  Nobody got sick, but nobody was feeling well and poor Rocco and Linda slept for most of the passage.  The reward was arriving to Mo’orea!  Smiles all around at anchor.

Smiling at the end of the passage

Smiling at the end of the passage

We dropped the hook at Opunohu Bay in a small, sandy area that is just big enough for 6-8 boats.   We saw this spot from the top of Magic Mountain and immediately wanted to stop here.  (See blog “Safari Mario Tour of Moorea – 9/10”).

INSERT PHOTO OF MO’OREA SS W/ 5 BOATS

A few miles away is a place called “Sting Ray City” where you can swim with black tip sharks and sting rays.  We hopped in Sweetie, hugged the black and white markers all the way to this special spot.  Wow, what an amazing experience.  These gentle giants glide through the water like a bird sailing across the sky.  The fish are fed by humans and have no fear.

Stingray City Snorkel

Stingray City Snorkel

MO’OREA INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL:

The Mo’orea Intercontinental Hotel was behind us so we took the liberty to go ashore, internet, and have a few beverages.

Playing at Intercontinental Hotel Mo'orea

Playing at Intercontinental Hotel Mo’orea

Dinghy ride back to boat from hotel – we are a little punch drunk happy having internetted a bit.

Dinghy ride on Sweetie

Dinghy ride on Sweetie

We had such a great experience that we went back the next morning when there were fewer tourists.  A chance to be one with these gorgeous fish.

Stingray City Snorkel

Stingray City Snorkel

PASSAGE TO TAHITI

We could not linger in Mo’orea because Rocco and Linda had a flight to catch.  We had a stellar sail from Mo’orea to Tahiti with almost full sails, no current and less than 1-meter waves.  It was the perfect way to spend the last day on the boat.

The Marina Taina anchorage was pretty crowded, but our same spot across from the Intercontinental Hotel was available.  We dropped the hook directly across from their pool in 2 meters of turquoise water.

TAHITI INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL

Rocco and Linda got a comfort package at the hotel.  We had a blast drinking at the negative edge pool which looked out to Sugar Shack.

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti

Fun was had by all.

Pool Fun

Pool Fun

I love these people; they are so fun and easy to hang out with!

More Pool Fun

More Pool Fun

We went back to the room to shower before dinner.  These are our peeps: Rocco and Linda

Dinner at the hotel

Dinner at the hotel

It was a sad moment to say “goodbye.”  We had such a fabulous time showing Rocco and Linda around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Huahine, Mo’orea, and Tahiti.  You too will always have a special place in our hearts!  Thank you for magnificent time!

Aquarium Snorkeling

Our Own Personal Aquarium

Our 5-hour passage from Raiatea to Huahine was spectacular.  It is not often that we are able to raise the full main and jib as we tend to sail conservatively. However, we had fairly light winds at 15-17 kts so we through caution to the wind.  Heading to course had the wind hitting on our nose.  So, we sailed a zig zag course to catch the wind and fill the sails.  Everyone enjoyed being at sail but were anxious to see a bit of the aquarium.

Rocco and Linda enjoying time aboard Sugar Shack

Rocco and Linda enjoying time aboard Sugar Shack

We anchored off of Huahine Iti (the smaller of the two islands) at Pointe Teapara.  There is a beautiful, but popular beach just off Port Bourayne.  It was crowded full of locals and the passengers from a large 40-meter yacht called Imagine D.  They had a few Polynesian musicians, full food/beverage spread, floats and a javelin spearing contest (who could spear a coconut).  Pretty fun to watch.

Huahine always provides some amazing sunrises and sunsets

Sunsets abound!

Sunsets abound!

Matt made his super tasty chicken roti for dinner, brownies for desert and topped the night off with a little rum tasting.  A sampling of rum from Antigua (English Harbor), Bonaire (Ron Rincon), Diplomatico (Venezuela), and St. Croix (Captain Morgan Private Reserve)

Our Personal Aquarium Pool

We snorkeled three spots off of Huahine.  The reef, the Avapehi Pass, and the “nursery.”  The reef had a large selection of fish and colorful coral.  The pass had much larger fish as the waters were a lot deeper.  The pass also had several different species that we had not seen before.  But the best snorkel was the “nursery” at it felt like we were swimming inside an aquarium.  There were tons of fish, perfect clarity, and a bountiful underwater life.  Here are few pictures.

