Tahiti Port Captain

June 19, 2014  Tahiti port captain


Entering into the main harbor in Papeete, Tahiti is more complicated that most.   The entrance is not wide and there are fast ferry boats going back and forth to Moorea all day.  There are cruise ships and cargo ships and super yachts going in and out  and there are outrigger canoes all over the place.  The first step is to call Port Control and request permission to enter the harbor.  He will let you know when the cost is clear.  The airport runs right along the edge of the harbor so if you are heading for the Marina Taina to anchor, you need clearance from the airport tower so that the mast is not clipped by a low flying jet.   Call Port Control when you are 5 minutes from the end of the runway.  Standby while he calls the airport control tower and gets clearance . Then follow the buoys very carefully  between the airport and the reef for several miles.   Call Port Control again when you reach the other end of the runway.  Standby again while he checks with the tower again for incoming planes.  Once cleared, proceed quickly past the end of the runway. 

 As we clear the runway and round the corner we see a forest of masts, more boats than we have seen in one place since we left San Diego.  We have arrived at Marina Taina, main stopping place for all of the cruisers in the South Pacific.  There are boats here from all over the world.  It takes several tries but we finally find a spot to anchor and here we are.