The overnight sail goes well. We have two reefs in the main and most of the genoa rolled away and we still manage an average of 6 knots for most of the night. Apart from one heavy downpour at around 6 am, the weather is fine, although the relatively thick cloud blocks the moon for most of the night.
We arrive into the bay at the town of Fare on Hauhine at around 7.30 am and put the anchor down although it takes a couple of goes to get it to set. Carole makes pancakes for breakfast – good old Betty Crocker!
I am back on my bed using the internet when Mike comes down having dived over the anchor. He thought it hadn’t felt right, and when he checked it he discovered that his feeling was correct, so up comes the bloody thing once more, we re-position, and put it down again. This time it holds properly.
We spend the day lazing around. The bay doesn’t look very inspiring from the boat and we are in no real rush to go ashore, although Carole and John go snorkelling. At about 1 pm I remember that I had promised to put a loaf of bread on and as I go ahead and do it at that point, it’s really late when we sit down for lunch. Still, better late than never. Stinking of garlic, we decide we need some provisions and a mooch around, get the dinghy down and head over to Fare to see what’s what.
At the dinghy dock there is a lovely welcome shelter, a beautifully arched and thatched structure with boards inside giving helpful information on the island. One particularly interesting piece shows, rather graphically I thought, what can happen to you if you are male and get bitten by a particular little flying nastie – balls the size of a grapefruit. Good job Mike applies plenty of repellent!
Photo: Walking along main street, Huahine
The town seems to have everything that you would need. In fact stepping into the local supermarket is like stepping into Dr Who’s tardis – it goes on and on for miles, round lots of corners and is as well stocked as anything I have seen on such a small island. It’s very popular with flies too, and around the fresh fruit and veg section there are practically swarms of the little buggers.
We buy ice creams (funny, that’s a recurring activity since Carole and John have been on board) and wander around, spotting an Avis rental shop and decide to get a car tomorrow. As there is no tariff card in the window, John uses his binoculars to check out the pricing on the board at the back of the office.
Walking back along the front, we watch a large supplies ship arrive, dump its cargo quickly on the quay and depart just as quickly. They must do a round trip to all the islands every few days.
Back at the dinghy dock, Carole and I duck into a tacky tourist shop but find some lovely boxes made from whole shells. Wanting one each, we ask for a better price and are quite surprised when we get it. Now I have a lovely shell box to put my pearls in.
Going back to the boat in the dinghy in the dark, we are followed by a young boy in a Polynesian canoe. At first we think he is just enjoying being in our wake then we realise that he is actually trying to race us! When he finally (and amazingly) manages to pull alongside, he stops, triumphant, and we all cheer and clap.
Having eaten lunch so late, nobody is particularly hungry in the evening, but as we watch a film, the munchies set in and the popcorn and biscuits come out. This is terrible. Mike and I never have such stuff on board when it’s just us, because I would eat it all and be the size of a house in no time at all. I make a mental note to eat nothing but rabbit food for a few weeks after they have gone!
Our position is: 16 deg 42 min S, 151 deg 02 min W
Distance so far: 6696 nautical miles
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