Solo in French Polynesia - Jeanne sails from Huahine to beautiful Raiatea
August 29, 2023 · 13 min · 704 views · Raiatea
What this video covers
Jeanne, a solo sailor, encounters difficulty departing Huahine, French Polynesia, when her mooring lines become snagged on a rope loop.0:05 Unable to clear the lines or deploy her spinnaker pole, she calls for assistance on VHF channel 16.0:54 A nearby sailor, Captain Music, arrives by dinghy to help her cast off.1:06 She then motors and motor-sails toward Raiatea, navigating through deep, well-marked passes while avoiding shallow coral reefs.6:36 The route requires careful attention to channel markers, particularly in the narrow, shallow water between Raiatea and Taha'a.10:59 Upon arriving at Raiatea, she secures a mooring buoy with the assistance of a local sailor.13:21 She intends to seek repairs for her windlass at the Raiatea Carenage boatyard, though she notes the facility has been occupied with other salvage operations.11:44 The passage highlights the necessity of monitoring depth and following markers closely in these island waters, where deep channels often transition abruptly to shallow reef edges.
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