Silkapvideo
Apataki - the only shipyard in the Tuamotus
3 August 2025 · 12 min · 1K views · Apataki Atoll
What this video covers
Ivo and Dajana visit the village of Nyutahi on Apataki atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, where the local economy centres on pearl farming.0:08 The crew anchors near the village but relocates to the south-east to escape uncomfortable swell.3:23 This secondary anchorage sits opposite the Apataki boatyard, the only facility of its kind in the Tuamotus, which offers storage for up to 45 vessels on sand.3:40 The yard lacks extensive repair equipment, requiring sailors to bring their own tools for maintenance.5:03 While anchored there, the crew uses a portable sewing machine to repair their boat's dodger, replacing a plastic window to improve rain protection.6:43 Navigating the lagoon requires constant vigilance to avoid unmarked pearl farm buoys, which are more difficult to spot than coral heads.8:19 Seeking shelter from an incoming north-west wind, the crew moves to a final anchorage in the north-west of the atoll, where they wait out several days of rain and unsettled weather.8:19
More from Silkap
From Silkap — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.