Picture of the Week

FLEET UPDATE 2023-07-23

 

South Pacifc Posse '23

 

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.

- James Joyce

ย 
ย 

ย SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
FLEET UPDATEย 

2023-JULY-23

14 Ensigns
A double rainbow in our Tahiti anchorage.

A double rainbow in our Tahiti anchorage. ย ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ French Polynesiaย 
SY FIRST LIGHTย 

SY FIRST LIGHT ย ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Don & Julie ย -ย  Hallberg Rassy 39โ€ฒ

FIRST LIGHT DonFIRST LIGHT Julie

TOP NEWS

ย 

  • SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE PARTY IN FIJI SAT AUG 26
  • PREDICT WINDย DATA HUB SPECIALย 
  • PICTURES OF THE WEEK
  • MALEKULA ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ VANUATU
  • THE BACK BEAT๐Ÿฅ IN FP ย ย 
  • NIUATOPUTAPU ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGA
  • SOCIETY ISLANDS M'OOREAย 
  • SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย โ›ˆ๏ธ WEATHER ROUTING SPECIALย 
  • KADAVUย  ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FIJIย 
  • VAVA'U BOATYARD ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGAย 
  • SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย ๐Ÿ†ย AWARD CATEGORIESย 
  • THE RAINBOW WARRIORย NZ | FRANCEย 
  • SPECIAL EVENT IN TAHITI THIS WEEKEND
  • HISTORIC PORTS โš“ OF THE SOUTH PACIFICย 
    ย 

1) SOUTH PACIFC POSSE PARTYย 
NAWI ISLAND ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI

 

Monoriki

 

ย 16ยฐ 46.5716' S ย 179ยฐ 19.9533' E - ย Nawi Island Savusavu ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ Fiji

 

RSVP NOW
AUG 26 2023
ย 

 

NAWI ISLAND

 

Burgee Back

South Pacific Posse '23 BUrgee Front

2) PREDICT WINDย 
DATA HUB SPECIAL FOR THEย 
SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
ย 
DEAL EXPIRES AUG 15, 2024

10% off the DataHub by PredictWind is your gateway to sharing your voyage with
friends and family using PredictWind GPS Tracking and Blogs. The DataHub
is a powerful smart device packed with features that will make tracking
your inshore and offshore GPS, data and communications onboard your
vessel easier than ever.

 

Data Hub

 

This smart device is the hub for all your GPS tracking, data, SMS, Email and
Whats App connectivity. Packed with features ย the Datahub
integrates with your nav and comm systems. $299.00 ย 

ย SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPECIAL10% off

 

DataHub This smart device is the hub for all your GPS tracking, data, SMS, Email and Whats App connectivity. Packed with features you will quickly find the Datahub is an essential smart device for your boat.

 

This
smart device is the hub for all your GPS tracking, data, SMS, Email and
Whats App connectivity. Packed with features you will quickly find the
Datahub is an essential smart device for your boat.
Technical Details and all features ย here >>

Say Hello

3) ย  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

SY WANDERLUST ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Kristin & Fabio - Seawind 52โ€ฒ

WANDERLUST FabioWANDERLUST KristiWANDERLUST Crew

WHEN 90 DAYS ARE UP ย  ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ
IT'S TIME TO LEAVE FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

HAPPY

Well, our 90 day visa time in Polynesia is coming to an end. We will soon be making for Tonga. ย 

Lavender coral in the shallows off Tahiti.

Lavender coral in the shallows off Tahiti.

First Light entering Opunohu Bay on Moorea, where Capt Cook once anchored.

First Light entering Opunohu Bay on Moorea, where Capt Cook once anchored.

SY FIRST LIGHT ย ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Don & Julie ย -ย  Hallberg Rassy 39โ€ฒ

FIRST LIGHT DonFIRST LIGHT Julie

I TAHITI ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ HEIVA'Sย 

NINA

The History of Heiva

Music
and dance have always been a central part of ย Polynesian culture.
Tahitian dance, or "Ori Tahiti," is one of the most sophisticated and
ritualized art forms of all time. However, it was not always practiced
as freely in Tahiti as it is today. When European Protestant
missionaries arrived in the 19th century, they found such "erotic"
displays to be offensive and King Pomare II legally banned the tradition
in 1819. Thankfully, the Tahitian people found a way to keep dance
alive, practicing the ritual in secret and passing on the tradition in
anticipation for its revival.

After Tahiti was annexed by France in 1881,
the Heiva festival began to take shape. At that time, the event was
called Tiurai โ€“ a derivation of the word July. It was meant to coincide
with France's national holiday known as Bastille Day, which is still
celebrated every year on July 14th. On this one day, France allowed
Polynesians to partake in their traditional celebrations. The first
festival included games, entertainment and singing, but dance was still
somewhat restricted, forcing them to perform a much more "sanitized"
version of Tahitian dance.

It
wasn't until 1956 that Madeleine Moua, a high school principal from
Papeete, spearheaded the full revival of Tahitian dance by forming the
dance troupe Heiva Tahiti. Soon after, traditional dance resumed its
rightful place as a vibrant part of Tahitian culture. Then in 1985,
Tahiti obtained greater political autonomy from France and they renamed
the festival Heiva I Tahiti.

 The History of Heiva Music and dance have always been a central part of Polynesian culture. Tahitian dance, or

SY ENJOYย  ย ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Don & Nina - Lagoon 42โ€ฒ

ENJOY NinaENJOY Don

4) MALEKULA ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ VANUATU

Vanuatu STreams

Cascades - located on Vanuatuโ€™s Malekula Island

Water Stream

Chief Setla giving us a tour of his waterfalls on Malekula.ย 

NEVAN

Supposedly his dad killed and ate the guy and kept the skull.

David

ย SY DREAMER ย David & Gerne - Caliber 40lrvโ€™

DREAMER CrewDREAMER GerneDREAMER David
Malekula

Malekula ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ Vanuatu ย and several anchorage off the second largest island in Vanuatu ย are in Good Nautical

5) THE BACK BEAT๐Ÿฅ IN FP ย ย 

 Cyrolia

For
questions on the best time and conditions for a trip back from the
leeward island to the windward islands within the society island Alan is
your man - he has done this "beat" numerous times.

CYROLIA

SY CYROLIA ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Alan - Jeanneau 53โ€ฒ

CYROLIA Alan

6) NIUATOPUTAPU ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGA

CATWEAZLE

Niuatoputapa Tonga and it's ย challenging reef pass.
A
view from the volcanic island north. Its name means sacred island.
Older European names for the island are Traitors Island or Keppel
Island.

Niuatoputapu

In
January 2010, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission sent a television crew
to Niuatoputapu to interview the survivors of the September 2009 tsunami
in Samoa Islands Region. The documentary team interviewed over 50
people, and ย took along an artist, Soakimi Maka Finau, who drew 31
sketches from the survivorsโ€™ descriptions of the tsunami. The one-hour
documentary called โ€œNiuatoputapu after the Tsunami of 2009โ€, was
broadcast by Television Tonga in March 2010.

This
book is based on the documentary, along with three other interviews
recorded on October 3, 2010, at the Vaiola Hospital in Nukuโ€˜alofa, where
several injured survivors had been evacuated for treatment. It also
includes photographs and diagrams.

Download English version here.

CERULEAN

GPS - GPX
tracks from SY Sea Casa on Sat, 09/01/2018 - 09:44.vessel going though
the challengig path of Niuatoputapu are in Good Nautical

SY CERULEAN ย  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ Helen & Stephen - Seastream 43 Mk3โ€ฒ

CERULIANCERULIAN
Niuatoputapu tafahi tonga - Public domain vintage map

Niuatoputapu Tafahi Tonga - Public domain vintage map

7) SOCIETY ISLANDS ย M'OOREAย 

Passage Picturesย 

Pictures from Moorea, and a cool shot of my two kiddies sitting together next to ancient Polynesian ruins...kinda neat

Mo'orea
it's known for its jagged volcanic mountains and beaches and lush
interior. Inland, hiking trails wind through rainforest on the slopes of
Mount Tohivea. ย 

The Bay

In the north, Mount Rotui overlooks picturesque ลŒpลซnohu Bay ( above) and the settlements around Cook's Bay. ย 

Belvedere Lookout Moorea

Belvedere Lookout on Mo'orea with Cook's Bay on the right

and a cool shot of my two kiddies sitting together next to ancient Polynesian ruins...kinda neat

a cool shot of my two kiddies sitting together next to ancient Polynesian ruins...kinda neat

ย SY MONSOON ย  ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Travis, Yeen Yee, Rowan , Everyn - Fuji 32โ€ฒ

MONSOON Yeen YeeMONSOON CrewMONSOON Crew

ย  ย  ย 

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย 
โ›ˆ๏ธ
ย WEATHER ROUTING SPECIALย 

OFFSHORE WEATHER ROUTING

Pacific ย Passage Tactics

This
allows us to get to know you and your vessel and is a necessary part of
all Ocean Tactics engagements. During the lead up to the passage weโ€™ll
discuss Comfort Levels for Wind and Wave, Vessel Characteristics and
Conditions to expect on passage.

Passage
Tactics also includes discussion briefings via Line, WhatsApp or
Messenger just prior to departure to give you a full understanding of
what to expect and detail factors that may influence your tactics on
passage.

PACIFIC STREAM

Mid season special for Ocean Tactics.ย 
Two passages for the price of one US$297 ย 

 

https://pacificposse.com/ocean-tactics

 

John Martinย 

Coastal & Offshore Cruising Intl.

admin@coastalandoffshorecruising.com

Phone ย 0272421088ย 

WhatsApp +64272421088

 

South Pacific Posse

 


SIGN UP
 

57 vessels

 

9) KADAVUย  ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FIJIย 

Kadavu Island - Anchor checkย 

Seaglub

Kadavu is best known for the Great Astrolabe Reef.

The
Astrolabe Reef runs along Kadavuโ€™s southern shore then arcs north-east
passed Ono Island up to Buliya Island โ€“ famous for manta ray snorkeling.

Named
after the French ship Astrolabe, the Great Astrolabe Reef, is a
breeding ground for big fish like tuna, marlin, giant Trevally and
sharks. Gaps in the reef can be subject to strong currents, but these
also bring in the nutrients which feed everyone along the food chain,
from the soft corals, to the reef fish, to the big fish.ย 

The
environment makes for adventurous and colorful diving, with sites like
Naiqoro Passage where you can experience big fish action against a
background of colorful soft coral coated walls.ย 

Access
to a range of dive sites from the 63m long Pacific Voyager Wreck, to
the Muto Marine Protected area and the Great Astrolabe Reef.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71laDzip2ss

 

ย SY SEAGLUB ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Chris - Hylas 46โ€ฒ

SEAGLUB Chris

10) VAVA'U BOATYARD ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGAย 
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

 

Tongaโ€™s Borders are open to the South Pacific Posse again! 18ยฐ 38.625โ€ฒ S 173ยฐ 59.7483โ€ฒ W

 

18ยฐ 38.625โ€ฒ ย S ย 173ยฐ 59.7483โ€ฒ W

The
island groups of Tonga are are some of the most beautiful in the world.
But the lack of secure hurricane/cyclone storage has always meant there
was that deadline, when cruisers have to leave this paradise far too
soon and seek shelter in Fiji or New Zealand. The BoatYard is a brand
new yacht haulage and hard stand facility in Vavaโ€™u, the first in Tonga,
and has turned Tonga into a safe year-round cruising destination!

We can offer your members a 10% discount on cyclone season storage and long time hardstand storage.

Cheers,

JOE

CONTACT The Boatyard Vavaโ€™u

+6768816854

+6768816846

info@boatyardvavau.com

Vavau

Vavaสฟu
Group, island cluster of Tonga, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The
group comprises two chains, one coral and the other volcanic. To the
east lie uplifted coral islands, including Vavaสฟu Island, the largest.
Vavaสฟu with an active volcano rising to 600 feet, was discovered in 1781
by Spanish explorer Francisco Antonio Mourelle, who named it Amargura
(Spanish for โ€œbitternessโ€) because of his disappointment at being able
to obtain neither food nor fresh water.

VAVA'U

Vavaสฟu
Island has a fine sheltered harbour and several unique coastal caves.
It is the site of Neiafu, the groupโ€™s administrative headquarters. Its
fertile soil yields corn (maize), breadfruit, yams, and copra, the last
for export. An airport is located at Lupepauสฟu, in the northern part of
the island. Because of the myriad of islands to the south of Vavaสฟu
Island and its many fine beaches and protected anchorages.

Visit Tonga: 2023 Archipelago of Vava'U

11) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย 
๐Ÿ†ย 
AWARD CATEGORIESย 

  • BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT โœ”ย 
  • PICTURE OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 
  • PACIFIC POSSE YODA OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 
  • THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD โœ”
  • MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD โœ”ย 
  • HIGHEST WIND RECORDED โœ”ย 
  • SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION โœ”ย 
  • GALLEY GOD(ESS) โœ”ย 
  • SPEEDY AWARD
  • GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 
  • BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR โœ”
  • COURAGE AWARDย 

12) THE RAINBOW WARRIORย 
NZ vs FRANCEย 

French nuclear test, Licorne, at Mururoa Atoll

Speaking of Oppenheimer ...ย 

Between 1966 and 1996, the French government conducted 193 nuclear weapon tests in the islands of the South Pacific. Theseย 

Tests

The
Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace flagship vessel used for environmental
activism and protests. On July 10, 1985, it was docked at the port of
Auckland, New Zealand, preparing for a campaign against French nuclear
testing in the South Pacific. France was conducting nuclear tests in the
region, which raised environmental and safety concerns, and Greenpeace
sought to draw attention to this issue.

In
what became a highly controversial and tragic event, French
intelligence agents bombed the Rainbow Warrior while it was berthed in
Auckland's Waitematฤ Harbour. The explosion sank the vessel and resulted
in the death of Fernando Pereira, a Portuguese photographer and
Greenpeace activist.

The
incident caused outrage both in New Zealand and internationally. It was
quickly revealed that French agents were behind the attack, which
further strained relations between New Zealand and France.

In
the aftermath of the bombing, the French government initially denied
any involvement. However, evidence soon emerged, and under mounting
international pressure, France eventually admitted responsibility for
the attack. The agents involved in the bombing were captured by New
Zealand authorities, but they were later released as part of a
diplomatic resolution between the two countries.

Thirty-two years after the Rainbow Warrior bombing, unrepentant French spy Christine Cabon is found

The Rainbow Warrior bombing, unrepentant French spy Christine Cabon ย 

The
Rainbow Warrior incident led to significant tensions between New
Zealand and France. New Zealand's Prime Minister at the time, David
Lange, condemned the attack and took a strong stance against French
actions. In response, New Zealand imposed sanctions on France, which
included economic and diplomatic measures.

One
of the most significant consequences of this diplomatic spat was the
downgrading of diplomatic relations between the two countries. France
withdrew its ambassador from New Zealand, and for a period, the
relationship between the two nations was severely strained.

In
subsequent years, however, the relationship gradually improved, and
diplomatic ties were eventually restored. The incident left a lasting
impact on New Zealand's stance on nuclear disarmament and environmental
activism, as well as its foreign policy approach towards France and
other nations.

The
bombing of the Rainbow Warrior remains a poignant reminder of the
importance of peaceful activism and the consequences of state-sponsored
actions against peaceful protesters.

The Rainbow Warrior is in Marsden Wharf in Auckland Harbour after the bombing by French secret service agents.

The
level of animosity between New Zealand and France had significantly
diminished since the Rainbow Warrior incident in 1985. Over the years,
both countries have worked to rebuild their relationship and have
engaged in various diplomatic efforts to move past the incident.

The
reconciliation process has been aided by France's formal apology for
the bombing and the recognition of the incident's tragic consequences.
Additionally, the conviction and punishment of the French agents
involved in the attack also played a role in easing tensions.

