At anchor in Bora-Bora -August 21, 1999

Position: At anchor in Bora-Bora -August 21, 1999

We have just spent a week in the island of Bora-Bora. It is just as enchanting, exotic, and beautiful as the movies and travel pictures present this tropical island. The natives keep the island neat and well-groomed with yards full of colorful floral plants. It is really pleasant to ride, walk, and boat around the island.

Some of the best hotels are located on Bora-Bora, all with cottages and walkways over the water. We enjoyed a large dance group competing in a local dance competition between islands. It included some 50 dancers presenting traditional native dances in costume, all very colorful and with explosive activity. They really know how to wiggle and roll.

With the large reefs and shallow areas the natives take groups out to the reefs in their dugout canoes to feed the large rays and sharks. You can touch the rays, which have a soft velvety feel, and give them food. Because their mouths are on the underside you have to put the food into their mouths. The Rays are use to being fed from the boats, so they come in groups to the shallow water when a boats arrives and expect to be fed.

Bora-Bora's entry passage is wide and deep as is the large deep innerharbor. This allows cruise ships to enter and anchor inside the reef. We have only seen one cruise ship in this area, the Paul Gagauin, which is owned by the Radisson.

From Bora-Bora we will continue west to the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand. This will be continuous cruising requiring two additional sailors to our crew for sail handling and standing watches. Our 6-crew members from Bora-Bora to New Zealand are:
Captain, Peter Verdon, Australia Hostess, Gabriela Verdon, Australia Mate, Blair MaCleod, New Zealand Chef, Johanna Aramo, Finland Crew, Martin Pick, British Crew, Cole Sheehan, New Zealand

End of our travels in Tahiti's Society Islands.

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