Activities in Tahiti
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Tue 11 May 2010 05:55
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Wednesday 12th May
All the BWR boats have now arrived in
Papeete and it's been great to meet up with everyone after so long. We're
moored in Papeete Harbour on a pontoon which makes a huge difference as we have
been at anchor since Shelter Bay Marina in Panama. It's much more sociable being
on a pontoon although it does sometimes make it difficult to do anything as you
find yourselves stopping and talking to each boat. Anyway, everyone is flying
their dress flags and the boats look fantastic! After it rained continuously on
our first day and night here we were a bit worried that the weather would stay
like that but now we're finding ourselves complaining as it is so so hot during
the day and humid at night.
 Arriving at Tahiti in the
rain!
  The boats dressed
overall
 Jackamy in the
middle
Our first night here was Pauls birthday so
after a few drinks on board we checked out "Place Vaiete" which is home to
multiple 'roulettes', food vans, otherwise known as the "roach coaches". The
latter name doesn't do them any favours as it would suggest the place is dirty,
it is however very clean and tidy and a superb place to eat. We did eat and go
though as the vans don't serve alcohol so we moved on to "Les 3 Brasseurs",
a pub that brews their own beers. A cover band were playing blues and funk which
was literally 'music to our ears' as it has been a long time since we've been in
an environment like that and listened to a band. A great night was had by
all!
 The party started on Jackamy
and continued at the "Roach Coaches"
 The whole city was closed down for the
weekend as it was a public holiday so Sunday involved cleaning the boat and
other odd jobs and we opted for a quiet evening watching a DVD. Not long after
we had gone to bed at around 23.00 we heard an "All Blue Water Rally
Yachts" call from Enchantress who were after assistance entering into Papeete
Harbour in darkness and as we were the only fools to have left our radio on we
gave them a helping hand. Once they were safely moored up we learnt that
Camomile and Lucy Alice weren't far behind, around an hour or so. So when David,
who is Scottish, offered us a "wee dram" whilst we waited we agreed and
hopped on board. A few hours later when the other two boats were in Norsa
radioed to say they were an hour or so away and would we mind guiding them in
and helping with their lines - how could we say no! Eventually at 05.30 we made
it to bed after drinking far too much whiskey and rum!
Yesterday the Tourist Board laid on a
welcome event with activities on the quayside for the rally, which included
having a go in an outrigger canoe and also a sailing canoe, which Amy had a try
in, and a lesson in how to open coconuts and extract the fruit itself. We were
also presented with flower lays, finally, we have been waiting so long. They
smelt beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Cracking coconut husks open
outside the marquee on the quay
 The band
 The sailing canoe and the
outrigger canoe
The events continued into the evening as we
had a band greet us on our pontoon and sing us all the way to the City Hall
gardens where drinks and food were served. All speeches from the Mayor of
Papeete, Port Authority, Tourist Board and the Yacht Club each boat was
presented with a beautiful gift and then we were treated to a Tahitian
dance show. At the end the female and male dancers each picked someone from
the rally and of course Amy was picked! All the other couples danced in the
centre of a dancefloor with at least two other couples but poor Amy had to wait
until last, dance by herself and dance for the longest! It was a superb
evening!
 The band walking us to the City
Hall where the speeches and dances took place
 The picture quality is poor but
above you can see the girls dancing and below were the three men
 
 This girl performed a sexy
first dance and then later another in the lovely pink dress above - she was
beautiful!
 And then it was Amy's
turn!
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