 

 

Video of a day at the Rainbow Warrior memorial in Matauri Bay, NZ

Sunsets Galore

13) SPECIAL EVENT IN TAHITI THIS WEEKEND

July 21st to 24th, we do organize an event in Tahiti ย 

We
also offer the cruisers the opportunity to invite a local inhabitant
during a day sail, to improve relationships between cruisers and
population.ย 

The Tahiti Moorea Sailing RDV is a annual 4-day event that

aims to give a warm Polynesian welcome to cruising sailors,

The 15 mn crossing from Tahiti to Moorea will be conducted

as a rally, not a race.

One large starting line will be set up outside the pass of Papeete

between the two race committee speed boats.

10:30 am start for all boats, given by flag sequence and on VHF 8.

Finish line is the outer set of red and green buoys

marking the Opunohu Bay entrance channel.

Permanent priority must be given to ferries and other commercial

traffic operating in the Tahiti-Moorea channel.

Please Note: If weather conditions prohibit an arrival before

3:00pm, the organizing committee can shorten the race by

announcing a finishing line offshore.

FRIDAY JULY 21

Welcome to TAHITI reception & cocktail

โ€ข 2:00 pm: Meet in the garden

of Papeete City Hall, the Mairie de Papeete.

Check in with our team at the committee booth and receive your welcome

kit (information folder, skippersโ€™ briefing documents, T-Shirts, etc.). Meet

our partners from Tahiti, Australia, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu.

โ€ข 3:30 pm: Skippersโ€™ briefing about navigation

in Moorea and the Leewards islands.

โ€ข 5:30 pm to 7:00pm: Welcome speech & cocktail

for fleet members offered by the South Pacific Sailing

Network (SPSN). Live Polynesian dance and music.

SATURDAY JULY 22

Sailing rally TAHITI TO MOOREA

โ€ข 10:30 am: Rally/race (โ€œcruise-in-companyโ€)

starts from Tahiti to Moorea.

By 9:00 or 9:30 am sailboats should leave Papeete Harbor, Arue and

Punaauia marinas, motoring to the pass of Papeete. Fleet will gather

outside the main entrance to Papeete Harbor for the 10:am start of

this (no-pressure) sailing rally to Mooreaโ€™s Opunohu Bay. Start of the

rally will be outside the coral reef of Papeeteโ€™s pass and in between

two speedboats of the organizing committee.

Finish line will be in the entrance pass of Opunohu Bay. Anchor inside

the bay, in the moorings areas allocated by PGEM.

5:00 pm: Dinghy ashore on the floating

pontoons of the small marina on the Kellum

domain. (Back of the bay.)

Sailors welcomed with music and flowers. Mingle with fleet members.

Register your team for Sundayโ€™s outrigger canoe races. Conference

about traditional navigation.

โ€ข 7:00pm: Optional dinner in the marina

restaurant (with prior registration only).

SUNDAY JULY 23 โ€“ MOOREA

Sample Polynesian traditional sports and cultural exchanges

โ€ข 7:00 am: Moorea fresh baguette delivered

to each boat early in the morning

โ€ข 9:00 am: Dinghy ashore for a fun day of

traditional Polynesian sports in the magnificent botanical

garden of Kellumโ€™s estate.

Local experts will demonstrate and cruisers can test their skills. The

highlight of the day will be the six-person outrigger canoe races,

where cruisers join local paddlers in a series of races.

โ€ข Noon: Optional lunch (Spit-roasted veal and polynesian

buffet : 4000 XPF/pers with prior registration only).

โ€ข 2:30 pm: Awards ceremony

and Tahitian dance show.

MONDAY JULY 24 โ€“ MOOREA

โ€ข 9:00 am: Presentation by SPSN partners of highly informative

seminars on cruising Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.

Complimentary beverages and croissants.

event in Tahiti

Registration for the four days of festivities and seminars

5000 XPF per
person (includes event T-shirt, Cocktails, flower leis, all activities
& entertainment, outrigger canoe race, live dances, fresh bread
delivery, trophies...)

14) "AND THEY ARE UNDERWAY"
ย FLEET TRACKINGย FOR PARTICIPANTSย ย 
ย 

 

Tracking

 

ย About Tracking:

Designed to give interesting parties ย an overview. For specific vessel details including their float plan,
latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related
questions please contact each vessel directly. ย If you are on
passage let us know and the fleet can monitor your progress.

https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

15) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICALย ย 

IF
YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE ย '23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย you will
be assigned ย access credentials to GOODNAUTICAL South Pacific
regionsย 

ย 
ย 

 

Good Nautical

 

CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO GOOD NAUTICALย 

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

 

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

 

AUSTRALIA'S ย QUEENSLAND ANCHORAGES ARE IN GOOD NAUTICALย 

16) HISTORIC PORTS โš“ OF THE SOUTH PACIFICย 
SUVA ย FIJI

SUVA QUUENS WHARF

Queen's Wharf

Queenโ€™s
wharf was originally the main wharf for Suva. It was connected to Pier
Street before the area underwent land reclamation works. It was
dismantled in 1921 and replaced by the larger Kingโ€™s Wharf at the
present site in Walu Bay.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Suva, Fiji from the Royal yacht and is presented a bouquet of flowers by Fijian girl Adi Kaunilotuma who sat down in front of her on the carpet during the royal visit to Fiji, February 1963. (Photo by Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)

Queen
Elizabeth II arrives in Suva, Fiji from the Royal yacht and is
presented a bouquet of flowers by Fijian girl Adi Kaunilotuma who sat
down in front of her on the carpet during the royal visit to Fiji in
1963.ย 

The Grand Pacific Hotel - Picture of Grand Pacific Hotel, Viti Levu

The Grand Pacific Hotel - 100% Colonial Style

SUVA HARBOUR

Suva,
capital, chief port, and commercial centre of Fiji, in the South
Pacific Ocean. The city lies on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's
principal island. Founded in 1849, Suva became the capital in 1882 and
was made a city in 1952; it is now one of the largest urban centers in
the South Pacific islands.

Suva

17) MEET OUR SPONSORSย 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
  • YACHT AGENTS NUKU HIVA
  • SAIL TAHITI
  • OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING
  • SHELTER BAY MARINA PANAMA
  • DENARAU MARINA FIJI
  • NAWI ISLAND MARINA
  • VUDA POINT MARINA
  • COPRA SHED MARINA FIJI
  • CLOUD 9
  • PUERTO AMISTAD ECUADOR
  • RIVERGATE MARINA AUSTRALIA
  • MARSDEN COVE MARINA NEW ZEALAND
  • GULF HARBOUR MARINA NEW ZEALAND
  • YACHTING WORLD MARINA PORT VILA VANUATU

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITYย 











South Pacific Posse

The colorful AUD

south pacific posse communicationsย 
ย @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Las Vegas USAย 

ย 

ยฉ 2023 South Pacific Posse / Ocean Posse LLC


FLEET UPDATE 2023-06-11

 

South Pacifc Posse '23

 

"Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.."

- Captain James Cook FRS


SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
FLEET UPDATE

2023-06-11

13 Ensigns

63 Yachts from 13 ensigns are part of a forward scouting fleet looking for opportunities and looking out for threats.

To join follow this link >>

Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre Noumea designe by Renzo Piana Noumea New Caledonai

Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre Noumea designed by Renzo Piano ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ NEW CALEDONIA

TOP NEWS

  • L'รŽLOT AMร‰Dร‰E ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ NEW CALEDONIA
  • PICTURES OF THE WEEK
  • GET YOUR BURGEE
  • MONSOON'S TAKE
  • SAVE THE DATE
  • OCEAN TACTICS ๐ŸŒช๐ŸŒ€
  • CYCLONE HOLES ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI
  • RIVERGATE MARINA & SHIPYARD ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ
  • MANUAL TRACKING WITH PREDICT WIND SWITCH OVER
  • BOLO ALERT
  • HISTORIC PORTSVAVA'U KINGDOM OF ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGA

1) L'รŽLOT AMร‰Dร‰E
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ NEW CALEDONIA

 Amedee Lighthouse

The Amedee Lighthouse, located near Noumea, New Caledonia has some fascinating facts.

Construction: The Amedee Lighthouse was constructed in France in the late 1860s and was shipped in pieces to New Caledonia. It was designed by French engineer, Henri Becquerel, and stands as a testament to 19th-century engineering.

Tower Height: The lighthouse stands at a height of 56 meters (184 feet). It is one of the tallest lighthouses in the Southern Hemisphere and offers panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and islands surrounded by white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters with sea turtles nearby.

The lighthouse is made of cast iron plates, which were riveted together to form the cylindrical tower. It features a spiral staircase with 247 steps leading to the lantern room at the top. The lighthouse's distinctive red and white stripes make it easily recognizable.

The Amรฉdรฉe Lighthouse

The Amedee Lighthouse is not just a historical , it is still an active lighthouse. It serves as an essential navigational aid, guiding ships through the coral reefs and marking the entrance to the Noumea harbor.

The lens, the original one fitted, is made up of a series of prismatic segments and known as a Fresnel lens. It was made in Paris in 1862 by the Sociรฉtรฉ des Etablissements Henry-Lepaute. It was brought, dismantled, to New Caledonia and reassembled on top of the Amรฉdรฉe lighthouse in 1865. It was removed in 1985 when the lighthouse was automated, and replaced by a more modern lens.

The original lense was made up of a series of prismatic segments and known as a Fresnel lens. It was made in Paris in 1862 by the Sociรฉtรฉ des Etablissements Henry-Lepaute and was replaced in 1985.

Conservation

Conservation Efforts: Due to its ecological importance, Amedee Island and its surrounding waters have been designated a marine protected area. This designation aims to preserve the diverse marine ecosystem and promote sustainable tourism practices

 Ilot Amadee

โš“ Good Anchorage & Mooring Balls @ 22ยฐ 28.55 S 166ยฐ 27.93 E Ilot Amadee ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ NEW CALEDONIA

2) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Suwarrow

@ anchor with sharks

At anchor

very good visibility * location withheld ;-)

At Anchor

SY GLADAN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ Giancarlo & Paola - Lagoon 44โ€ฒ

Gladan PaolaGladan Giancarlo
Mt Yasur

Mt Yasur Volcano in Vanuatu with David in all it's glory

On the edge of hell

On the edge of the caldron - phet phet phet is the sound of 2000 degree lava rocks landing all around you as they are launched at 1,000ยฐC / 1,800ยฐF. Estimated to erupt 10-20 times every hour as the volcano is constantly rumbling and causing the ground to shake.

MT YASUR

SY DREAMER ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ David & Gerne - Caliber 40lrvโ€™

DREAMER CrewDREAMER GerneDREAMER David
 

Experience in 30 seconds what a volcanic eruption looks like up close !

VANUATU IS IN GOOD NAUTICAL

VANUATU IS IN GOOD NAUTICAL โš“

Rolling Stones

SY ROLLING STONES ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Geoff, Meghan & crew Leopard 45โ€ฒ

Rolling Stones Rolling Stones Rolling Stones Rolling Stones Rolling Stones
FIRST LIGHT

SKY LIGHT

 A coral bombie off a motu in Tahanea atoll

A coral bommie off a motu in Tahanea atoll FP

UNderwater

The sailing duo of Don Atwood and Julie Dunne will be chronicling their adventures, both land and sea with pictures and stories as they journey across the South Pacific aboard the sailboat First Light.

Coral
At Peace

More shots of the beautiful atolls of French Polynesia.

Floating the anchor chain to avoid coral damage and avoiding getting tangled up our bommies

FIRST LIGHT

SY FIRST LIGHT Don & Julie - Hallberg Rassy 39โ€ฒ

FIRST LIGHT DonFIRST LIGHT Julie
 

Marquesas
Marquesas
NANAI

SY NANAI ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Chris, Kay, Kevin & Mark - Tashing,Taswell 49โ€ฒ

3) GET YOUR BURGEE FROM KEVIN
@ NUKU HIVA YACHT SERVICES

Burgee Back

South Pacific Posse '23 BUrgee Front

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ Sponsors the South Pacific Posse

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ Sponsors the South Pacific Posse

I look forward to meeting and helping the participants

Cheers, Kevin

BP 301 Taiohae, 98742 Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

+689 87 22 68 72, YSNukuHiva@hotmail.com

VHF 72, Monday โ€“ Friday 0800-1400

4) INTRODUCING THE LATEST
SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE MARINA

MUSKET COVE MARINA ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

MUSKET COVE FIJI

We welcome any of the South Pacific Posse to Musket Cove at any time.

Weโ€™re pleased to offer a Free Berthing Day for 5 Paid Days to all South Pacific Posse Members.

Wayne Deed Musket ove Fiji

Wayne Deed
Musket Cove Fiji

Musket COve Fiji

Musket Cove in Fiji is a renowned destination that holds a special allure for yachts from all around the world.

Musket Cove is located in the idyllic Mamanuca Islands of Fiji, surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and lush tropical landscapes. The natural beauty is breathtaking and provides a perfect backdrop for hanging out a season in the tropics.

Fiji offers excellent sailing conditions and service oriented staff and vendors with consistent trade winds, calm waters, and numerous sheltered anchorages and amazing surf breaks. Musket Cove, in particular, benefits from its strategic location within the Mamanuca Islands, providing easy access to nearby islands, reefs, and marine parks with an easy ferry to get you and your crew and guest back to and from the main island and Nandi airport.

The marina offers a range of services, including berthing, fueling, making it a convenient and well-equipped base for yachts to dock, moor and refuel.

Musket Cove has developed a vibrant yachting community hosting various events, races, regattas, and social gatherings, fostering a sense of camaraderie among cruisers. These events provide opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, and celebrating the joy of exploring via yacht.

It also offers a range of amenities and services that appeal beyond sailors. The Musket Cove Island Resort provides luxurious accommodation, restaurant options spa facilities, and additional recreational activities, allowing you to unwind and indulge in a relaxed setting.

MUSKET COVE MARINA ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

5) MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK

BRAVO ZULU

enjoying some dolphins in the distance, or maybe to get some alone time

Mary Caraway Ewing enjoying some dolphins in the distance, or maybe to get some alone time

More exploration of the dramatic Marquesas. These islands were once the home of tens of thousands of Polynesians

We sail where the coconuts grow

We sail where the coconuts grow and ... FALL!

