We arrived in iconic Bora Bora two day’s ago. The sail over was really lovely. Conditions were perfect for our big colourful asymmetric sail, which has not seen the light of day for a while (being rather usurped by the ParaSailor). It gave us just the boost we needed in fairly light reaching winds and before we knew it we were approaching the fringing reef around Bora Bora. On arrival we saw we were moored just beside our friends on SV Kari of Lymington who we have not seen since the Galapagos. Really lovely to catch up with them again.

Bora (as it is known in the trade) is one of the most famous vacation islands in this part of the world with quite a few luxury hotels around the island and surrounding motus. The hotels really don’t want us scruffy yachties intruding on their very expensive views, so the island has designated a few areas where yachts can moor for a fee per night. Truth be told, it’s not a bad system. It protects the seabed from destructive anchoring, limits the numbers coming here, provides safe moorings for those who do and contributes to the cleanliness of the lagoon and the island economy. Some of the other islands would benefit from something along these lines. We celebrated our arrival with dinner at the Bora Bora Yacht Club, sitting at the water’s edge looking out to the reef. Again, fairly iconic (the location that is, not the food).

Our first full day here was spent under cover as the wind blew and the rain fell, but it looks like that system is now through and we can go ashore today and explore. In the meantime we worked on tax returns and the making of bright new Polynesian cushions for the saloon.

Social distancing and barrier measures are definitely in operation again now as the number of COVID cases in FP is rising following the re-opening of tourist flights. There has been a spike, particularly in Tahiti, which could have implications for our ‘what next’ plans - but we will have to wait and see, and mull over plans B, C and D. No news on our application for New Zealand yet which is key to it all.