The magic of the Tuamotu!
The Tuamotu Archipelago is huge, not all Atolls are inhabited. This is the case of Tahanea which is a protected space where you would almost want to put your suitcases there.
April – May 2019: TAHANEA – FAKARAVA
From the Gambier we go up to the Atoll of TAHANEA which has become in a few years the "Paradise" of yachtsmen and we understand why!
Isolated from any civilization a hundred small motus are distributed in the lagoon and crossing it requires a certain vigilance. Coral "potatoes" are numerous and not mapped.
We arrive by the south pass, the sun is at its zenith it's the right time to spot, binoculars and polarizing sunglasses, coral heads barely coming out of the water!
We find the perfect spot.
The day we explore the funds to find mother-of-pearls, including muscle( the Korori) eaten raw with lemon, it's a treat!
At nightfall we go to look for Kaveu (coconut crabs) in the coconut grove covered from head to toe because of mosquitoes (Nono) that swirl into our ears.
May 2019 – FAKARAVA
From Tahanea we go up to Fakarava further north. We anchor a few days east of the lagoon, in front of the bungalows and snack of Mathieu and Agnès.
June 2019 – APATAKI
Soon we will leave Polynesia, but before we have to careen the boat at the Apataki shipyard. It is located in the south east of the Atoll and far from the village. It is the only construction site in Polynesia that "makes you want" to stay there for a while... it feels like on vacation but Antifouling and DIY are waiting for us at work!