Local Fruits

Legendary Pampelmousse and local fruits grow among breadfruit plant or 'uru, the coconut, the dozens of varieties of bananas including the incomparable orange plantain banana or fe'i, various root vegetables such as the taro, the tarua, the ufi, and the 'umara make up the basis of island cuisine

 Tiki: Anthropomorphic Sculptures, Sacred Structures and Powerful Places in Marquesas Islands Tiki : Sculptures anthropomorphiques, structures et localitรฉs sacrรฉes des รฎles Marquises Sidsel Millerstrom p. 1828-1846 Abstract Index Text Bibliography Notes AuthorIllustrations Abstract English Franรงais The ancient Marquesan anthropomorphic stone and wood sculptures or tiki have received wide attention since they were first noted in 1595. However, they have not been systematically and scientifically studied until the Marquesas Rock Art Project was created in 1984. Over several years eightyโ€‘four anthropomorphic sculptures were located through intensive field survey and interviews with local Marquesan. Information gathered at each site included metric data, archaeological, social, architectural and environmental context. Stylistically the Marquesan stone tiki are remarkably similar and followed certain social rules. The similar characteristics also seen in Marquesan rock art, tattoo, and material objects suggest that the fundamental principles regarding the symbolic order remained unchanged for a long time. Moreover, the homogeneous decorative system demonstrates that the Marquesan adhered to a common ideology and belief system. Index terms Mots clรฉs : Ocรฉanie, Polynรฉsie franรงaise, รŽles Marquises, Tiki, pierres anthropomorphiques, archรฉologie, sculpture sur bois, art rupestre, lieux sacrรฉs, tatouage Keywords : Oceania, Marquesas Island, Tiki, anthropomorphic stone, archaeology, wood Sculptures, rock art, sacred place, tattoo Full text Acknowledgement The Marquesan Rock Art Project was a team effort and several archaeologists and local volunteers worked with us. While they are too numerous to mention here I am grateful for their enthusiasm, help and their friendship. I wish to acknowledge Maeva Navarro, former director of C.P.S.H., Tahiti, for initiating the Marquesan Rock Art Project, and for allowing my team and me to conduct research in the Marquesas. I thank her for her support and encouragement. Thank you to Edmundo Edwards, with whom I was fortunate to be able to work; he headed the project and became my working partner from the beginning. His knowledge of Polynesia and his overwhelming generosity and kindness touched everybody. Heidy Baumgartner Lesage, a longโ€‘time friend and team mate, and I spent much time together in the Marquesas surveying, recording the petroglyphs, tiki, and associated architecture. I will always be indebted to Heidy for her sound advice and companionship. I thank the government of French Polynesia for allowing me to do archaeological research in the islands and for the many Marquesan that housed and fed us, showed us archaeological sites and became our friends. Introduction 1 A publication about a tiki exhibit in 2016, Tahiti, just become available. Tik (...) 1Since the 1590s, with the arrival of the first Europeans to the Marquesan Archipelago, stone and wood sculptures have been described, exhibited, photographed, sketched, painted and admired. However, the sculptures have never been systematically surveyed, documented and analysed. I present here a summary of metric information and empirical observation generated from data collected on the stone sculptures during several archaeological field seasons to the Marquesas Islands.1 2In 1984, Maeva Navarro, then Director of Dรฉpartement dโ€™Archรฉologie, Centre Polynรฉsien des Sciences Humaines, Te Anavaharau, Tahiti (C.P.S.H), initiated the Marquesas Island Rock Art Project. This government organization is presently known as Service de la Culture et du Patrimoine (S.C.P). Edmundo Edwards, then chief archaeologist with the department, directed the project. I was part of the venture from the beginning. During the Marquesan Rock Art Project, from 1984 to 1989, eightyโ€‘four stone statues or tiki were documented in seventeen valleys on the presently six inhabited islands. Figure 1. The Marquesas Archipelago, French Polynesia Figure 1. The Marquesas Archipelago, French Polynesia Zoom in Original (png, 48k) ยฉ Map courtesy Melinda Allen 2016 2 Their work was published in 2007 by Service de la Culture et du Patrimoine, Mi (...) 3Since 1998, additional sculptures have been found and documented by others. For instance, the French couple Catherine Chavaillon and Eric Olivier, while living on Hiva Oa, recorded several previously undocumented statues2. 3 In the 1890s a large anthropomorphic head was taken from Meโ€™ae Iipona, Puamau, Valley, (...) 4In 1997, the American archaeologist Barry Rolett, with University of Hawaii, Manoa, discovered four tiki heads on the surface of a shrine (meโ€™ae) in Vaitahu, Tahuata. Several sculptures are located in Musรฉe de Tahiti et des รฎles, Punaauia in numerous museums worldwide as well as in private collections. None of these anthropomorphic figures are included in this study. Some statues have been carried away by foreigners or they were hidden by Marquesan when Christianity became established in the archipelago.3 4 A stone monument in Vaitahu, Tahuata, raised in 1995 in commemoration of the discovery o (...) 5The first encounter between Europeans and Te Enana, as the Marquesan people now wish to be called, was brief and brutal.4 In July 1595, the Spanish commander Alvaro de Mendaรฑa and his pilot Portuguese Pedro Fernรกndez de Quiros came upon Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Hiva Oa, and Montane islands in the southern group, on their way from Peru to form a colony in the Solomon Islands. Te Enana then became the first Polynesian island society to be discovered by the Europeans. During their visit to Vaitahu, Tahuata, Mendaรฑa and his crew held a Mass, raised three wooden crosses, planted a few corn seeds, and took possession of the island in the name of Spain. Due to misunderstandings between Te Enana and the Spanish some two hundred islanders were massacred. Only Quiros left a record of what they saw during their sojourn in the islands. His account contained the first description of anthropomorphic sculptures and a sacred structure: 5 Markham, 1904, p. 27โ€‘28. Apart from the village there was an oracle surrounded by palisades, with the entrance on the west side. Within there was a house, almost in the middle, in which were wooden figures badly carved; and here were offerings of food and a pig, which the soldiers took. When the Spanish soldiers attempted to take some of the objects, they were made to understand by the Enana that they had great respect for the place.5 6As far as the written record is concerned, no Europeans visited the islands during the following 179 years. Western influence first spread after Captain James Cookโ€™s threeโ€‘day visit in 1774. Cook, commander of the Resolution and the Discovery, also anchored in Vaitahu Bay, Tahuata. 7He renamed it Resolution Bay. From then on numerous explorers, missionaries, traders and a few beachcombers arrived in the archipelago. Thus, the Marquesan social fabric dramatically changed forever. Anthropomorphic Sculptures (Tiki) Characteristics 8All representations of human like figures such as the statues, anthropomorphs seen in the petroglyphs, pictographs and tattoo repertoire, carved figures on bones, wood and shells are collectively referred to as tiki. This, however, does not mean that they represent the god Tiki, an important figure in Marquesan mythology. In general, the anthropomorphic statues represent deified ancestors such as important chiefs and priests, people that were considered sacred or tapu. For instance, Takaiโ€™i, at Meโ€™ae Iipona, Puamu, Hiva Oa, the largest tiki in the Marquesas, was a powerful chief and warrior. Figure 2. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa. Takaiโ€™i and a sitting tiki Figure 2. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa. Takaiโ€™i and a sitting tiki Zoom in Original (jpeg, 1,1M) ยฉ Millerstrom Location 9Of the 84 stone anthropomorphic sculptures that we documented, the majority, 53 tiki (63,1 percent), were found on Hiva Oa (Table 1). At Meโ€™ae Iipona, there are 18 tiki (5 statues, 10 heads, and three sculpture fragments), as well as numerous boulders with petroglyphs. Several of the heads were uncovered in 1991 when the French archaeologist Pierre Ottino and his crew restored the site for the Third Marquesas Islands Festival. The only sitting tiki recorded by us is located at this site (see figure 2). The sitting tiki, named Te aua ehu ehu or Fau poe, is believed to represent the wife of Takaiโ€™i, the tallest tiki in the Marquesas. Island Valley Frequency of tiki Percentage Hiva Oa Puamau 30 โ€˜Atuโ€™ona 9 Hanaiapa 3 Eiaone 3 Taโ€™a Oa 2 Tahauku 2 Mutu Ua 2 Hanapaโ€™aoโ€™a 1 Punaei 1 Subtotal 53 63.1 Nuku Hiva Taipivai 12 Hatiheu 4 Anaho 1 Taiohae 4 Subtotal 21 25.0 Ua Huka Hane 4 Vaipaee 1 Hokatu 1 Subtotal 6 7.1 Tahuata Vaitahu 1 Subtotal 1 1.2 Ua Pu Hakamoui 1 Hakatehau 1 Subtotal 2 2.4 Fatu Hiva Omoa 1 Subtotal 1 1.2 Total 84 100 6 One of the โ€œhorizontally placedโ€ tiki is located at Meโ€™ae Iipona. In the 1 (...) 10A total of 48 tiki were documented in situ; the remaining 36 sculptures had been relocated, and their exact original location and archaeological contexts are uncertain. Based on morphology, five main categories are distinguished: 1) statue carved in the round; 2) modified boulder; 3) rectangular block with tiki figure in deep basโ€‘relief; 4) double figure; and 5) exotic figure. The last category includes two separate horizontally placed tiki resting on blocks and one seated figure (mentioned above).6 The most common visual characteristics are large circular eyes, wide nose, mouth, slightly flexed legs, and arms placed on a protruding stomach. It may include intricate facial features, tattoos, and headbands, while the rest of the body is only roughly outlined. 7 Millerstrom, 2003a, p. 103โ€‘110. 11Tiki are associated with shrines (meโ€™ae), chiefโ€™s household units, or ritual places located within the tribal communal complexes (tohua). Tiki may also be linked to fishing shrines (Figure 3). We found a small tiki on the surface of a fishing shrine in Anaho, Nuku Hiva.7 At Paepae Paeke, Nuku Hiva, another site with several tiki, the statues are fully carved and placed on or in the walls of platforms. Figure 3. Anaho, Nuku Hiva. Tioka Puhetini with a tiki discovered on Meโ€™ae Atatai, a fisherman's shrine (331ANA Tโ€‘1) Figure 3. Anaho, Nuku Hiva. Tioka Puhetini with a tiki discovered on Meโ€™ae Atatai, a fisherman's shrine (331ANA Tโ€‘1) Zoom in Original (jpeg, 408k) ยฉMillerstrom 12Regarding the Paepae Paeke site, when German ethnographer von den Steinen visited in the 1890s, he was told that each of the 12 tiki present at the site was named after a district in Taipi Valley. The name of one of the tiki was Puamamau Etua. Furthermore, the Paepae Paeke was protected by a tapu (a spiritual protection). The sacredness of the place, the location on top of a peak, and the name of one tiki indicate that this was a meโ€™ae and that one tiki may represent a deified inspirational priest. When the American archaeologist Ralph Linton examined the site in 1920, his guide claimed that the site was neither sacred nor a shrine and the people of Taipi did not know of any names. 13Sometimes statues are directly associated with a chiefโ€™s domestic complex. A chiefโ€™s house is sometimes referred to as a meโ€™ae in the historic literature. It is possible that an important chiefโ€™s house became so infused with supernatural power after his death that the site became sacred and thus became become a shrine as. This is what might have taken place at Paepae Paeke. Structure 14Typically, the size of the head is one third or more of the bodyโ€™s height. Because the head was considered sacred and the seat of supernatural power (mana), it was the most important part of the statue. Thus, it was carved with careful attention to the smallest details. It is usually resting directly on square shoulders lacking a neck. A tiki at Meโ€™ae Iipona is unusual because of the small size of the head in relation to the body (Figure 4). It is possible that the original head broke off, and the statue and the head were reโ€‘carved to fit into a smooth groove in the upper torso. Round, large, and bulging eyes are usually encircled with a 1โ€‘2โ€‘cmโ€‘wide raised rim under highโ€‘arched eyebrows. Sometimes the eyes have a raised or incised curved line that bisects them from the outer part of the eye to the inner corner of each eye. Some tiki have circular indented pits indicating the pupils. Figure 4. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa Figure 4. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa Zoom in Original (jpeg, 418k) ยฉ Millerstrom 15A broad nose with wide nostrils fills out most of the centre of the face. The outline of the nose goes upward and connects with the eyebrow. High eyebrows reach down on the outer side of the head and link with the ears, resembling the stems of eyeglasses. A long, wide mouth, sometimes with a protruding tongue or even teeth with great canines, covers the lower part of the face. When tattoo occur, they depict anthropomorphic figures, dogs, and geometric motifs. Tattoo are usually placed on the side of the mouth chest or on the thighs. 8 Linton, 1925, p. 74. 16Carved headdresses (hei) are the most common form of decoration, but wreath around the neck, tattoo, short mantles, and hairโ€‘knots on each side of the head occur. Some tiki have drilled circular perforation in the earlobes for placement of earplugs. Takaiโ€™i at Meโ€™ae Iipona, has tattoo on the chest and legs, what appears to be a hair knot at the back, and we noted several vertical grooves in each eye, perhaps this was to emphasize their size and the direction of the gaze. The American archaeologist Ralph Linton8 mentions ornamental grooves, circles and chevron patterns on the abdomen and buttocks on some images, but these tattoo design are no longer visible on the tiki we recorded. We do not know if the neck ornaments represent plants or marine material. Perforated shell tabs, pearl pendants, fish, porpoise and whale teeth are found in archaeological deposits. In fact, whale teeth were so treasured that towards the beginning of the Classical Period (1600โ€‘1790) and onwards imitation whale teeth were carved from the lips of Cassi shell. Wreaths of perishable plant material are difficult to ascertain archaeologically. Paul Pรฉtard (1912โ€‘1980), a French ethnobotanist, reported that garlands were strung from the keys of Pandanus (Pandanus tectorius), also referred to as Screw Pine, to decorate the body during feasts. Several varieties of the Pandanus were recognized by the Polynesian according to the various parts of the tree, and the changing colour of the ripening fruit. Garlands strung from the Pandanus keys, especially the red type (haโ€™a kua), was reserved for garlands to decorate the tiki during feasts and hence tapu or forbidden to commoners. 17Wide, rounded hips and short, stubby extend legs rest on a pedestal. Some tiki have a peg base to secure them in the ground. Legs were considered less important and many images have the legs only indicated, while other sculptures are cut off below the waist. Ankles may be indicated by raised circular knobs. Only a few images depict toes. The back is often carved with spines and buttocks even when the statues are fitted into a stone platform. The tiki recorded by our team vary in height from 32.7 to 250 cm above the ground. The majority of the statues measure between 50 and 100 cm. 18During some ceremonies, the tiki was girdled in tapa or bark clothes. While tapa beating was usually done by women, the loincloth for the tiki were ceremonially beaten by the priest. Early explorers describe old inspirational priests (tuhuna/tuhuka) beating loincloth for the gods. The act was so sacred that the priest could only eat in the evening. Offerings of human victims, animals, fruit, and vegetables were placed in front of the statue or hung in nearby trees. Contributions were placed near the tiki and priest were seen presenting food to the mouth of the statues. Robarts, an English beachcomber that lived eight years in the islands noted that during the memorial feast, food was always sent to the priests at the meโ€™ae. A small portion of the food was placed on the head of the image. Edward Robarts wrote: โ€œThis no one eats, being held sacredโ€ (1974). Several of the images we documented have a flat surface on top of the head which may have been a space to place decoration such as a crown of shell, teeth, bones, or plant material as well as offerings to the ancestors. 9 Quoted from E. S. Handy (1923, p. 224) in The Native Culture in the Marquesas: Bernice (...) 19Hands with fingers are most often resting on a protruding abdomen. As ritual knowledge, genealogy and oral tradition were believed to be held in the stomach, hands placed on a protruding belly may have been a way to protect these memories. A tiki, part of Tohua Pehe Kua, Puamau, have the left hand touching the mouth (Figure 5). The reason for this is unknown. At Meโ€™ae Iipona, a headless tiki placed on a terrace below Takaiโ€™i has 6 fingers on each hand also resting on a protruding stomach. A circular tattoo on the left ankle indicates that it is a high raking person. A tribal inspirational priest or shaman was called tauโ€™a. Sometimes they would also be called atua (called etua in the Southern group), which means literally god. A shaman could be a male or female. He or she was thought to be persons who could be possessed by spirits or gods and their position were demonstrated by some type of phenomenon or โ€œdistinguished by remarkable physical deformity of some kindโ€.9 This statue is the only one we recorded that showed deformity, although a tiki located at Paepae Paeke, Nuku Hiva, has two heads. However, doubleโ€‘headed tiki or the Janus figure phenomena seen elsewhere in Polynesian carvings may have different connotations. Figure 5. Tohua Pehe Kua, Puamau, Hiva Oa. The tiki, one of a pair, is presently located at chief Te Hau Moeโ€™s tomb Figure 5. Tohua Pehe Kua, Puamau, Hiva Oa. The tiki, one of a pair, is presently located at chief Te Hau Moeโ€™s tomb Zoom in Original (jpeg, 40M) ยฉ Millerstrom 20It is generally assumed that all the tiki represented men. This may not be the case. Leaving out sculptured heads from the calculation, there are 61 torsos and fully carved tiki. Of these 39 sculptures (64.0 percent) have no sex depicted. While 16 sculptures (26.2 percent) represent males, 6 tiki (9.8 percent) represent females. At Paepae Paeke, Taipivai (Nuku Hiva), 4 of the 12 tiki represent females and 4 are males (Figure 6). In the past all tiki had a name, but most of them are forgotten today. According to legends and local informants the tiki with 6 fingers on with both hands at Meโ€™ae Iipona carries names that are both male and female; Te torae e nohu ua, or Maiauto, or Pete ta mu imui are masculine and feminine names. Thus, the male/female distinctions in carved ancestral figures may or may not have been meaningful to the Marquesan in the past. Figure 6. Paepae Paeke, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. A female tiki carved in red volcanic tuff Figure 6. Paepae Paeke, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. A female tiki carved in red volcanic tuff Zoom in Original (jpeg, 2,5M) ยฉ Millerstrom Material 10 Millerstrom & Edwards, 1998. 11 Linton, 1925, p. 162. 21A total of 31 tiki (37.0 percent) were carved from sacred red volcanic tuff, but some basaltic tiki were once painted red10. When we used artificial light at night to checked on an image at Meโ€™ae Utukua, Punaei Valley, Hiva Oa, we discovered traces of red pigment around the eyes (Figure 7). Ralph Linton11 saw traces of red pigment in protected parts of a statue at Meโ€™ae Iipona, Hiva Oa. Some of the sculptures, 16 (19.0 percent) in total, were carved in a gray or yellow tuff. The remaining 37 sculptures (44.0 percent) were crafted in basalt. Figure 7. Meโ€™ae Utukua, Punaei Valley, Hiva Oa. Figure 7. Meโ€™ae Utukua, Punaei Valley, Hiva Oa. Zoom in Original (jpeg, 433k) ยฉPhoto courtesy C. Chavaillon and E. Oliver 12 Ibid., p. 8โ€‘9, 164โ€‘165. 13 Ibid., p. 8. 22There are numerous quarries in the Marquesas, but none of them have been investigated. Ralph Linton12 writes that all the โ€œgreat tikiโ€ at Meโ€™ae Iipona were sculptures with material from the quarry of Teohopuapu, located in a small valley in the stream bed on the southโ€‘western side of Teohovevau, Puamau Valley. Both red and gray tuff are found in the quarry. In the same area there is a 10 feet stratum of gray tuff deposit. The outline of a large block, also called keโ€™etu, has been removed and an unfinished tiki head is still visible. Linton13 mentioned another quarry in Puamau that were quarried for stones for secular structures and a quarry at Hakahetau, Ua Pou. None of these quarries have been visited by our team. 14 Ibid., p. 74โ€‘75. 