Spinnaker Sailing Club

Tahiti Sailing Vacation

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 (Monday) - After commuter flight to LA we'll leave for Papeete on Air Tahiti Nui at 11:45pm. Arrival in Papeete is 5:00am, after which we'll connect to Raiatea around 8:00am.

Day 2 - Stay at the Pearl Beach Hawaiki Nui in Raiatea. Relax from traveling or tour the ancient Polynesian temples and see other sights on Raiatea.

Day 3 - Morning briefings then lunch at the Moorings base. It's an easy afternoon sail to Tahaa inside the lagoon. Dinner show and overnight mooring at Tahaa.

Day 4 - Leave early for the 5-hour reach to spectacular Bora Bora. Head for the East Lagoon to anchor off Motu Tupe.

Day 5 - Take a morning snorkel with rays, sharks and other fish at the Lagoonarium on Motu Tupe. Head back around to Povai Bay for a mooring at Bloody Mary's or Bora Bora Yacht Club.

Day 6 - Visit the village, Vaitape. There's a grocery store and other shopping there. Have dinner at Bloody Mary's, the actual establishment modeled in "South Pacific."

Day 7 - Sail back to Tahaa for the night. There's a black pearl farm and vanilla plantation.

Day 8 - Back to the Moorings on Raiatea to refill water, ice, fuel and refresh provisions. Continue on to Faaroa Bay for the night. According to the ancient Polynesians, this is where mankind was first put on earth. It's certainly beautiful enough!

Day 9 - Depart for Huahine and anchor near the village, Fara. Explore!

Day 10 - Go for a morning of diving or a day tour on the island.

Day 11 - Head down to Bay d'Avea for the night. Great snorkelling.

Day 12 - Sail back to Raiatea to spend the night at Faaroa Bay. Explore the Aoppamao (the only navigable river in French Polynesia) by dinghy.

Day 13 - Return boats by 10:00 a.m. We'll flyout in the afternoon to Tahiti and check in at the Sofitel Maeva Beach. Dinner in Papeete.

Day 14 - Leave bags at hotel to spend the day in town; shopping and sightseeing. Return to hotel for dinner and to pick up bags to take to the airport. Depart at 11:45 p.m. to arrive LAX at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept 21.

Dining

 

Split Provisioning

Spinnaker is supplying each boat with a "Split" provisioning package. This will provide us with plenty of food for all meals except for a few dinners, which we will want to take ashore. Each boat is equipped with a full galley and a stern barbecue grill. There is a dinner show with native music, dancing and entertainment available on Tahaa.

 

 

Cruise Meeting

July 2, 2011

Each crew should meet to complete their provision and beverage orders by July 2. (There’s nothing like doing a beverage order to help people get to know each other.) A meeting for everyone (all boats) will take place on the evening of the 2nd. The big meeting will include slides and lots of travel and cruising advice.

 

French Polynesia - Tahiti

Sept 6 - 20, 2011

Here at last is paradise on earth. Visitors who fly into the islands and stay at hotels can experience only a part of the magic of these islands. It is only in sailing between blue ocean and turquoise lagoons in the shadow of majestic volcanic peaks, as the ancient Polynesians did in their outrigger canoes, that one realizes the full majesty of Tahiti. Our cruising area encompasses the Leeward Islands of Tahiti: Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine and Bora Bora. With four passages between oceanic islands, there is more open water sailing here than most of our other cruises. Steady trade winds provide fast reaches of about 5 hours each between the islands.

The four major islands have ancient volcanic centers which rise from lovely calm lagoons ringed by outlying reefs. Passes in the reefs allow safe access in and out of the smooth sailing lagoons to blue water sailing in the tradewinds. Good anchorages are abundant among the central islands as well as on the motus, lushly vegetated islets that have evolved on the encircling barrier reefs. These coral atolls have sandy beaches and offer a stunning view back toward those volcanic ranges.

If you can cobble together your own group and can act as skipper, you may charter your own boat and join the flotilla instead of joining individually or as a couple. This way you can choose the size of boat, provisioning package and other options. Contact Bob at Spinnaker for information about cost and availability. You can also book your own private bareboat or crewed charter for the time of your choosing through Spinnaker Sailing.

 

The Boats

 

The boats are Moorings 51.5's and 41.3's built by Beneteau. These new 51 and 41 foot yachts each have separate cabins and plenty of space in the main saloon. Although designed for more, we are limiting the number of people for the most comfort afloat.

 

Bareboat Charter Certification

Certification is available to Basic Coastal Cruising graduates. The cost is $315.00 extra for text book, certification & instruction. Graduates can do their own bareboat chartering and with experience may qualify to skipper Spinnaker Sailing Vacation boats in the future.

The Text, Cruising Fundamentals, should be obtained as soon as possible to allow enough study time. The written test can be taken at Spinnaker Sailing in Redwood City any time beforeor after the cruise. On the water requirements will be met during the cruise in Tahiti.

Students who want to obtain Bareboat Charter Certification must charter at the Basic Coastal Cruising level at least three times before the cruise.

 

Activities in Tahiti

There's plenty do do and see on the islands of Tahiti. Snorkeling is always a popular activity on our bareboat cruises. The coral reefs are spectacular as they rise from 80 feet or more to just a few feet deep. SCUBA tours are also available. Onshore there are van tours and cars and jeeps for rent. Remains of ancient Polynesian temples and other structures can be seen. After the charter, we'll have a day and a half on the Island of Tahiti before our return home. This gives us time to see Papeete and perhaps for a day visit to Moorea.

 

 

 

Reservation and Payment Information

$2895/person
Deduct $200 for second person sharing double cabin or single sleeping in main salon.

Payments:
$100 non refundable deposit
$1000 due March 1, 2011.
$1000 due May 1, 2011.
Balance due July 1, 2011