Monthly Archives: October 2019

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 and Mitchell's

Uncharted Territory with the Piazzas

We returned everything to the boat after our provision run in Uturoa.  Mt. Tapioi was uncharted territory for Matt and I, so we decided to hike to the top of Tapioi which overlooked our bay.  The peak of the mountain is about 775 meters high and we took a well paved dirt road to get there.

Hiking Mt. Taiopi

Hiking Mt. Tapioi

We passed lots of wildlife including chickens, cows, horses, pigs, and hogs just hanging out on the trail.

Fun cows and horses hanging out on the road

Fun cows and horses hanging out on the road

We made it to the top in 52 minutes with lots of sweat – it was a hot one.  Check out Matt hanging from the rock (top left) and jumping over Raiatea (bottom).

Top of Tapioi with Matt, Rocco, and I

Top of Tapioi with Matt, Rocco, and I

The views were breathtaking and clearly showed the lagoon, reef, and Pacific Ocean.  On the bottom right corner, you can see Sugar Shack (past the little water hut and before the turquoise water)

Top of Tapioi with Matt, Rocco, and I

Top of Tapioi with Matt, Rocco, and I

Tiparmauo motu

Our last stop in Raiatea is a small motu called Tiparmauo. As we pulled into this anchorage, we passed a little pearl farm called “Perles d’O” and on the other side it said “How Born a Pearl – Free Visit” which was rather humorous considering nobody was home.

Perles d'Oh at Tiparmauo

Perles d’O at Tiparmauo

Exploring Uncharted Territory

We decided to hunt lobsters on the reef for dinner.  But first, we needed to find a way out to the reef without damaging us or the dingy.  First, we tried heading to the reef in Sweetie.  The waters shallowed up way to fast and left us far away from the reef.  So, we tired Sweetie to a tree and went exploring on shore.  Rocco made a friend with a little crab. We had to traipse over foliage, palm fronds and tree limbs.  It was no easy path.

Hunting crabs on a small motu

Hunting crabs on a small motu

It is a pretty island, but the lack of grooming made it a challenge to explore all around.  We stuck to the shoreline as we headed back to the dinghy.

Enjoying the beach side of the motu

Enjoying the beach side of the motu

Foiled by the lack of access to the reef, the boys took the paddle boards out to the reef.

Rocco and Matt Sup'ing

Rocco and Matt Sup’ing

Stay Tuned for more Piazza Adventures

We sail to Huahine, have cheeseburgers in paradise, and see some spectacular underwater spectacles.