23Ralph Linton14 claims that the tuff on Nuku Hiva is coarser than the tuff elsewhere and that the sculptures are โ€œtechnically inferior to those of Hiva Oaโ€. This has yet to be confirmed. On the beach of the isolated Haโ€™ataโ€™iveโ€™a Valley, located on the north coast of Nuku Hiva, there are two quarries one on each side of the bay. On the east side, a 2โ€‘3 m wide, red tuff band is exposed in a cliff, and a cave is situated above. In the cave, approximately 5 m above the ground, two anthropomorphic faces are pecked on the floor (Figure 8ab). Rectangular outlines, the results of removing blocks of red tuff, are visible on the north side of the 2โ€‘3 m tuff deposit. At high tide the area is partly submerged, a rough outlined tiki is still in place. A basalt adze quarry with the remains of a white beach rock pavement is situated across the bay. Figure 8. Haโ€™ataiโ€™veโ€™a, Nuku Hiva. Two petroglyph faces placed on the floor of a rock shelter (331haa 1) Figure 8. Haโ€™ataiโ€™veโ€™a, Nuku Hiva. Two petroglyph faces placed on the floor of a rock shelter (331haa 1) Zoom in Original (jpeg, 9,2M) ยฉ Millerstrom 15 Linton, 1925, p. 165. 24Numerous rituals took place before cutting trees for canoes or quarry stones for tiki. Most of these are now forgotten. In the Polynesian past, all boulders and stones were embodied with supernatural power, but some were thought to be more powerful or sacred than others. Boulders, like all things in nature, were believed to grow in the same manner as people and plants. Te Enana believed that keโ€™etu โ€œgrows slowly but constantly โ€‘a quality peculiar to itโ€.15 In fact, carving of stone was so important that certain rituals were observed while quarrying. Workers had to render themselves tapu and has to avoid women prior to working with stones or their tools would break. Conservation Issues 25The stone sculptures, especially those carved in the coarse and soft red and yellow volcanic tuff, are friable. Deterioration of the sculptures due to the exposure of the environment continuous to be a serious threat to the Marquesan cultural remains. Over the years many discussions considering the best way to preserve the sculptures have taken place, e.g., chemical treatment, replace the original with copies, or cover them with roofs. In 2016, conservation efforts have been implemented at Meโ€™ae Iipona, Puamau, a site that receives a relatively large number of tourists. Thatched roofs have been built over each of the most fragile tiki. This certainly will help to slow the deterioration, but in many respects, it may be too late. Since the early 1980s my team and I have noticed slow deterioration of the tiki especially at Meโ€™ae Iipona and Paepae Paeke. In the 1920โ€‘21, Ralph Linton noticed tattoo patterns on the upper and lower legs of Takaiโ€™i, such as herringbone patters on the thigh and horizontal grooves on the lower legs. These figures are no longer visible. When our team recorded Takaiโ€™i in 1985, we noted 4 vertical grooves in his right eye and 27 vertical grooves in his left eye. These grooves are now difficult to distinguish. 16 Heyerdahl & Ferdon, 1965, p. 127, plate 40c. 26When the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition excavated at Meโ€™ae Iipona in 1956, they made a complete plaster mold, a total of fiftyโ€‘nine parts, of Takaiโ€™i16. An identical copy was then made for the Konโ€‘Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway. In the 1990s, I contacted Arne Sjรธlsvold at the Konโ€‘Tiki Museum and asked him if they still had the plaster mold. The plaster cast was made by archaeologists Sjรธlsvold and Figueroa, members of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition. Sjรธlsvold also excavated Meโ€™ae Iipona. While they searched the museum, no mold was found. Sjรธlsvold speculated that the pieces were thrown away after the copy for the museum was completed. Discussions Age Determination 17 Heyerdahl, 1965, p. 123โ€‘150. 18 Ferdon, 1965, p. 117โ€‘121. 19 The radio carbon age determination for Paeke is 1516 plus or minus 80 year (...) 27To determine the age of the sculptures is challenging. It appears that the conventional image face was first developed in the petroglyphs system and later became part of the tiki face in the sculptures (Figure 9). According to informants in 1890s who could recite approximately 25 generations, Karl von den Steinen, calculated that Meโ€™ae Iipona was constructed circa 1700โ€‘1750. Excavation in 1956 by members of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island and the East Pacific, financed and directed by Thor Heyerdahl, yielded three significantly earlier radiocarbon dated from about 1300 to 1700 (uncalibrated) for the site17. At Paepae Paeke, Taipivai, Edwin Ferdon18, also a member of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition, collected an early radiocarbon date, approximately from 1500โ€‘1600. While these dates indicate the occupation of the sites, it is uncertain if the age determinations reflect the age of the associated sculptures19. Suggs (1961), based on his excavations on Nuku Hiva, suggests that the sculptures were first made around 1600โ€‘1700. Rolett noted that the tiki uncovered in Vaitahu (Tahuata) probably dated to the late prehistoric or early historic period, 1700โ€‘1850. Figure 9: Vaitahu, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. Two mata or tiki faces (333vai 1) Figure 9: Vaitahu, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. Two mata or tiki faces (333vai 1) Zoom in Original (png, 30k) ยฉ Millerstrom 20 Linton, 1925, p. 167. 28The statues at Paepae Poevau, Puamau Valley, were, according to Ralph Linton20 โ€œamong the last products of the Marquesan sculptures tradition and prove conclusively that the art of stone carvings was alive and vigorous at the time of the French conquestโ€. A pervasive art system 21 Linton, 1923, p. 269. 22 It is assumed that human figures are the most numerous Marquesan design element. This (...) 29Polynesian decorative systems e.g., tiki, petroglyphs, pictographs and tattoo, are pervasive. Ralph Linton21 stated that the Marquesan material culture was homogeneous. For example, human images were more often depicted on all Marquesan media (e.g., houses, canoes, implements, and ornaments) than on the same media in the other Polynesian islands or island groups22. Ruth Greiner (1923) numerically demonstrated that the distributions of design elements and motifs used in carving occurred in more Marquesan media than in the islands on Hawaii, Tahiti, Austral, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, the Cooks, and New Zealand. Unfortunately, Greiner did not have the opportunity to examine Karl von den Steinenโ€™s (1969(I), 1969(II), 1969(III)) seminal work on Marquesan material art. Von den Steinenโ€™s work would have bolstered Greinerโ€™s argument. 23 Walsh & Biggs, 1966. 24 Millerstrom & Allen, 2006. 25 DeBoer, 1991, p. 157. 26 Crook William, 2007 [1797โ€‘1799]. 30A great number of petroglyph faces, stylistically similar to the faces of the sculptures, are often referred to mata both by the local people and in the literature. Mata is also a word linked to numerous tattoo motifs given to von den Steinen in 1897. Mata, a Protoโ€‘Polynesian taxeme refers to eye and face.23 The word has the same meaning in Tonga, Samoa, the Cooks, Easter Islands and among the Maori. Maka is a Hawaiian cognate. Other glosses for mata include genealogy, clan, tribe, or status lineage. This word is still retained in Polynesian dialects indicate that the face motif is connected with important concepts that go far back in Oceanic history. The pervasive mata motif seen in tiki and petroglyphs is also expressed on the surface of, for instance, stilt holders, calabashes, ear plugs, hair ornaments, bark cloth masks, wooden clubs ivory fan handles and so on, collected in the early historic period. There is also a connection between the decoration on tiki, petroglyphs and tattoo.24 They all show remarkable similarities in their decorative systems. This homogeneous decorative system probably identified and intensified the ideology of a group of people. A pervasive art system, furthermore, promotes and reinforces social solidarity in order to maintain belief systems that bolster the political position of the hereditary chief, priests or warriors. Pervasive decorative organization experience much less rate of change that for example an opposing partitive art system.25 These theoretical perspectives have important implications regarding changes in the Marquesan art system and how these changes reflect social transformation. The emphasis on the mata may also have been a way to memorialize, honour, and venerate ancestors. Concern with genealogy was strong in Polynesia. Genealogy linked people with their ancestors and defined their social position to their chiefs. Genealogies were chanted in rites of adoption, birth of a firstborn, marriages, funerals, and so on. Because the head was considered the seat of mana, ancestral skulls were frequently removed from burials and treated as sacred relics. The similarity of much of the archaeological art may be, in part, because the craft specialist (tohuna), despite unrest and warfare, could safely travel between islands.26 Conclusion 27 A version of this essay was presented at the Fourth International Conference on Easter I (...) 31This brief essay on the Marquesan statues presents metric data and some discussion on the statues linked to sacred structures.27 The similarities seen in Marquesan rock art, tattoo, and material objects suggest that the fundamental principles regarding the symbolic order remained unchanged for a long time. Moreover, the homogeneous decorative system demonstrates that the Marquesan adhered to a common ideology and belief system. Stylistically the Marquesan stone tiki are remarkably similar, obviously following certain social rules. However, numerous variations exist suggesting that each tiki not only symbolized important deceased ancestor but in fact represented a specific ancestor. 32The research discussed above is but a small part of the potential wealth of information still to be gleamed from investigating the tiki. Several issues remain to be examined. For example, although the Marquesan tiki are remarkably homogeneous, attribute variations occur. While I speculate that these variations reflect the individual deified ancestor, the stylistic variations could be due to the individual craftโ€‘person, regional or chronological differences, or perhaps associated with the type of material used. Furthermore, is it possible to identify the sex of the 72.8 percent genderless statues by isolating specific male and female characteristics? Futures tiki studies may involve the examination of quarries, as well as to investigate the source of the tiki. To be able to link the source of the statues to the various quarries may reveal information on, for instance, exchange systems, the distance the statues were transported across a challenging landscape, time and efforts of both manufacturing and transportation, division of labour, the limitation of natural resources, social structure or status involved in the quarrying and the carving of the statues, technology and quality of the material, and, in general, social context. Future projects may, furthermore, include the documentation of the anthropomorphic sculptures in museums worldwide and those that are accessible in private collections. Together with the 84 sculptures recorded by my team it will further our knowledge of the Marquesan cultural heritage. Without a doubt, additional tiki will be discovered in the future during archaeological survey, excavation as well as during road and house constructions. Bibliography Books Crook William P., 2007 [1797โ€‘1799], An Account of the Marquesas Islands 1797โ€‘1799, Haere Po, Tahiti, 215 p. Markham Clements, 1904, The Voyages of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, 1595 to 1606, 2 vol., The Hakluyt Society, London. Millerstrom Sidsel, 2017, Te Henua Enana; Images and Settlement Patterns in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, 67, Contributions of the Archaeological Research Facility, University of California, Berkeley eScholarship, DOI: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9v38f0zt. [97809890022-5-7] Robart Edward, 1974, The Marquesan Journal of Edward Robarts 1797โ€‘1824, edited by Dening Greg, University Press of Hawai'I, Honolulu, 360 p. [0708106358] Walsh D. S. & Biggs Bruce, 1966, Protoโ€‘Polynesian Word List i, Linguistic Society of New Zealand, Auckland, 133 p. Papers and contributions to books DeBoer Waren R., 1991, โ€œThe Decorative Burden: Design, Medium, and Changeโ€, in Longacre William A. (ed.), 2016, Ceramic Ethnoarchaeology, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 318 p. [9780816534791] Ferdon Edwin N., 1965, โ€œSurface Architecture of the Site of Paeke, Taipi Valley, Nuku Hivaโ€, in Heyerdahl Thor & Ferdon Edwin N. (eds.), Reports of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island and the East Pacific, vol. ii, School of American Research and Konโ€‘Tiki Museum, Monograph 24, part. 2. Santa Fe, p. 117โ€‘122. Greiner Ruth H., 1923, Polynesian Decorative Designs, B. P. Bishop Museum, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Bulletin 7, Honolulu, 358 p. Heyerdahl Thor, 1965, โ€œThe Statues of the Oipona Meโ€™ae, with a Comparative Analysis of Possibly Related Stone Monumentsโ€, in Heyerdahl Thor & Ferdon Edwin N. (eds.), Reports of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island and the East Pacific, School of American Research and Konโ€‘Tiki Museum, Monograph 24, Vol. ii, part. 2, Santa Fe, p. 123โ€‘151. Linton Ralph, 1925, Archaeology of the Marquesas Islands, B. P. Bishop Museum, Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 23, Honolulu. Millerstrom Sidsel, 1997, โ€œCarved and painted rock images in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesiaโ€, Archaeology of Oceania, vol. 32, no 3, p. 181โ€‘196. Millerstrom Sidsel & Edwards Edmundo, 1998, โ€œStone Sculptures of the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia)โ€, in Stevenson Christopher M., Lee Georgia & Morin F. J. (eds.), Easter Island in Pacific Context, South Seas Symposium, University of New Mexico, Easter Island Foundation, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Easter Island and East Polynesia, Albuquerque, p. 55โ€‘62, 402 p. [1880636131] Millerstrom Sidsel, 2006, โ€œRitual and Domestic Architecture, Sacred Places, and Images in the Marquesas Archipelago, French Polynesiaโ€, in Lilley Ian (ed.), Archaeology of Oceania: Australia and the Pacific Islands, Blackwell Publishing, Malden (Mass.), p. 284โ€‘301, 416 p. [9780631230823] Millerstrom Sidsel & Allen Tricia., 2006, โ€œCarved Images and Punctured Skins: Rock Carvings and Tattoos in the Marquesas Islandsโ€, American Indian Rock Art, IRAC Proceedings, Rock Art World Heritage, American Rock Art Association, vol. 21, p. 131โ€‘138. Notes 1 A publication about a tiki exhibit in 2016, Tahiti, just become available. Tiki. Coโ€‘รฉdition Musรฉe de Tahiti et des Iles et ร‰ditions Au Vent des iles. Polynรฉsie Franรงaise, 2017. I did not have an opportunity to examine this publication. 2 Their work was published in 2007 by Service de la Culture et du Patrimoine, Ministรจre de la Cuture de Polynรฉsie Franรงaise, Tahiti, called Le patrimoine archรฉologique de lโ€™รฎle de Hiva Oa (archipel des Marquises). 3 In the 1890s a large anthropomorphic head was taken from Meโ€™ae Iipona, Puamau, Valley, Hiva Oa, by von den Steinen and his crew. It was brought to Germany and is housed in the Ethnographic Museum, Dahlem. The collection will eventually be relocated to the center of Berlin. In 2019, the Ethnographic Museum and Museum of Asian Art are scheduled to reopen in the Humboldt Forum in the reconstructed Berlin City Palace (Berliner Stadtschloss). 4 A stone monument in Vaitahu, Tahuata, raised in 1995 in commemoration of the discovery of the Marquesas Islands by Europeans has the following inscriptions: โ€œFENUA ENATA TERRES DES HOMMES. En 1595, elle fut appelรฉe รŽles Marquises, nom qui la fit connaรฎtre au reste du monde. Quโ€™aujourdโ€™hui le monde connaisse son nom dโ€™origine. VATAHU, Le 29 Juillet 1995โ€. (Fenua Enata, the land of men. In 1595 she was called the Marquesas Islands, a name that become known to the rest of the world. Today the world knows the original name. Vaitahu, July 29, 1995). Because most of my archaeological field research took place in Nuku Hiva, I use the term Te Enana, the men/people rather than Te Enata, the term used in the southern group. 5 Markham, 1904, p. 27โ€‘28. 6 One of the โ€œhorizontally placedโ€ tiki is located at Meโ€™ae Iipona. In the 1990s, to everybodyโ€™s surprise, a smaller but similar tiki was found below the site Meaiaute. Meaiaute is a small meโ€™ae located on a peak in Hane Valley, Ua Huka. Three tiki and one slab with petroglyph are placed at the edge of a pavement. It is unknown where on the site the โ€œhorizontally placedโ€ tiki was originally placed. 7 Millerstrom, 2003a, p. 103โ€‘110. 8 Linton, 1925, p. 74. 9 Quoted from E. S. Handy (1923, p. 224) in The Native Culture in the Marquesas: Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 9. Honolulu. 10 Millerstrom & Edwards, 1998. 11 Linton, 1925, p. 162. 12 Ibid., p. 8โ€‘9, 164โ€‘165. 13 Ibid., p. 8. 14 Ibid., p. 74โ€‘75. 15 Linton, 1925, p. 165. 16 Heyerdahl & Ferdon, 1965, p. 127, plate 40c. 17 Heyerdahl, 1965, p. 123โ€‘150. 18 Ferdon, 1965, p. 117โ€‘121. 19 The radio carbon age determination for Paeke is 1516 plus or minus 80 years. The following three dates from Meโ€™ae Iipona are: 1) 1316 plus or minus 100 years; 2) 1497 plus or minus 200 years; 3) 1487 plus or minus 150 years. It should be noted that these dates are uncalibrated and the charcoal samples has not been identified. Furthermore, the dates do not necessary represent the first use of the site nor can we be sure that the dates correspond to the time the tiki were made. 20 Linton, 1925, p. 167. 21 Linton, 1923, p. 269. 22 It is assumed that human figures are the most numerous Marquesan design element. This may be solely due to the fact that human figures are more recognizable. Quantitative analysis of the 3 379 petroglyphs recorded in Hatiheu Valley, Nuku Hiva, demonstrates that abstract geometric figures prevail. As a whole, 998 anthropomorphic figures account for 29,5 percent whereas 2121 petroglyphs or 62,8 percent depict abstract geometric motifs. The situation in the western section, the research area of Hatiheu Valley, show a similar pattern, Millerstrom, 2017. In the painted rock shelters of Eiaone Valley, Hiva Oa, anthropomorphs are represented by 20 figures (18,2 percent), while 50 (45.5 percent) are geometric figures. 23 Walsh & Biggs, 1966. 24 Millerstrom & Allen, 2006. 25 DeBoer, 1991, p. 157. 26 Crook William, 2007 [1797โ€‘1799]. 27 A version of this essay was presented at the Fourth International Conference on Easter Island and East Polynesia. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA, 5โ€‘10 August 1997. It was subsequently published with my colleague Edmundo Edwards in 1998. Millerstrom & Edwards, 1998. List of illustrations Title Figure 1. The Marquesas Archipelago, French Polynesia Credits ยฉ Map courtesy Melinda Allen 2016 URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-1.png File image/png, 48k Title Figure 2. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa. Takaiโ€™i and a sitting tiki Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-2.jpg File image/jpeg, 1,1M Title Figure 3. Anaho, Nuku Hiva. Tioka Puhetini with a tiki discovered on Meโ€™ae Atatai, a fisherman's shrine (331ANA Tโ€‘1) Credits ยฉMillerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-3.jpg File image/jpeg, 408k Title Figure 4. Me'ae Iipona, Puamau, Hiva Oa Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-4.jpg File image/jpeg, 418k Title Figure 5. Tohua Pehe Kua, Puamau, Hiva Oa. The tiki, one of a pair, is presently located at chief Te Hau Moeโ€™s tomb Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-5.jpg File image/jpeg, 40M Title Figure 6. Paepae Paeke, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. A female tiki carved in red volcanic tuff Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-6.jpg File image/jpeg, 2,5M Title Figure 7. Meโ€™ae Utukua, Punaei Valley, Hiva Oa. Credits ยฉPhoto courtesy C. Chavaillon and E. Oliver URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-7.jpg File image/jpeg, 433k Title Figure 8. Haโ€™ataiโ€™veโ€™a, Nuku Hiva. Two petroglyph faces placed on the floor of a rock shelter (331haa 1) Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-8.jpg File image/jpeg, 9,2M Title Figure 9: Vaitahu, Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. Two mata or tiki faces (333vai 1) Credits ยฉ Millerstrom URL http://books.openedition.org/pressesinalco/docannexe/image/33727/img-9.png File image/png, 30k Author Sidsel Millerstrom University of California, Berkeley, Oceanic Archaeology Lab, Archaeological Research Facilities (ARF) By the same author Petroglyphs of the Society Islands within the Polynesian Rock Art Repertoire in Encyclopรฉdie des historiographies : Afriques, Amรฉriques, Asies, Presses de lโ€™Inalco, 2020 ยฉ Presses de lโ€™Inalco, 2020 OpenEdition Books License Textes de stรจles de grands moines (Corรฉe) Titres Primordiaux (Amรฉrique latine postโ€‘colombienne)

