Arrived in Papeete

[delatbabel]

Hi all,
After a LONG sail, originally from Newcastle (NSW Australia) via Nelson and Lyttelton NZ (where I stayed for 3 months), and then a 38 day crossing via 48S to Raivavae, a week there and a seemingly short 4 day crossing to Tahiti, Chiara Stella, myself, cat and crew are now tied up at the Quai des Yachts in downtown Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
It's a culture shock to see cars, buildings, shops, offices, engineering works, etc, again after such a long time away from land, but enjoying it. Now the provisioning begins for a short stay in French Polynesia followed by a longer one in the Cook Islands.
It's a busy little quay here with the first of the US boats starting to arrive after crossing the Pacific. Just across the way from us is a large cat (not sure, maybe 55 foot) arrived from California last night.
Food here is good, better than shipboard rations anyway, but expensive as all get out. A friend of mine refers to the French as "those thieving frog b**tards" and he's not half wrong. Also we paid $15 per load for laundry!
More updates on the blog -- sailchiarastella.blogspot.com

[redbopeep]

Congrats! So glad you are safely there. Enjoy! and tell us all about it.

Fair winds,
Brenda and David

[haiqu]

He's off again. Day hopping towards Rarotonga.

[piclarke]

Originally Posted by delatbabel

Hi all,
After a LONG sail, originally from Newcastle (NSW Australia) via Nelson and Lyttelton NZ (where I stayed for 3 months), and then a 38 day crossing via 48S to Raivavae, a week there and a seemingly short 4 day crossing to Tahiti, Chiara Stella, myself, cat and crew are now tied up at the Quai des Yachts in downtown Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
It's a culture shock to see cars, buildings, shops, offices, engineering works, etc, again after such a long time away from land, but enjoying it. Now the provisioning begins for a short stay in French Polynesia followed by a longer one in the Cook Islands.
It's a busy little quay here with the first of the US boats starting to arrive after crossing the Pacific. Just across the way from us is a large cat (not sure, maybe 55 foot) arrived from California last night.
Food here is good, better than shipboard rations anyway, but expensive as all get out. A friend of mine refers to the French as "those thieving frog b**tards" and he's not half wrong. Also we paid $15 per load for laundry!
More updates on the blog -- sailchiarastella.blogspot.com

That sounds cheap. NZ , FIJI you would pay approx. $12 if you use the
driers. Did you use the driers. At $2 per 16 min = $10 TO $12. PLUS WASH is EXTRA

What do they charge for a cup - Coffee

Coca Cola.

!0 years ago paid $8 for Cup Coffee and $8 for Coca Coloa.

$ 33 for Main meals at restaurants.

what's a beer - stubby now.

[delatbabel]

That was without the driers. Another $15 to use the driers. I'm used to paying $4 per load in aussie, + $4 to use the driers. Come to think of it, it was about the same price at the marina in Nelson, NZ. I don't drink coffee and the crew who are drinking coffee are making their own on board so I can't comment about that.

Stubby of "Hinano" which can loosely be referred to as beer, is about 600 CFP in the supermarkets, so about $9.

[delatbabel]

We're in Uturoa, Raiatea now, have been for a couple of days in fact. Write up in the blog and the wiki to follow. We'll head off to a moto off the east coast of Taha'a tomorrow, and then Bora Bora a few days after that. Plan to be in Rarotonga about the end of the month.

[redbopeep]

Thanks for the updates!

[delatbabel]

Well I've been here in Rarotonga for nearly 4 weeks now, which is a lovely place to be but I'd only planned on staying 2 weeks. Long story short: Left here on the 16th June, 15 miles out the forestay broke, taking with it the luff foils for the furler and the genoa (wrapped around the anchor). New sail is on its way end of this week, furler parts are on their way, all of the other parts are here and waiting so we should be on our way next week. Will spend a few weeks in isolation in the northern Cooks then make our way to Samoa.

[haiqu]

Hey Del. I was sad to hear of the genoa being damaged, that was one tough sail! Did you get the same guy to make you another one?

Had been wondering how badly the furler was affected, now I know.

[delatbabel]

Yes the same guy is making a new one. Bret Scott from Scott sails in Manly Vale. Great sails unfortunately it means that it has to be shipped from Sydney.