End of the journey for crew
06 June 2012 | Yacht Quay to Marina Taina
John
Time to move on, enough of the "Big City". The transit from the quay to Marina Taina is a motor inside the reef around the airport to the west side of the island. it is about 5-6 miles away. Along the way you could see the wreck of a sailboat on the reef, a reminder of the perils of tropical cruising in paradise. It looks like he hit the reef from the outside, maybe a storm or just poor navigation. They say several cruising yachts end up on the reefs every year, some they are able to refloat, but not this one.
Marin a Taina is an anchorage where most of the cruisers end up to get away form the noise and bustle of Papeete. There is a marina there, as well as mooring balls and plenty of room to anchor out. Normally this is a nice calm motor over there, but this time we get 25 knots on the nose, it seemed to whip around the island from the south. When we arrive it is pretty crowded, but first attempt to find a mooring ball, which s/b more secure than swing on the hook. There are only about 15-20, and it is first come first served. No luck, they are all taken, so off to drop the hook.
The wind has now piped up to a steady 20-30 knots, but the holding is good. We anchor in 60 feet along with many of the boats we have met before. Our anchor seems to be holding good, as the wind surges to 35 knots. Another boat has broken free and is careening through the anchorage luckily the owner is on board and he is able to re-anchor. We end up staying on the boat for the last afternoon w/Pete, as the wind has made it difficult to even launch the dinghy.
The wind lightens slightly allowing us to get the dinghy in the water and motor over to have one last sundowner w/ Pete before he has to catch his 11pm flight back to the states. Well, it turned out to be a wet ride, as water came over the bow, luckily Pete has some other dry clothes to change into.
We toast a last drink at Casa Bianca, a watering hole w/ a 2 for 1 happy hour, I think this is going to be a good place to hang out until Jonathan arrives. Pete catches a cab to the airport and will be in the states the next day. If anyone is looking for "great crew" for a passage, Pete is your first mate. I hope to have the opportunity to sail w/ him again!!