The ancient Marquesan anthropomorphic sculptures or tiki have received wide attention since they were first noted in 1595. However, they have not been systematically and scientifically studied until 1984. Stylistically the Marquesan stone tiki followed certain social rules with similar characteristics to tattoos and material objects.

More exploration of the dramatic Marquesas. These islands were once the home of tens of thousands of Polynesians, with stone temples and a vibrant culture. Now one finds small, well kempt villages with friendly

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Tied up in Mangrroves

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"Winston, a category 5 storm traveling with winds at its center of 163 knots was closer than we wanted, but once communications were lost we didnโ€™t know how close.

By 1800hrs the wind was 40 knots and rising steadily. The sound from the exposed top half of the rigging intensified to a piercing shriek. The dull groan from the hull swelled to a pulsing throb as the gale ripped over us at 100 knots. Il Silenzio was being thrown about in the dark like a drunken cork, but we trusted her steel hull and the preparations we had made.

ZAZOO

Zazoo's Joรฃo up on the mast in the cyclone hole

Then we waited. More anchor checking. More rope adjustments.

More was to come in the form of an onslaught of rain in dense sheets, with flashes of lightning and crashing thunder. The initial wind direction created a tide surge and this surge, combined with the low spring tide, drained the river. Il Silenzio touched the bottom in the early hours of the morning and at low water was lying on her hull at about 40หš on a cushion of mud. Even less windage in this position meant greater stability. Sleep was impossible at this angle, so we sat and listened to the drama playing out above us.

As the storm eased towards morning, the tide came in and Il Silenzio popped up. Our fitful dozing drifted into a restless sleep, difficult in 34-degree heat, but possible after a sleepless night. With the worst winds abated by late morning we assessed the damage. No boats had broken free and damage was minimal. Il Silenzio was in good shape, apart from a lawn of shredded mangrove leaves enveloping the deck. Our bolthole had been a good one."

A matrix of ropes reminiscent of spaghetti was the result. With a muddy bottom for good anchoring and a small catchment with not too much runoff, this was an excellent refuge. We filled the dinghy with water for stabilising weight, everything was taken off the deck, the headsail was removed and the mainsail tightly lashed. Then we waited. More anchor checking. More rope adjustments.

A matrix of ropes reminiscent of spaghetti was the result. With a muddy bottom for good anchoring and a small catchment with not too much runoff, this was an excellent refuge. We filled the dinghy with water for stabilising weight, everything was taken off the deck, the headsail was removed and the mainsail tightly lashed.

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GPS Manual Tracking using the Offshore App can be achieved on PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices. The screenshots below are taken using a PC computer, the general principle is the same across all devices, but the look of the App may differ slightly to the screenshots below if you are using Mac, iOS or Android

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Log in to your Offshore App and go to the GPS tracking tab on the left. It should look like this.

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2. Select the Green Download button on the left. Make sure you have selected GPS tracking. Nothing else needs to be ticked for now.

DOWNLOAD ALL

3. Click through to Next > Download All

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4. You should now see yourself off the coast of Africa at 0lat0long in the Default position set for tracking pages. However, you will now be able to see this icon that lets you add a manual GPS location.

 5. Click on it to add your current GPS coordinates and time. Select NOW for the current time. Then select Save Point.

5. Click on it to add your current GPS coordinates and time. Select NOW for the current time. Then select Save Point.

Manual position

6. It will then notify that you have a Tracking Point pending upload/download.

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7. Do another Download the same as last time, and your Tracking point will be uploaded and synchronized with the server. Your tracking page will now reflect your updated position for friends, family and fleet to see.

TRACKING

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13) BOLO ALERT
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BOLO NE of Marquesas, French Polynesia:

BOLO NE of Marquesas, French Polynesia:

Vessel: "SMILES ROWBOAT", MMSI 338399051, U.S. flag

Aaron Carotta on "Smiles* has lost all power and charging capability. He has no comms nor functional navigation equipment. He is also low on food. He therefore set off his PLB on May 28 at 05ยฐ15S 119ยฐ00W. It pinged only briefly. There was a second ping received on May 31 with new coordinates of 5ยฐ 30.00' S 122ยฐ 00.00' W.

The coordinates of the two beacons showed movement of 180 miles @ 266ยฐ.

Based on the assumption that Aaron is still rowing, his estimated location could be as far out, on June 7, 2023, 20:56 UTC, as

5ยฐ 45.360' S

126ยฐ 37.547' W

Aaron's destination is the Marquesas. At the time of last social media update, Aaron communicated his desire to make more southerly and was being hindered by wind and ocean conditions. The bearing from the second ping to the northernmost Marquesas anchorage is 259ยฐ. He has a compass to steer by, but no way to know his position.

Please be on the lookout when approaching that area and report any sightings. Anybody who can help search or BOLO for Aaron should FIRST be in touch with JRCC Tahiti AND ALSO with our FB group to ensure good communication/coordination.

Contact info for Tahiti JRCC:

Email: contact@jrcc.pf

Phone: 0068 940 541 616

FB Group to contact: In Search of Adventure Aaron Carotta

https://www.facebook.com/groups/186285441048310/

If you have means to contact other vessels which may be in the area, please send them the above info, or post on the Facebook page above so one of Aaron's team can try to reach them.

BOLO

Those are all the boats in the area, their registration names and radio IDs and which direction and speed they are heading etc. if they all worked together and honed into a predicted location, they could find SMILES hopefully. Difficulty is knowing if heโ€™s rowing or not. Personally Id conserve energy and water and just float as this also means he would be closer to his last known position

BOLO

14) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL

IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE '23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE you will be assigned access credentials to GOODNAUTICAL South Pacific regions

 

Good Nautical

CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO GOOD NAUTICAL

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

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New Caledonia ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ in Good Nautical

15) HISTORIC PORTS โš“ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

VAVA'U ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ด TONGA

VAVUA

When Captain James Cook arrived in Tonga in 1773, the local king, or Tu'i Tonga, did not intentionally lie to him. However, there might be some confusion or miscommunication that led to misunderstandings between the two parties.

During Cook's visit, he encountered Fatafehi Paulaho, who claimed to be the Tu'i Tonga, the ruling chief of Tonga. However, Fatafehi Paulaho was not the legitimate Tu'i Tonga but rather a local chief who assumed the title. It is believed that he used the opportunity of Cook's visit to elevate his status and gain recognition.

It's important to note that Tonga had a complex social and political structure at the time, with multiple chiefs and sub-chiefs. The concept of a single, central ruler, like the Tu'i Tonga, held different meanings and roles depending on the period and context.

So, while Fatafehi Paulaho may have presented himself as the Tu'i Tonga and Cook might have believed him initially, it wasn't a deliberate act of deception by the king. It was more likely a result of the complexities of Tonga's social structure and the differences in understanding between the two cultures.

Double-hulled canoes, Tonga

Tonga's ability to resist colonization can be attributed to several factors:

Geographic Isolation
Tonga is located in the South Pacific, which made it relatively isolated from major colonial powers during the era of European colonization. The distance and lack of easily accessible resources reduced the incentive for colonizers to establish a permanent presence in Tonga.

Strong Monarch
Tonga had a well-established and centralized monarchy, with a long history of rule by the Tu'i Tonga and later the Tu'i Kanokupolu. The monarchy provided a source of stability and authority, allowing the Tongans to maintain a unified front against potential colonizers.

Skilled Navigators
Tongans had a strong tradition of navigation and seafaring. They were adept sailors and had developed sophisticated navigation techniques, allowing them to explore and interact with other Pacific islands. This expertise and knowledge of the seas might have made potential colonizers wary of engaging with Tonga.

Diplomacy & Negotiation
Tonga had a tradition of diplomatic relationships with foreign powers. Tongan leaders, such as King George Tupou I, engaged in diplomatic negotiations with European powers, establishing treaties that recognized Tonga's independence and sovereignty. These treaties, along with Tonga's diplomatic efforts, helped protect the kingdom from colonization.

Internal Unity & Resistance
The Tongan people had a strong sense of cultural identity and unity, which contributed to their ability to resist colonization. There were instances where Tongans actively resisted attempts at colonization, demonstrating their commitment to preserving their way of life and sovereignty.

Tonga was never formally colonized
it did enter into a treaty relationship with Britain in 1900, known as the Treaty of Friendship. Under this treaty, Tonga maintained its independence but recognized Britain's influence in matters of foreign policy and defense. Tonga remains the only Pacific island nation to never have been fully colonized.

Tonga Sailing

Captain Cook and the โ€˜Friendly Islandsโ€™?

Captain Cook first landed in the Tongan islands on 2 October 1773, during his second Pacific voyage. In 1774 he returned for four days and received such a warm welcome that he named Tonga the โ€œFriendly Islandsโ€. However, it is now widely thought that the Tongan chiefs had planned to attack Cook and his crew and seize the Resolution and Adventure.

