Tag Archives: pirogue

Point Venus Lighthouse

Point Venus, Black Sand Beach

One of my favorite anchorages on Tahiti is Point Venus.  It is a large bay with few boats and a beautiful black sand beach. Also, there is loads of history and historical markers around.

Captain James Cook set up his observatory at Point Venus, on a small corner of the northern part of Tahiti.  It is here that he watched the transit of Venus which only occurs once a century.  The beautiful and still functioning lighthouse was built nearly 100 years after Cook’s visit, in 1868.

Point Venus Lighthouse

Point Venus Lighthouse

There are several monuments celebrating Captain Cook and his men, including this large rock.

On the edge of the water you can find several pirogue’s also known as Va’as.  These were used for daily transport in the 19th century.  Today, they are still used to just “get around” and or to race with your fellow local Tahitian.

Unfortunately, we did not get any great photos on the black sand beach during our beach day.  But here are a few that I grabbed from the boat.  Just squint a little and trust me that it is black sand 🙂 Here are some black sand beach photos online.

Black sand beach, Point Venus

Black sand beach, Point Venus

Another beautiful sunset

The Konis family settles in for movie night

Passage to Mo’orea

The next day we make the short 10-mile passage to Mo’orea.  Despite it being a light wind day, we have enough to put up the sails.  Everyone enjoys the sun, the soft breeze and the ocean lapping against Sugar Shack.

Sugar Shack Passage

Sugar Shack Passage

The boys at the helm:

The Konis family under way….

Some more leisure time on Sugar Shack

In our next blog we visit to the beautiful island of Mo’orea.  Did you miss our last adventure with the Konis family?  If so, check out the world’s most challenging surf site: Teahupoo.

Events from this blog post occurred during the first week of August, 2021.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind our adventures.

Sunset off Point Venus

Point Venus, off Tahiti

Point Venus is an unexpected beauty.  We did not plan on stopping here but are really happy we did.  You might wonder how this bay got its name?  Well, Captain Cook set up an observation point to watch Venus pass in front of the sun. Cook’s observatory set up to record the transit of Venus.  On this point is an impressive lighthouse, park, upscale crafts market and small eatery.

We landed Sweetie on the black, mysterious sandy beach.  Mysterious because how many black sand beaches have you been on – what is it hiding?  Hmmmm.  The sand sticks to everything and gives your feet a funny freckle look.

Black sand beach at Point Venus, Tahiti

Black sand beach at Point Venus, Tahiti

Polynesians voyaged in canoes across French Polynesia, thousands of years ago, guided solely by the stars.  The voyagers detected each island by its zenithal star (vei’a).  Can you imagine traversing the Pacific Ocean with nothing but astronomical knowledge and nature?  We on the other hand thoroughly enjoy using a half-dozen instruments and digital charts to navigate.

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THE HMS BOUNTY

The HMS Bounty,was a Royal Navy three-mast ship.  She was made famous by the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” starring Marlon Brando.  Fletcher Christian, the second in command staged a mutiny against Captain Bligh at Point Venus.  The Captain and 19 sailors escaped.  Meanwhile the rest of the crew settled in Tahiti.  The sculpture below presets the mutineers’ names and the Tahitians who accompanied them.

HMS Bounty Marker

HMS Bounty Marker

PIROGUE – CANOE’S

The Tahitian word for canoe or “pirogue” is “Va’a.”  These were used to travel between Hawaii, New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands.  This is no small feat as they  are thousands of miles apart.  There were two types of pirogues in Polynesia.

  • Single Hull with an equalizer used for fishing and short trips between the islands.
  • Double Hull used for big journeys and war.

In addition, Polynesians used pirogues as a receptacle for dead people to transition from life to death.  Young boys used Pirogues to transition into becoming a man.  They boys transition would be through their first shark or bonito fishing exposition.  Certainly a beautiful and ancient Polynesian tradition.

Pirogue - Polynesian Outriggers

Pirogue – Polynesian Outriggers

LIGHTHOUSE

The lighthouse called “Te-ara-o-Tahiti” or “Tepaina Venuti” was built in 1867.  Coral rubble and cut stones from the Gambiers were used to construct it.  It is an eight-floor square lighthouse that originally measured 25 meters high.  However, seven meters were added and its electrification was realized in 1963.  During the war, 1939-1945, the inhabitants hid the lighthouse by painting coconut trees, palms, and nuts on its lower facades.  The lighthouse standing in the middle of the coconut grove became virtually invisible to the Japanese enemy.  Consequently, they had no reference point to land.

Te-ara-o-Tahiti lighthouse

Te-ara-o-Tahiti lighthouse

Here is a photo of Captain Cook

Captain Cook

Captain Cook

This beautiful statute had no plaque, but it was too pretty to not show you.

Sculpture representing history

Sculpture representing history

Additional photos at Point Venus:

Sunset off Point Venus

Sunset off Point Venus

Point Venus Bay

Point Venus Bay