Silkapvideo
Toau 3 - episode 3 - life with the locals
5 April 2025 · 12 min · 623 views · Toau Atoll
What this video covers
The crew of a cruising sailboat anchors in the Toau atoll, French Polynesia, to wait out a forecasted northwest wind event.0:13 They select a protected spot over a sandy bottom in five meters of water, deploying 30 meters of chain and using buoys to avoid coral heads.1:30 Although 31-knot gusts were predicted, the wind remains light, peaking at approximately 17 knots.2:03 The vessel later relocates closer to the beach near the home of local residents, Flo and Charles, to provide them with internet access via a Starlink router.2:52 The crew engages in community activities, including baking bread for local families, observing the weighing and grading of copra harvests, and participating in a traditional Sunday breakfast featuring local seafood such as lobster and bourgose.5:54 The crew also discusses food preservation and trade, exchanging baked goods for fresh fish.9:20 The visit highlights the logistical challenges of life in an isolated atoll, where the crew relies on local knowledge for weather safety and community integration for supplies.
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.