CAPTAIN COOK

The first account of the supposed plot against the Resolution was given by William Mariner, a young man serving on the British privateer Port au Prince when it was attacked in Lifuka in 1806. Twenty-six of the crew survived. Mariner was adopted by the chief Finau โ€˜Ulukalala-โ€˜i-Maโ€˜ofanga and lived in Tonga for four years. |

Finau told Mariner that the โ€œFeenowโ€ Cook had known was his father, who had been instrumental in planning an attack on Cook. The plan was called off when the chiefs disagreed about whether to attack under cover of darkness or during the day.

Fฤซnau สปUlukฤlala I (or his brother) on Vavaสปu in 1793, in Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardiere, Voyage in Search of La Perous

Fฤซnau สปUlukฤlala I (or his brother) on Vavaสปu in 1793, in Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardiere,

When Mariner returned to London, he was contacted by John Martin, an ethnographically-minded doctor. Together they authored An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands (1817), one of the most accurate accounts of Tongan life in the early 19th century. In the opinion of most scholars, Marinerโ€™s account is accurate. So was the plot to kill Cook in Tonga real, and was Cook so naรฏve as to be oblivious to the danger? There are some factors to take into account.

When the Port au Prince was attacked in 1806, Tonga had been in the grip of civil war for seven years. The prosperous and scattered people Cook had observed were corralled inside guarded fortresses and slowly starving as harvest after harvest was destroyed by neglect and attacking armies. The different island groups were controlled by warring chiefs, each aware of the advantage which possession of European firearms and iron goods would afford them in their political and economic struggles.

The outbreak of the civil war had very little to do with European arrivals. Tensions between the three chiefly lineages holding spiritual, administrative and political authority had been mounting for nearly two decades, and came to a head with the assassination of chief Tukuโ€˜aho in 1799. By the time Mariner was living with Finau โ€˜Ulukalala-โ€˜i-Maโ€˜ofanga, it was deemed expedient to have a European or two to assist in battles, and as a kind of status symbol.

Tonga. Natche, Ceremony in Honour of King's Son. Cook c1784 by Cook, Captain James The Natche, a Ceremony in Honour of the King's Son, in Tongataboo - a grand and reverent ceremony.

Original copperplate engraving after the drawing by the Admiralty-appointed official artist on the voyage, John Webber (1751-1793). This engraving is part of a series of 78 plates, based on Webber's drawings to include indigenous people, artifacts and views. It was published for Andersonโ€™s โ€œComplete History of Captain Cook's First, Second and Third Voyagesโ€ published in London published by Alexander Hogg circa 1784.

HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI OF TONGA Born โ€˜Ahoโ€˜eitu สปUnuakiสปotonga Tukuสปaho, on 12 July 1959 in Nukuโ€™alofa, he is the 3rd son and youngest of four children of Their late Majesties King Taufaโ€™ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mataโ€™aho.

HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI OF TONGA

Born โ€˜Ahoโ€˜eitu สปUnuakiสปotonga Tukuสปaho, on 12 July 1959 in Nukuโ€™alofa, he is the 3rd son and youngest of four children of Their late Majesties King Taufaโ€™ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mataโ€™aho.

โ€˜Ahoโ€™eitu โ€˜Unuaki โ€˜o Tonga Tukuโ€™aho received three chiefly titles as is customary in the Tongan tradition, He commonly used these titles Prince โ€˜Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, until he became Crown Prince.

Prince โ€˜Ulukalala Lavaka Ata was educated at The Leys School, Cambridge then attended the University of East Anglia in 1980 where he graduated with a degree in Development Studies.

Upon returning to Tonga in 1982, the young prince joined the Navy at the Tonga Defence Services and gaining promotion to Lieutenant-Commander in 1987.

He graduated from the US Naval War College in 1988 and from 1990 to 1995 he took command of the Pacific-class patrol boat VOEA Pangai and led peace keeping missions in Bougainville.

In 1997, he graduated with a Masters in Defence Studies from the University of New South Wales and in 1999 he earned a MA in International Relations from Bond University, Australia.

Prince โ€˜Ulukalala Lavaka Ata joined the civil service in 1998 occupying two portfolios, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was appointed Prime Minister from January 2000 to February 2006. Later that year he received the title Crown Prince Tupoutoโ€™a Lavaka when his elder brother became King George Tupou V.

In 2008, the Crown Prince was appointed Tongaโ€™s first High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Japan until his succession to the Throne in 2012, when his brother King George Tupou V passed away and immediately became King and Head of State.

His Majesty Tupou VI was formally crowned King in July 2015 in a series of ancient private and public ceremonies and religious services attended by both regional and global leaders who travelled to Tonga for this special occasion.

His Majesty married Nanasipauสปu Vaea on 11 December 1982 who his accession to the Throne became Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauสปu Tukuสปaho of Tonga.

16) MEET OUR SPONSORS

  • PREDICT WIND
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  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
  • YACHT AGENTS NUKU HIVA
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  • OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING
  • SHELTER BAY MARINA PANAMA
  • DENARAU MARINA FIJI
  • NAWI ISLAND MARINA
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ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB FIJI ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ SPONSORS THE PACIFIC POSSE

ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB FIJI
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ SPONSORS THE PACIFIC POSSE

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

South Pacific Posse

 

south pacific posse communications
@ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Las Vegas USA

ย 

ย 


FATU HIVA


Clear into French Polynesia

Greetings, Two questions;
-Can you clear in to French Polynesia in Pitcairn?
- How do you apply for the permission to enter French Polynesia? Online? How long in advance should you apply for it?

Pitcairn is NOT French Polynesia -

here are the ports of entry for FP

http://pacificposse.com/french-polynesia

Here is the info on Pitcairn http://pacificposse.com/pitcairn


Sunset Ibex

FLEET UPDATE 2022-07-01

South Pacific Posse

>

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
FLEET UPDATEย 

July 1, 2022

1) THE FLEET CONTINUES WESTWARDย 

2) KIRIBATI OPENS UPย 

ย 
ย 
ย 

South Pacific Posse 13 Particpant Flag States

1) GO WESTย 

As French Polynesia's 90 day visas end the fleet is making it's way out of
French Polynesia - Cook Islands, American Samoa, etc etc QUICK FACT -
There are 10,000 more islands beyond Bora Bora in the South Pacific

ย 

SOUTH PACIFIC FLEET UPDATE LOCATION 2022-07-01

2) ย KIRIBATI ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฎ OPENS UPย 

Kiribati

The Government of Kiribati announced, that all international travel to and
from Kiribati will return to normal on the 1st of August, 2022.

Kiribati

The official announcement also confirmed that the Government of Kiribati
has reduced the compulsory in-country quarantine days for all travelers
from seven (7) to three (3) days.ย 

Kiribati border reopening announcement

Kiribati is not another Tahiti, Hawaii, etc. It has very few visitors, and they
have to be prepared to "rough it." That said, there aren't many
countries where the people are more friendly.

Kiribati Location

KIRIBATI is an island group in Micronesia straddling the equator with 33 atolls.
Kiribati saw some of the worst fighting of the Pacific theater during
the Second World War, including the infamous Battle of Tarawa in
November 1943.

KIRIBATI

3) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Blue Heeler

Blue Heeler's Rainbow

Blue Heeler

SY BLUE HEELER ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Alison & Wayne - Hallberg Rassy 39'

BLUE HEELER WayneBLUE HEELER Alison

4) CROSSING THE DATELINE 180ยฐ MERIDIAN ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FIJIย 

Boat Yoga

Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji. The cigar-shaped island, a massive
shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean across
the Somosomo Strait

Bula from Paradise Resort on Taveuni! This month I have made new tracks from Denarau to Yadua to Savusavu to Viani to Taveuni. I've just uploaded them to the Dropbox folder for your consumption. In the next few weeks I'll make my way to Fulaga, Kadavu and Beqa and share those tracks when I can. Safe sailing!

Bula from Paradise Resort on Taveuni! ย This month I have made new
tracks from Denarau to Yadua to Savusavu to Viani to Taveuni. ย In
the next few weeks I'll make my way to Fulaga, Kadavu and Beqa and share
those tracks when I can.ย 

TAVEUNI IS IN GOOD NAUTCIAL

Yes Anchorages on and near Taveuni, Fiji ย are in GOOD ย NAUTICALย 

Taveuni Straight

The waters in the Somosomo Strait are subject to powerful currents as a
vast amount of nutrient-rich ocean water that fuels the region's
astonishing coral growth. ย 

WHite Wall

The Rainbow Reef on the edge of Taveuni is one of the most famous dive
sites in the South Pacific. The Great White Wall is named because of the
white coral inhabiting the area at depths between 49 and 213 ft

Rainbow Reef

This is also a hotspot for bigger species of marine life, with plenty of
schooling fish, sharks and manta rays during the season.

Dive Sites

SY ย SEAGLUB ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Chris - Hylas 46โ€ฒ

5) IBEX' LAST WEEKS IN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

IBEX

Gold at the end of the Rainbow

Cooks Bay

Cooks Bay - Mo'orea FP

Moorea

Our current anchorage in MO'OREA Cook's Bay FP named after James Cook, despite that he never sailed into hereย 

Sunset

Sunset Alertย 

Fuel Dock Marina Tahina

Fuel Prices will go up 24 % this weekend in French Polyneisaย 

Huahine

Island of HUAHINE - French Polynesiaย 

Huahine

The important thing: once a year the pastor has to bless the vanilla plants - or so I understood with my non existent French

The important thing: once a year the pastor has to bless the vanilla plants - or so I understood with my non existent French

Vanilla Plants in Huahine

Vanilla

Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla. Pollination is
required to make the plants produce the fruit. In 1841, Edmond Albius, a
12-year-old slave child who lived on the French island of Rรฉunion in
the Indian Ocean, discovered that the plant could be
hand-pollinated.ย 

Vanilla

Three major species of vanilla currently are grown globally, all of which
derive from a species originally found in Mesoamerica. ย Hernรกn
Cortรฉs is credited with introducing both vanilla and chocolate to Europe
in the 1520s. In Europe, vanilla was seen mostly as an additive to
chocolate until the French starting using vanilla to flavor ice cream.

Mont Orohena is a mountain located in the South Pacific, on the island of Tahiti. With an elevation of 2,241 metres (7,352 ft)[2] above sea level, it is the highest point of French Polynesia. Mont Orohena is an extinct volcano

The seed pods are gathered up when mature and exposed to the heat of the
tropical sun, or sometimes steamed in modern production. This damages
the pods' cell walls, and the resulting chemical reactions brown the
pods and create the signature vanilla flavor.

View

View of Mo'orea from Tahiti

Dance

We just watched a Heiva dance presentationย 

We just watched a Heiva dance presentation in Bora Bora. If you come this way in July, above is the program.

If you come this way in July, above is the program.

We just watched a Heiva dance presentation in Bora Bora

The Heiva ย is an expression of Polynesian culture. ย The mythical
stage, the venue for this cultural event, will host song and dance
groups

Bora Bora

During World War II, the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific
military supply base, and constructed an oil depot, an airstrip, a
seaplane base, and defensive fortifications. The base, known as "Operation Bobcat", comprised nine ships, 18,000 t of equipment, and nearly 7,000 soldiers.ย 

Roast Suckling Pig

Roast Suckling Pig ย - traditional fare from Polynesian culture. ย 

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡นย  Florian & Vicky- Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

IBEX VickyIBEX Florian

7) PICTURE OF THE WEEKย 

OHANA

SY OHANA at anchor in Bora Bora, French Polynesia ย 

Picture of Ohana haulout in Raiatea Carenage

Picture of Ohana haulout in Raiatea Carenage French Polynesia

ย 

SY OHANA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธย  Aisling & Darryl ย - Lagoon 46โ€ฒ

OHANA AislingOHANA Darryl

8) DRIFT DIVE FAKARAVA ย ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 
ย 

Had a amazing dice at the south pass of fakarava for the full moon! Thousands of grouper!

Had a amazing dice at the south pass of Fakarava for the full moon! Thousands of grouper!

We Sail

Wesail's youtube chanel https://www.youtube.com/c/WEsail/videos

Tetamanu Village south pass Fakarava

Tetamanu Village south pass Fakarava

Pass Drive

SY VA / WESAILย  ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Erica & Warren - Fountaine Pajot 44โ€ฒ

VA

9) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
AWARDS CATEGORIESย 

ย 

HERE ARE THE ย CATEGORIESย 

ย  ย  BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* โœ”ย 

ย  ย  PICTURE OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  SPEEDY AWARD โ€“ SEVENSTAR AWARD โœ” ย 

ย  ย  THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  HIGHEST WIND RECORDED โœ”ย 

ย  ย  SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GALLEY GOD(ESS) โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  NEWLY ADDED โ€“ BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR โœ”

*no bill-fish

Sunsets in Vauatu

Vanuatu awaits

10) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE WEATHER ROUTING ย ย 

Weather Routing

For weather routing ย through the dangerous middle toward s New Zealand or Australia please visit our sponsorsย 
https://pacificposse.com/ocean-tactics

Contact John Martinย 
ย admin@coastalandoffshorecruising.com

WhatsApp / Tel ย +64 27 242 1088

John Martin

John Martin principal of Ocean Tactics has been assisting skippers with weather and passage planning in the Pacific ย for many years is now an official sponsorย  of the South Pacific Posse.

 Sail South Pacific

11) VUDA MARINA ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FIJI
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

vUDA MArina

With pleasure we are happy to announce the ย Sponsorship of the Pacific Posse

Vuda MARINA

Vuda Marina Savusavu Fijiย 

Vuda Marina Fijiโ€™s Favourite Yacht Haven

This ย season the South Pacific Posse will have:

20% discount on docks.

Welcome national beer

And access to all facilities.

Regards,

Adam Wade GM

Adam

Adam Wade

Skype i.d: vudamarina

Tel: +679 666 8214 ย +679 666 8215 ย info@vudamarina.com.fj

Vitu Levu

12) ย MARINA SPONSORS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC ย POSSEย 

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Safe Harbor South Bay โ€“ Chula Vista - USA

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ย Marina Chiapas โ€“ Mexico ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท ย Marina Papagayo โ€“ Costa Rica ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Shelter Bay Marina โ€“ Panama ย 

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ ย Marina Puerto Amistad โ€“ Ecuador ย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย ย Vuda Point Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ ย Yachting World Marina - Port Vila - Vanuatu

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ย Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealandย 

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Rivergate Marina ย - Brisbane ย - Australiaย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Denarau Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Royal Suva Yacht Clubย  - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Savu Savu Marina ย - Fijiย 

Shelter Bay Marina

Shelter Bay Marina Panama a natural ย jump off point for the South Pacific Posseย 

13) TRACKING THE 22' PACIFIC POSSE ย FLEETย 
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PREDICT WIND

Tracking

Visit https://pacificposse.com/tracking to view the progress of the 22 South Pacific Posse Fleet.ย 
To be added visit https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

Gargolye

SY Gargoyle captured a ย sunset with the tip of Bora Bora barely visible on the horizon

SY GARGOYLE ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Kevin & Carla - ย Beneteau 50โ€ฒ

GARGOYLE KevinGARGOYL Carla

14) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPONSORSย 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • CENTENARIO PANAMA CANAL AGENTS
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOSย 
  • YACHT SERVICES NUKU HIVAย 
  • NOUMEA YACHT SERVICES
  • SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
  • WESTMARINE PRO
  • SAILMAILย 
  • OCEAN TACTICS WEATHER ROUTING
  • CLOUD 9 ย FIJI
MARE

15) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

ย SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

More info on Sevenstarโ„ขs services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

Sevenstar

SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT | JULY 01 2022

๐Ÿ›ฅ๏ธ โ›ต SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC ย POSSE

Sevenstar Yacht Transport is proud to continue as a sponsor of the Panama Posse.
True sailing communities with real world cruising experience, such as
the Panama Posse, always inspire us and drives us to provide regular
sailings on established routes as well as expanding into new markets and
ports. Providing professional logistics solutions for sailors and
cruisers all over the world is our core business and the Posse sailing
communities are a true example of what can be possible this day in age
when it comes to flexibility and connectivity. We thank you for the
privilege to be your logistics supplier.

