The Eastern Pacific - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 255

All Clear?
New arrivals have several choices of where to stay in and around the Papeete area. There
are several marinas, including the public docks in downtown Papeete and well-run Marina
Taina a few kilometers south. The only catch may be to find a free berth in the peak months
of June and July. A reef outlines the entire coast, but the main passes are well marked and
easy to traverse. Not so the many secondary passes, which should be treated with caution.
Inside the reef is a calm, seemingly endless lagoon in which to anchor, though crowds are
thick all the way past the Taina area. A limited number of rental moorings are available as
well. Boats heading south from Papeete to Taina will pass the international airport, and a
call on channel 12 is required to make sure you don't tangle with low-flying aircraft (Eng-
lish is fine; French appreciated but not a must).
No matter where you tie up, you should report to the port captain in Papeete (the office is
located in the large ferry building) within a couple of days of arrival. While you're at it,
hoof it out to the industrial port to obtain the document needed for purchasing duty-free
diesel on your way out the other end of the Society Islands. Be forewarned: this document
cannot be obtained in Bora Bora.
But after that, business matters can be pushed to the back burner. You're in the Society Is-
lands at last, a place where the creature comforts of home are wrapped in stunning South
Seas packaging. Tahiti is just the gateway to far greater treats, such as craggy Moorea,
lovely Huahine, and incomparable Bora Bora. If only the ticking clock could somehow be
put on hold!
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