Bora Bora

We are now at Bora Bora the place James Michener called the most beautiful island in the world. This is the last of the Society islands to leeward of Tahiti. We had a pleasant sail across the 20 miles to here. We anchored in about 90 feet off the main town. Dorothy cycled around the island while I did some boat chores. We are thinking that we should have bought a wind generator for power rather than a third solar panel in San Diego as there are a lot of cloudy days here where the panels only put out %25 percnet of what they should when sun not on them and also with 12 hours of dark you could be getting power with the good winds here.

We watched a total solar eclipse of the sun just before we left Riatia we saw the sun get %90 percent covered with special glasses we shared with another cruiser. There is some good snorkling places we went to after 2 nights at the town we anchored at the south end of the island a couple of nights. It has been difficult getting around in dinghy due to strong winds day after day around the island . Today we moved to a mooring ball of the Bora Bora yacht club to take advantage of some of the facilites, laundry etc.
We also watched the Bastille day celebrations including the parade where most of the island seemed to participate so that there was hardly anyone left to watch it. Also watched the fruit race where a group of men had a foot race each carrying a bunch of bananas on each end of a pole. See picture.
Wednesday we hope to leave to head to Pago Pago on American Sumoa .

Raiatea and Tahaa Islands

Raiatea island is about 120 miles from Tahiti and part of the Society islands of French Poly.
We spent a couple of days anchored off the main village on Raiatea, and explored the village and area. Then moved over to a small bay and took a free mooring ball in front of the Famous old Hibiscus hotel. They have a sea turtle recovery program and cages on the shore you can sea the turtles in. We also did a tour of a vanilla plantation, one of the only ones growing the vanilla beans naturally and organically, most are now grown in green houses. The lady even pollenates the flower by hand.
We next circumnavigated Tahaa island (right beside Raiatea)by staying inside the coral reef all they way around. On the way around we anchored off a $1000 a night resort for free and did a drift snorkel nearby between 2 motus. Dorothy thought this area was fantastic snorkeling.
All this time for the last week the wind has been blowing 18 to 25 knots making anchoring and navigating a bit more challenging. Even on the lee side of the islands you get big gusts every minute or so.
We went around back to Raiatea and took a mooring ball for a couple of nights and got laundry, water and showers included and this saves trying to anchor in deep coral infested anchorages in the wind.
Today we did a fantastic hike up a 900 ft hill on the edge of town with a super view.
We will be here a few more days and then head over to the famous Bora Bora which is about 20 miles away. This is the last stop in French Polynesia. Then we have a major ocean crossing of about a 1000 miles to Pago Pago on American Samoa with a possible stop on the tiny island of Suvarov, an island belonging to the northern cook islands. We will then be back in english speaking countries for a while which I am looking forward to as the last english was in the U.S.

INFO
For Raiatea anchored past airport in 60 ft at 16 44.203    151 29.331
On Tahaa island in Haamene bay is free mooring balls in Front of Habiscus hotel. was windy while we there but no more bouncy than any where else. can leave dinghy at hotel dock they layed back there.
  Couple days later anchored at 16 36.298    151 33.474  good snorkling nearby by resort.

Back at Raiatea took a mooring ball by mooring/sunsail base for $20  has showeres  moored at 16 43.624   151 28.785W
Moved to south end of Raitaea and anchored in 25 ft at 16  54.986    151 26.030   Though waves might get to big later and moved back to main anchorage by airport.

Haamene bay

Huahine Island

We left Cooks bay after delaying a couple of days waiting for the 'reinforced trade winds' to die down from 30 knots, the local weather reports showed nothing. Finally we left, it was still blowing hard and made for an uncomfortable overnight passage with an unusually rough sea. Winds still 25 - 30. We had 3 reefs in main all the way, also did not want to go to fast and get there before daylight. There was rain squalls and wind that came about every hour all night. But all was well and we arrived at Huahine and anchored off the small village of Fare in about 60 feet of water.

We did a cycle tour around about half the island, Huahine Nui, the next day. A very pretty little island it is, lots a farming going on inland. Saw old fashioned fish traps on the rivers. We had to walk our bikes up a 15% grade hill, for 2km. The next day Dorothy went around the other part of the island Huahine Iti, while I stayed on board to check a battery charging problem.
We went snorkeling in the afternoon out on the reef and at one point Dorothy was surrounded by these small butterfly fish that were hoping she would feed them, wished we had the camera handy.
The next morning we planned to leave about 10am for Raiatea about 22 miles away. But first we went ashore for a walk and some food. There we saw that a outrigger canoe race was about to start. So we watched the first 2 races, the mens singles about a 4 km course. And the ladys 6 person canoe race to the same course. This is a small island with a small population but there was still over 50 canoes in the race and lots of people on shore watching and on a Monday too. They seem to have lots of holidays here. Throughout French Poly you constanly see canoes going by you in the anchorages as they train for races.
We were away by 11am for the crossing to Raiatea and had a pleasant sail most of the way. This looks like a busier island that Huahine.

INFO 
  Entered Huahine at pass Avanoa and anchored in 60 ft at 16 42.896   151 02.288.   Good grocery store and internet in town.