There are lots and lots of clams and they all have different colored lipstick on.  The top left shows one with green outline, yellow lips and spots whereas the center one has bright blue lipstick.  The top right is a Christmas tree worm that retracts when you come close to it.  They come in yellow, blue, purple, green and red and are no bigger than an inch.

Coral and Clams at our Aquarium

Coral and Clams at our Aquarium

Tons of fish species all around.  However, my favorite fish is the center one. His top and bottom dorsal fins are transparent.    I think the bottom right is a puffer

Super pretty fish at the nursery

Super pretty fish at the nursery

We swam with lots of schools of fish as well.  The sea life was spectacular.

A variety of fish schools

A variety of fish schools

Rocco found a shell and as we were swimming back to the dinghy a school of butterfly fish hovered about.  They were eating out of the shell.  No fear and tons of curiosity.

Rocco becoming one with the fish

Rocco becoming one with the fish

I think Rocco is part fish or was a fish in another life.  He thrives in the water and is genuinely excited to see everything.  It is such a pleasure to share this experience with he and Linda.  Swimming in our very own aquarium.

Snorkeling in the Aquarium

Snorkeling in the Aquarium

On Shore at Huahine

We did make it to shore and stopped by Izzy’s for her fabulous burgers.  We also found Marae Tahu’ea on the way to the Pearl Treehouse.  Marae Tahu’ea was dedicated to the sea-god Ruahatu.  The marae’s platform (called an “ahu”) was made up of upright coral and basalt slabs with an interior fill.   This marae dates between 16th and 18th century.  The top photo is Roco, Izzy and I, the center is Linda watching over Sugar Shack and the bottom is Marae Tahu’ea.

Huahine Adventures

Huahine Adventures

Piazza's Pizzazz Up Sugar Shack

Piazza’s Pizzazz Up Sugar Shack

Our friends Rocco and Linda Piazza came for a short visit.  Rocco and his mom, Linda stayed at Hotel Conrad for a few days before we picked them up.  It was door to door service, we brought Sugar Shack to motu Toopuia where the hotel is located and picked them up in Sweetie.  Matt flew our giant Texas flag just in case the Piazza’s were uncertain as to which sailboat was Sugar Shack.

Pick up the Piazza's at Hotel Conrad

Pick up the Piazza’s at Hotel Conrad

A trip to Bora Bora would not be complete without dinner at Bloody Mary’s.  Lucky for us it was happy hour night as well (happy hour is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).  When you are ready to eat, they take you to their “menu table” where the fresh selection is laid out for you.  The host walks you through each selection of fresh meats and fish, how it is prepared and the cost.  You place your order and are seated on beautiful, varnished tree stumps in a Robinson Crusoe style dining room.

Dinner at Bloody Mary's

Dinner at Bloody Mary’s

BORA BORA TO TAHA’A

We left the next morning for Taha’a.  It was a beat into the wind and the waves making for an unpleasant first experience for our guests.  But the Piazza’s were troopers and kept smiles on their faces.  We raised the jib once we entered the lagoon for the short 2-mile jaunt to the Tautau motu and the coral gardens.  It was really busy in front of the gardens, so we decided to anchor in front of the Taha’a Pearl Resort.

Rocco jumped in the gorgeous water immediately!  It was time to wow them with the beauty of the coral gardens.  We did a little walk about on the resort’s property which had a lovely little beach.

Taha'a Anchorage

Taha’a Anchorage

We jumped in at the mooring entrance after securing Sweetie.  There was no current which made our leisurely snorkel even more enjoyable.  I am still working on the underwater camera settings and filters, so forgive the funky colors of the fish.  Hopefully you still get a feeling for their true beauty and curious nature.  The top photo was meant to be a stellar photo of Rocco, but a butterfly fish had different plans.

Coral Garden's underwater photos

Coral Garden’s underwater photos

We found an area that was teaming with a wide variety of fish.  They were incredibly friendly and inquisitive!  My favorite is still “Nemo” playing with the sea anemone.

Coral Garden's Underwater Photos

Coral Garden’s Underwater Photos

Little Shopping

The next day we made the short journey to Uturoa, the main village of Raiatea.  We picked up a mooring from Dream Yacht Charter and headed into town.  It was fun exploring a new island and markets with the Piazza’s.  We did some provisioning and found some cool new plates for the boat!

New plates for Sugar Shack

New plates for Sugar Shack

Coming Up Next

Be sure to read our next blog where we hike to the top of Tapioi, hunt crabs, snorkel and travel to other Society Islands with Rocco and Linda.