|
The World ARC fleet are getting back together again after a three week period sailing around French Polynesia’s Marquesas and Tuamoto Islands. The crews have been enjoying a ‘free cruising’ period during which time they choose when and where they go. Many spent 8-10 days in the Marquesas Islands and an equal amount of time in the Tuamotos.
During their explorations the crews have hiked up to waterfalls and swam in the plunge pools, sat down to traditional dinners with local families, snorkelled with sharks, rays and reef fish, done drift dives through entrance passes and seen how the Tahitian black pearls are cultured. The islands of French Polynesia have a lot to offer and the participants have been enjoying these to the maximum.
Some of the yachts arrived in Tahiti sooner than others, many to complete maintenance and repair work. There are currently 5 yachts out of the water in the shipyard and the World ARC agent, Laurent Bearnart of Polynesia Yacht Services has been busy attending to all these maintenance issues to ensure the fleet return to good health before crossing the second part of the Pacific.
Having arrived in Tahiti, the World ARC crews will enjoy a rendez-vous programme, based in the principal city of Papeete. They will receive a briefing about where to visit in rest of the Society Islands before a welcome cocktail at the town hall. On Thursday, nearly all the participants and some family and friends who are visiting, will complete a tour of the island to explore it in more detail.
Following this programme, the yachts will disperse to continue their free cruising of the Society Islands, before meeting up again in Bora Bora.
|