Seven Star

16) PANAMA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ CANAL AGENTย 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gรกlvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick
https://panamaposse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/new-panama-canal-graphic.jpg

17) STRATEGIC PARTNERS
ย 

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Abernathy โ€“ Chandlery โ€“ Panama

Panama Posseย 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners โ€“ Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com โ€“ Delaware

SIGN UP FORย 
THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย 
New Caledonia

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL ยท YOUR CREW ยท YOUR RESPONSIBILITYย 

Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island, NZ
ย 

South Pacific Posse

south pacific posse communicationsย 
ย @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Summerlin USA

ยฉ 2022 South Pacific Posse / Ocean Posse LLC

 


Dreamer at anchor

FLEET UPDATE 2022-06-13

 

 

South Pacific Posse

 

ย 

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
FLEET UPDATEย 

June 13, 2022

TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

1) VANUATU OPENS UP JULY 1ย 

2) AMERICAN SAMOA OPENS UPย 

3) SOLOMON ISLANDS ย OPENINGย 

ย 
ย 
ย 

 

South Pacific Posse 13 Particpant Flag States

 

1) YACHTING WORLD - PORT VILA ย ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ ย VANUATU ย  ย 
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

The
Vanuatu Tourism Office ย is excited to announce that Vanuatu will
open its borders to fully-vaccinated international travelers from 1
July, 2022 with no quarantine or arrival caps.

 

Yachting World

 

Yachting
Worldโ€™s staff is happy to assist you with the same warm friendliness
that we have been offering cruising yachts for more than 25 years.

 

Port VIla

 

Port Vila - Efate -Vanuatu

Yachting World Marina will - hopefully - open

on August 1st -

ย 

Best regards - Elsie - YW

Phone + 678 23273

(if a phone call, ask for Lemara, the office manager)

VHF Ch. 16

email: welcome@yachtingworld-vanuatu.com

 

Vanuatu Chart 82571

 

2) ย AMERICAN SAMOA ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ธ OPENS UPย 

American Samoa - Pago Pago

American Samoa - Pago Pago Harbor

Talofa lava South Pacific Posse,

ย 

Please,
note that American Samoa is currently under a Declaration of Public
Health Emergency for COVID-19 and strict travel restrictions have been
implemented. You can find more information on this website:
www.legalaffairs.as.gov, under "Travel Restrictions" for further
information.

ย 

In
addition, we will need detailed information regarding the vessel and
crew, and the nature of the vessel's request to enter American Samoa.
Please provide the following information:

ย 

ย  ย  ETA:

ย  ย  Vessel Registration Number

ย  ย  Vessel Type/Specifications/Color

ย  ย  Vessel Flag

ย  ย  Vessel Home Port

ย  ย  Vessel contact information: email, radio call sign, satellite phone/Inmarsat

ย  ย  Crew List

ย  ย  Copies of Crew Passports

ย  ย  Copies of COVID19 Test results

ย  ย  Clearance documents from the last port

ย  ย  Where was the vessel scheduled to go upon departing the last port?

ย  ย  Cargo Manifest

ย 

Kindly
submit this information for review. ย Understand that this request
for additional information IS NOT an authorization to enter American
Samoa. ย The vessel is to remain outside of Territorial waters until
further instructions are given. ย As soon as I receive this
information, I will send the request up to the proper authorities for
approval.

ย 

Let me know if you should have further questions in regard to this matter.

ย 

Respectfully,

Chester Manaea

chester.manaea@pa.as.gov

Pago Pago Harbor

3) SOLOMON ISLANDS ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ง OPENINGย 

Honoria Harbour

Honoria Harbour - Solomon Islandsย 

The information on this page is applicable to people who are fully vaccinated and traveling from Fiji to Solomon Islands.

ย Travel is allowed with restrictions for vaccinated travelers

ย Fully
vaccinated travelers aged 18 years and older are allowed to enter the
Solomon Islands under the tourism bubble. Travelers must contact
jremobatu@pmc.gov.sb or Cornelius.Walegerea@mfaet.gov.sb to get approval
from Oversight Committee to enter the country.

Please check the documentation, quarantine, and/or testing requirements before traveling.

Unvaccinated
travelers under the age of 18 who are eligible to take their
vaccination can enter Solomon Island; however, they will need to take
vaccination after arrival.

Honoria Chart

4) ENTRY INTO BOAT YOGA AWARD

 

Boat Yoga

 

More boat chores in exotic places. Cleaning the barnacles off the dinghy at 7 knots.

SY ย RHAPSODY ย ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Sarah & Bob
- Jeanneau 49โ€ฒ

RHAPSODY BobRHAPSODY Sarah

5) SUPPLY CHAIN 102 & ROAD TRIP
PAPEETE MARKET ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

After the Tuamotus, Papeete market is a fruit & vegetable paradise ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

Market

Marchรฉ Papeete ("municipal market") or Papeete Market is an extensive market place in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti.

Market

The market sells fruit, vegetables, fish, oils, handicrafts and various souvenir items.ย 

Market 2

We took the cross island 4WD track today

y, it runs N to S through the center of the islands, can be done by 4WD rental or joining a tour, we enjoyed standing on the benches on the back of a pick up and taking in the amazing views (rather than driving ourselves, as it is steep, windy, pumpy, muddyโ€ฆ) lots of stops incl one up in the mountains at a lunch place.

It
runs N to S through the center of the islands, can be done by 4WD
rental or joining a tour, we enjoyed standing on the benches on the back
of a pick up and taking in the amazing views (rather than driving
ourselves, as it is steep, windy, pumpy, muddyโ€ฆ) lots of stops incl one
up in the mountains at a lunch place.

(rather than driving ourselves, as it is steep, windy, pumpy, muddyโ€ฆ) lots of stops incl one up in the mountains at a lunch place.

Lake Vaihiria

Rather
than driving ourselves, as it is steep, windy, pumpy, muddyโ€ฆ ย lots
of stops incl one up in the mountains at a lunch place.

Waterfalls along the road from Mont Orohen.

Waterfalls along the road from Mont Orohen.

Mont Orohena is a mountain located in the South Pacific, on the island of Tahiti. With an elevation of 2,241 metres (7,352 ft)[2] above sea level, it is the highest point of French Polynesia. Mont Orohena is an extinct volcano

Mont
Orohena, an extinct volcano, with ย an elevation of 2,241 metres
(7,352 ft) it is the highest point of French Polynesia.ย 

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡นย  Florian & Vicky- Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

IBEX VickyIBEX Florian

6) FUEL DOCK & HAUL OUT ADVENTURESย 

NUKU HIVA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ ย FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

We successfully filled up with diesel in Nuku Hiva ๐Ÿ˜Š Interesting arrangement not made for cruisers. No drama for us though. We were lucky with calm seas.

We
successfully filled up with diesel in Nuku Hiva ๐Ÿ˜Š Interesting
arrangement not made for cruisers. No drama for us though. We were lucky
with calm seas.

Horizon is now on the hard in Hiva Oa.

Horizon is now on the hard in Hiva Oa.tight fit, but they are very professional here

Horizon is now on the hard in Hiva Oa.tight fit, but they are very professional here

Tight fit, but they are very professional here

tight fit, but they are very professional here

SY HORIZON ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Anders & Anette - Outbound 46โ€ฒ

HORIZON MichelleHORIZON Christopher

7) PICTURE OF THE WEEKย 

Dreamer Picture of the week !

Dreamer at anchor in Huahine with double rainbow

ย SY DREAMER ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ David & Gerne - Caliber 40lrvโ€™

DREAMER CrewDREAMER Crew

8) SY ACUSHNET ARRIVES IN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 
ย 

We named our boat after the whaling ship that Herman Melville sailed around the world on.ย 

 named our boat after the whaling ship that Herman Melville sailed around the world on. He set sail in 1839 and in the summer of 1842, Melville and his shipmate Richard Tobias Greene (

He
set sail in 1839 and in the summer of 1842, Melville and his shipmate
Richard Tobias Greene ("Toby") jumped ship at Nuku Hiva Bayโ€ฆ the very
bay we are now anchored in!ย 

Acushnet

Nuku Hiva: ย mission accomplished - South Pacific Posse Burgeeย 

They're only around three days away from their destination. Since the rules for checking into French Polynesia have changed while they've been at sea, they are now going to check into Hiva-Oa โ€“ an island thatโ€™s a little closer than Nuku Hiva so theyโ€™ve changed course and are heading there. Watch this space!

Since
the rules for checking into French Polynesia have changed while they've
been at sea, they are now going to check into Hiva-Oa โ€“ an island
thatโ€™s a little closer than Nuku Hiva so theyโ€™ve changed course and are
heading there. Watch this space!

LAND HO ACUSHNET

We love how we can simply haul anchor and move whenever we feel like it, and am so excited to explore this new spot.

Last
night we intended to go to a completely different island but diverted
as we heard the main anchorage was full. Going with the flow is what
sailing is all about I guess. Anyone else like this approach to
traveling?

The bay here in Nuku Hiva is large so we have lots of roomย 

Nuku HIva

Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia ย as seen from the Tehaatiki viewpoint

SY ACUSHNET ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธย  Ross & Saskia ย - Lagoon 46ย 

AKUSHNET SaskiaAKUSHNET Ross
BRAVO ZULU

9) UNEXPECTED EXPENSE ALERT ย 

Two Bags of Laundry Washed and Dried at the Laverie in Papeete

motivation for locals to work on your laundry comes at a ย costย 

After two weeks in Fakarava, Gargoyle is making her way 240nm west to the poster-child for paradise, Tahiti. Timing the tides to allow us to slip through Fakaravaโ€™s narrow southern pass, we departed at 8:00 AM yesterday. The exit proved easier than anticipated though the appearance of a free diver suddenly surfacing five feet off our bow added a touch of excitement. I didnโ€™t have the heart to yell over and startle them as they only had eyes for the mass of sharks hovering below them however a visible float would perhaps be a good idea when diving a navigational channel. Sharks or gargoyles though, pick your fate. Then we were out and a turn to starboard put us on course for Tahitiโ€™s main port, Papeete. Wondering how to pronounce that? Just sing the line from Southern Cross โ€œon the downhill run to Papeete โ€œ. Unfortunately we had zero wind and we motored under a clear blue sky and over a glassy calm sea with just the eternal swell for company. Last night continued calm and we motored slowly towards our destination, hoping for the gods to show us favor and deliver a bit of wind. Finally, as dawn lit the eastern sky the winds settled in enough to allow us to set a sail and make our way, slowly, in the right direction. So as I write this we sail towards towering clouds lit cotton candy pink by another beautiful French Polynesia sunrise. We still have 24 hours to go on our downhill run but journey and destination are in such perfect harmony that we could this run forever.

After two weeks in Fakarava, Gargoyle is making her way 240nm west to the poster-child for paradise, Tahiti.

Timing
the tides to allow us to slip through Fakaravaโ€™s narrow southern pass,
we departed at 8:00 AM yesterday. The exit proved easier than
anticipated though the appearance of a free diver suddenly surfacing
five feet off our bow added a touch of excitement. I didnโ€™t have the
heart to yell over and startle them as they only had eyes for the mass
of sharks hovering below them however a visible float would perhaps be a
good idea when diving a navigational channel. Sharks or gargoyles
though, pick your fate.

Then
we were out and a turn to starboard put us on course for Tahitiโ€™s main
port, Papeete. Wondering how to pronounce that? Just sing the line from
Southern Cross โ€œon the downhill run to Papeete โ€œ. Unfortunately we had
zero wind and we motored under a clear blue sky and over a glassy calm
sea with just the eternal swell for company.

Last
night continued calm and we motored slowly towards our destination,
hoping for the gods to show us favor and deliver a bit of wind. Finally,
as dawn lit the eastern sky the winds settled in enough to allow us to
set a sail and make our way, slowly, in the right direction.

So
as I write this we sail towards towering clouds lit cotton candy pink
by another beautiful French Polynesia sunrise. We still have 24 hours to
go on our downhill run but journey and destination are in such perfect
harmony that we could this run forever.

When was the last time you had so much fun shopping for groceries that you took a picture? We had a great time stocking up on fresh produce and fish at the local market, which is literally across the street from our marina. As with all of Papeete, it's also filled with amazing people. What a great location!

When
was the last time you had so much fun shopping for groceries that you
took a picture? We had a great time stocking up on fresh produce and
fish at the local market, which is literally across the street from our
marina. As with all of Papeete, it's also filled with amazing people.
What a great location!

Beautiful day for a sail from Tahiti to Mo'orea.

Beautiful day for a sail from Tahiti to Mo'orea.

SY GARGOLYE ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Kevin & Carla ย - C.M.P.F. โ€“Beneteau 50โ€ฒ

GARGOYLE KevinGARGOYL Carla

10) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
AWARDS CATEGORIESย 

ย 

HERE ARE THE ย CATEGORIESย 

ย  ย  BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* โœ”ย 

ย  ย  PICTURE OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  SPEEDY AWARD โ€“ SEVENSTAR AWARD โœ” ย 

ย  ย  THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  HIGHEST WIND RECORDED โœ”ย 

ย  ย  SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GALLEY GOD(ESS) โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  NEWLY ADDED โ€“ BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR โœ”

*no bill-fish

Bora Bora awaits

Bora Bora awaitsย 

11) THE DANGEROUS MIDDLEย 
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฐ COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Islands
are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, between
French Polynesia and Fiji. There are fifteen major islands, spread over
2.2 million square kilometers of ocean, divided into two distinct
groups: the Southern Cook Islands, and the Northern Cook Islands of coral atolls.

The
islands were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is older
and consists of six atolls (sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth).

Dangerous Middle

Three options for travelling through the Cook Islands:

Northern Cook Islands only,
approaching from (for example) Bora Bora. Possible stops in order along
the route would be Penrhyn, Manihiki, Suwarrow and then perhaps
Pukapuka.

Southern Cook Islands only, possible stops would be Rarotonga and perhaps either or both of Aitutaki and Palmerston.

Both northern and southern Cooks, starting in Rarotonga, and continuing to Palmerston, Suwarrow and perhaps Pukapuka.

Rarotonga
is a useful first stop because it is the main center for the Cook
Islands, and provisions can be hard to find in the outer islands.
Whether you stop at the outer islands, in particular Palmerston and
Aitutaki can depend on wind direction and draft -- see the notes on the
pages for those islands.

Rarotonga
is a useful first stop because it is the main centre for the Cook
Islands, and provisions can be hard to find in the outer islands.
Whether you stop at the outer islands, in particular Palmerston and
Aitutaki can depend on wind direction and draft -- see the notes on the
pages for those islands.

 

July Pilot Charts Cook Islands

 

July Pilot Charts Cook Islands

 

currents

 

Currents Cook Islands

https://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast1.php?type=rain&region=swp&tim=204

Weather systems moving west to east through the dangerous middleย 

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE WEATHER ROUTING DEALย 

For weather routing thought the dangerous middle visit ย https://pacificposse.com/ocean-tactics

Contact John Martinย 
ย admin@coastalandoffshorecruising.com

WhatsApp / Tel ย +64 27 242 1088

John Martin

John Martin principal
of Ocean Tactics has been assisting skippers with weather and passage
planning in the Pacific ย for many years is now an official sponsor
of the South Pacific Posse.

