16 June 2015 | Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia
Marta Portoles
Fakarava is only 55 miles or so from Tahanea, an easy day sail. Being on a starboard tack with the port rudder missing, Por Dos was temperamental and wanted to round up into the wind. We ended up motor-sailing with jib so that the autopilot could steer our course.
In Fakarava, we first anchored near the South Pass, an excellent place for diving and snorkeling with sharks (and, there were lots of them, ranging from small black tips to big greys). Alec put together a couple of short videos of Mark and Roan's dive in South Fakarava.
The wind changed to the SE and picked to 25 to 30 knots, so we moved four or five miles to the Hirifa Motu anchorage, where the waters were calm and protected from the wind. It was here that Alec and Roan started wake boarding with a borrowed kite board. They both loved it. Mark spent many hours dragging them behind the dinghy.
It was a sad day when we left the Tuamotus, our favourite place so far in the South Pacific. But, it was time to move on. Tahiti, here we come!