A catamaran is the ideal boat for cruising the Polynesian lagoons as, due to its shallow draft, one can travel quickly and easily between the many beautiful islands of Tahiti's Archipelago.  The Lagoon 57, Vave'a covered the 90 mile crossing between Moorea and Huahine in just six hours at an average of 15 knots and reached a top speed of over 20 knots when the breeze lifted, giving her the perfect chance to display her full potential.  With such ideal cruising conditions, there is every opportunity to relax and take in the spectacular scenery that abounds.      For those not keen to make the 90 mile crossing to Huahine, there is the option of taking an Air Tahiti flight and re-joining the boat directly at Huahine.      Following a rapid crossing from Huahine to Raiatea we dropped anchor at Faaha Bay, Tahaa, the twin island of Raiatea.  The view is exquisite, a long Fjord lies between hills covered with acacia and coconut palms and the volcanic mountains slope down to the electric blue lagoon, itself enclosed by a barrier reef.  Vehicles seldom use the road, which winds around the island at water level.  The tranquility of the island remains largely undisturbed.  It is so quiet, in fact, that only the mooring floats indicate that we are not at the end of the earth.      An excursion inland at Raiatea gave us the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of the islands.  We were amazed at the density and variety of vegetation.  The breadfruit, yam, coconut and banana trees were initially brought over by the Maoris coming from Indonesia.  Later, the explorers, botanists and missionaries introduced coffee, sugarcane, citrus fruits, pineapples, vanilla and green vegetables.  In the Singsong Tones so typical of Polynesian speech, Maria, our guide, commented on the unusual absence of birds.   "We had crowds of Parakeets in all sorts of colors, but blackbirds were introduced to rid us of mosquitos.  The blackbirds ate the parakeets and the mosquitos are still here."      We were happy to visit a Pearl Farm.  The black pearl has become the gold of Tahiti and its principal resource.  The enterprise consists of a small house on stilts, from which fisherman sail into the bay to check the pearl oysters which are pierced and attached to submerged posts.  It takes at least 18 months for the graft to be covered in the precious shells.  The pearls gradually become iridescent in color ranging from pure blue to the driest gray.      We headed 30 miles west towards the Mauve waters of the Bora Bora Lagoon.  As a line of squalls began to advance towards us we hoisted all sails and sailed for nearly two hours down wind on smooth green water without a sound. Nothing seemed to move on the boat apart from the speedometer needle, which rose to 11 knots.  At the height of a squall the wind reached 25 knots.      We moored Vave'a in front of the Bora Bora Yacht Club which is, in reality, a restaurant.  Its owner has built a useful pontoon dock where there is 50 feet of water under the hull.      In the village of Bora Bora we were charmed with the stalls bearing piles of ripe pawpaws, the multi colored dresses and the new post office.  We returned to the cool breeze of the lagoon.  In the middle of the lagoon, on a Motu, a coral island formed inside the reef, we visited the Bora Bora lagoonarium.  We saw stingrays, Mantas, Bonitos, shoals of coral fish, turtles and sharks all swimming freely.  As the old saying goes, "Bora Bora makes the rest of the world disappear".  Thus our departure was tinged with nostalgia as the crew presented us with seashell necklaces.  They will long remind us of a spectacular cruise in the society islands of Vave'a. (NOTE: The Vave'a has now retired from chartering, but her sistership will provide you with the same charter experience.) [Top Of Page] [New Destination] [New South Pacific Destination]