12) FIJI DISCOVERIES ย ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย ANCHORAGES

Superyacht arriving in Port Denarau

Superyachts in Port Denarau

Chris

Yadua Anchorage photo

Yadua Anchorage
 Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji Anchorage

ย Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji Anchorage

 Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji
 Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji

ย Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fijiย 

SY SEAGLUB ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Chris - Hylas 46โ€ฒ

Chris

13) COPRA SHED MARINA ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FIJI
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

Copra Shed MArina

15% Discount South Pacific Posse

 

COPRA SHED MARINA

 

Copra Shed Marina Savusavu Fijiย 

 

Copra Shed Marina

 

BULA !!!

We are excited to welcome the South Pacific Posse to the Copra Shed Marina in Savusavu

As a special recognition we offer a % discount to all participants of the ย South Pacific Posse vessels

Geoff ย GMย 
and Dolly

Savusavu

14) ย MARINA SPONSORS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC ย POSSEย 

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Safe Harbor South Bay โ€“ Chula Vista - USA

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ย Marina Chiapas โ€“ Mexico ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท ย Marina Papagayo โ€“ Costa Rica ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Shelter Bay Marina โ€“ Panama ย 

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ ย Marina Puerto Amistad โ€“ Ecuador ย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย ย Vuda Point Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ ย Yachting World Marina - Port Vila - Vanuatu

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ย Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealandย 

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Rivergate Marina ย - Brisbane ย - Australiaย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Denarau Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Royal Suva Yacht Clubย  - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Savu Savu Marina ย - Fijiย 

15) TRACKING THE 22' PACIFIC POSSE ย FLEETย 
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PREDICT WIND

 

Tracking

 

Visit https://pacificposse.com/tracking to view the progress of the 22 South Pacific Posse Fleet.ย 
To be added visit https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

16) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPONSORSย 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • CENTENARIO PANAMA CANAL AGENTS
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOSย 
  • YACHT SERVICES NUKU HIVAย 
  • NOUMEA YACHT SERVICES
  • SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
  • WESTMARINE PRO
  • SAILMAILย 
  • OCEAN TACTICS WEATHER ROUTING
  • CLOUD 9 ย FIJI

17) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

ย SPONSORS THE SOUTH POSSE

More info on Sevenstarโ„ขs services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

 

Sevenstar

 

Who is Sevenstar Yacht Transport?

Sevenstar
is the worldโ€™s leading provider of yacht shipping services on a
lift-on, lift-off basis. Sevenstar has access to the Spliethoff fleet of
over 120 company owned vessels. With an impressive 1,500+ transports
per year, they are calling over 100 ports in more than 40 countries
worldwide.

For a quote with the Panama Posse discount please contactย 
Kris Caren

email: kris@sevenstar-usa.com

web: sevenstar-usa.com

18) PANAMA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ CANAL AGENTย 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gรกlvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick
https://panamaposse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/new-panama-canal-graphic.jpg

19) STRATEGIC PARTNERS
ย 

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Abernathy โ€“ Chandlery โ€“ Panama

Panama Posseย 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners โ€“ Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com โ€“ Delaware


SIGN UP FORย 
THE '22 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ย 

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL ยท YOUR CREW ยท YOUR RESPONSIBILITYย 

 

Green Flash

 

Green Flash and Sunset Pictureย 
Bora Bora from Huahine French Polynesiaย 

 

South Pacific Posse

 

south pacific posse communicationsย 
ย @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Summerlin USA

ย 

ยฉ 2022 South Pacific Posse / Ocean Posse LLC


Sunsets

FLEET UPDATE 2022-05-28

South Pacific Posse

REFER A FRIENDย 
TO RECEIVE ย FLEET UPDATES

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
FLEET UPDATEย 

May 28, 2022

TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

1) ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย  FIJIย 
2) SY LEEANNE RUDDER FAILUREย 
ย 
ย 

South Pacific Posse 13 Particpant Flag States

1) ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI ย  ย 
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

RSYC ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ SPONSORS THE SPP

ย FREE 1 MONTH Honorary Membership for South ย Pacific Posseย 

If
any members of the Pacific Posse arrive at Suva I am happy to inform
you that the RSYC will recognize them as a bonafide member of a club and
grant them the privileges as if they were members of a Yacht/Marine
Club!

Royal Suva Yacht Club

Patrick Todd ย 

Rโ€ขSโ€ขYโ€ขC

ย http://www.rsyc.org.fj/

+679 992 2921

gm@rsyc.org.fj

https://pacificposse.com/royal-suva-yacht-club-fiji

Suva Harbor, Fiji ย on the other side of the Datelineย 

Royal Suva Yacht Club

2) ย SY LEEANN RUDDER FAILUREย 

SY Leeanne Rudder Jury Rig Video

The Story:

You
may have noticed we are back in Mexico and not in our original
destination, French Polynesia. As it is a bummer we didnโ€™t make it, we
are so happy to be back with ourselves and the boat in one piece! Long
story short, we were about 500 miles out and found our rudder tube was
cracked and leaking seawater. The fiberglass tube was delaminating from
the hull of the boat. Not good. Trip over. Luckily we noticed the
problem right before we made it to Clarion island which is the last
possible place to stop for another 2000 miles so we pulled over to get a
good look. It was determined by our shoreside support network of expert
sailors that our only course of action was to drop our rudder, epoxy
the leaks, fiberglass some wood gussets around the tube for support, and
sail 550 nautical miles home with no rudder. And thatโ€™s what we did.
Luckily we have a @hydrovane that has its own little rudder that we
could use to help get us home. We could not get it to self steer without
the input of a main rudder so Carson and I had to hand steer the little
windvane rudder two hours on, and two hours off, for 5 days and 550
miles under constant threat of the tube breaking and sinking us the
whole way. This is the very very short version of the story, we will
eventually do a full write up of the whole thing soon. We have a lot of
people to tag and thank for helping us through this which will come with
a full write up. We just wanted to get a short explanation out to all
our friends on here who are wondering whatโ€™s going on with us! We are
safe, the boat is safe, and most importantly we are happy as ever!ย 

 Yes, we did have issues with our rudder. We started to hear โ€œknockingโ€ from our rudder post near the top bearing about a day and a half from clarion island so we stopped there to wait for better wind and do some inspections. When we took a look down at our rudder post we found that the fiberglass tube was delaminating and was seeping seawater. So, with our team of experts we all agreed that the rudder had to come out. With the help of the Mexican navy, we were able to successfully drop the rudder in the water at clarion island. Then we built gussets to stabilize the tube and fiberglassed all around the tube. Once that was set and the tube was more stable, we got towed out to sea, set the sails, and sails back to PV using only our Hydrovane rudder. We had to had steer 2 hours on 2 hours off for 5 days. The seas were big and we fought the boat rounding up every few minutes. We used dragging devices and had the sails reefed the entire time. We are now resting in a hotel in PV getting some much needed sleep!

ย We
have spent the last few days doing repairs so that we can safely sail
back the 550 nautical miles.it will take us roughly 5-6 days and we will
continue to update daily. We thank you all for your support through
this journey.

Back in Mexico

We are docked! After 17 days we have arrived safely back in La Cruz, MX .

Yes,
we did have issues with our rudder. We started to hear โ€œknockingโ€ from
our rudder post near the top bearing about a day and a half from clarion
island so we stopped there to wait for better wind and do some
inspections. When we took a look down at our rudder post we found that
the fiberglass tube was delaminating and was seeping seawater. So, with
our team of experts we all agreed that the rudder had to come out. With
the help of the Mexican navy, we were able to successfully drop the
rudder in the water at clarion island. Then we built gussets to
stabilize the tube and fiberglassed all around the tube. Once that was
set and the tube was more stable, we got towed out to sea, set the
sails, and sails back to PV using only our Hydrovane rudder. We had to
had steer 2 hours on 2 hours off for 5 days. The seas were big and we
fought the boat rounding up every few minutes. We used dragging devices
and had the sails reefed the entire time. We are now resting in a hotel
in PV getting some much needed sleep!

Rudder jury Rig

We
are now headed to London!! A big pivot from our South Pacific plans but
we are determined to make the best of it! Getting in a lil belated
honeymoon trip exploring Europe over the next few weeks ๐Ÿฅณ SV LeeAnn
will be hauled out next week, repairs done, put back in the water and we
will return to her whole again!ย 

We canโ€™t wait to explore a new place!ย 

With love,ย 

LEEANNE

With love,ย 

SY LEEANN ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธย  Jamie & Carson - Beneteau Oceanis 46โ€ฒ

Carson
Jamie

3) ENTRY INTO GALLEY GOD(DESS ) AWARD

Galley Godess

Thought Iโ€™d send through some pics for Galley Goddess Award.

Below is Pizza cooked on the Cobb at Punaruku, Makemo, and above Fried Chicken on the Cobb, Fakarava.

BLue Heeler

Cheers!

Blue Heeler update on our time at Fakarava.ย 

Useful info if youโ€™re heading that way.ย 

http://blueheelerhr39.com/2022/05/26/fakarava-tuamotos/

WALL OF SHARKS!! Fakarava Tuamotos by Sailing Blue Heeler
Vessel leaving Passe Tiputa at Rangiroa one hour before high tide. Increased swell in region causing strong outflow. The guy on the bow is having fun!

Vessel
leaving Passe Tiputa at Rangiroa one hour before high tide. Increased
swell in region causing strong outflow. ย The guy on the bow is
having fun!

Passe Hiria de Tiputa - Rangiroa

Passe Hiria de Tiputa - Rangiroaย 

SY ย BLUE HEELER ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Ally & Wayne - Hallberg Rassy 39โ€˜

BLuee Heeler
Alison

4) SUPPLY CHAIN 101
ย FAKARAVA, TUAMOTUS ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

Fakarava Magasin

This
is the Tumoana magasin in Fakarava on Wednesday morning when the supply
ship arrives. ย Thirty three boats are in the anchorage are vying
for the limited fruits and veggies at this small table as each box of
items is set out. ย Nearly all the fruit/veggies were gone in two
hours. ย  Same thing happened at the boulangerie south of town at
15:00. ย Plan your arrival the evening prior to get into town early.

Magasin

Inside
the atoll is a lagoon. ย The atoll is comprised of coral reefs
called motus. ย Between these motus are small channels that are
created by seawater coming through the atoll from the ocean. ย Carl
and I spend hours snorkeling and floating from the edge of the atoll
into the lagoon. ย The channels can be shallow or very deep. This
one was about 200 meters long and 30 feet deep. ย Loaded with bright
coral (purple, pink, yellow) and school of brightly colored fish.
Floating with the inbound tide current over these wonders is like
flying in your dreams. ย After painting from my paddle board, I dove
in.

ROxy

SY SKY POND ย ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ย ย Carl & Roxy - Seawind 1160 38โ€ฒ

Roxy
Carl
Fakarava

Fakarava, Tuamotus, French Polynesia is in Good Nautical

5) PICTURES OF THE WEEKย 

ย 

The Ibex ย Sunset Series

Ibex

Tuamotus ย Sunset ย 1ย 

Tuamotus Sunset

Tuamotus ย Sunset ย 2ย 

Tuamotus Sunset

Tuamotus ย Sunset 3ย 

Ibex and the Coconut Oil Factory

Ibex and the Coconut Oil Factoryย 

rotosieve

Classic Rotosieve add coconut meat on top oil comes out of the frontย 

End product once packaged

End product once packaged

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡นย  Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

FLorian
Vicky

6) SY RHAPSODY ARRIVES IN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 
ย 

ย About
3:00 am. Morning of day 20, graveyard watch as usual. Sarah mentioned
seeing skimming birds feeding at dusk last night when we were just under
100 nm. from land. Birds are always our last send off and first
greeters on passage. Also, as is usual since leaving Panama, a red
footed booby has chosen our bow rail to rest for the night. We marvel at
the flexibility and unwavering tenacity their webbed feet display in
gripping slimy, salted 1โ€ stainless steel pipe bouncing about for hour
upon hour.

4:00
am. The chart plotter shows we are nearing our first possible glimpse
of terra firma since leaving views of San Cristobal, the western most
volcanic landscape of the Galรกpagos Islands, in our wake almost 3 weeks
ago. UO-HUKA, at the eastern edge of French Polynesia, is for now just a
lurking, dark, blurry shape resting nebulous on the southern horizon
under overcast and moody skies. The waxing half moon set 2 hours ago.
Weโ€™ve been getting scattered spit, drizzle, and mini squalls since
sunset causing the need to put away cushions and pillows to dry corners
only to return them minutes later.After 20 days at sea,

Over 3000 nautical miles,

5 trips by Bob into the back lazerette to fix the autopilot

One broken halyard

One Code Zero sail retrieved from the water

3 days of on and off hand steering ย Land Ho!ย 

LAND HO RHAPSODY

Exerts from their blog https://www.rhapsodyontheblue.com ย 

In
finishing up our passage from the Galapagos Islands to French Polynesia
I asked my family if they had any questions for us. They came up with
some great ones. My answers are in blue, and Bob's are italicized .ย 

ย 

What
was something that you loved that you didnโ€™t foresee and what was
something you were worried about that you didnโ€™t need to be?ย 

Although
it was not technically on this section of the passage, I loved the
Doldrums. Admittedly we had a motor and so we were not relying on the
wind to get us through, but I loved the stillness of the ocean. The
absolute glassiness of it. The things that I worried about I am not sure
that I didnโ€™t need to concerned about. We worried about them so that we
would do everything we could to stop them from happening.ย 

Better
than I thought was how fast the time passed, with special thanks to
reading. ย I worried that sleep loss could become a cumulative
problem, but that wasn't really the case.

ย 

How
was your experience extending a strange alternating sleep schedule over
the long time period? Did you ever fall asleep on watch?ย 

Our
watch schedule is a natural extension of our typical habits. Bob tends
to fall asleep earlier than I do, and thus wake up earlier. We just push
this schedule to its limits and it works well. Bob falls asleep as
early as he can, sometimes as early as 7, then wakes up at 1 or 2 and
takes over from me. I like to stay up reading, so I just push that to
staying up later and later, then I get to sleep in the morning. There
were certainly days that our rhythms were interrupted by weather or
equipment breakage, but then we just take turns napping during the day.

My
experiences on previous passages prepared me well mentally, however on
this passage the motion of the boat was a greater challenge to both
getting and staying asleep.

What would you do differently if you did it again?

I
would download more podcasts, they are great company on nightwatch. I
thought I had done so, but most of them were gone by the time I wanted
to listen to them.

I agree with more podcasts, but if we could find the right person, another crew member would be worthwhile.

What food that you provisioned did you wish you had more of and which food did you never actually eat?

We
would have liked to have more non dairy ice cream but the freezer just
couldn't hold any more. Also more lettuce would have been nice, but it
is difficult to get it to last.

I
agree with the lettuce and ice cream, and would add more hummus. We did
not use many canned goods, but those are really provisioned for our
remaining months before large groceries in Papeete.

Did
you think about people who had made this crossing before access to
technologies you have? Anyone in particular? Did you feel connected to
past explorers and sailors in some way out in the vast open blue?ย 

Thank
goodness for technology! To do this without GPS, our chartplotter and
our Sat phone would have been a totally different experience, ย and
not something that I believe it would have enjoyed. I did think about
those who came before us and how their experiences differed from ours.

Certainly
one cannot discount the advantages of GPS and the security that
knowledge feeds you every day you are out of sight of land. When I think
of the Polynesians, that for thousands of years, explored these same
waters by reading the waves, the wind, and determining their location by
holding their hand up to the stars, I am humbled.ย 

All
who have gone to sea before us, and all our fellow cruisers today
readily share information. Technology and information properly applied
keeps us safe, and allows us to continue following in the path of the
real explorers.

ย 

At what point in your crossing did you feel most isolated?

For
a while our text messaging app was not working. ย When I wasn't
getting any messages from the outside world I definitely felt isolated.

When
the autopilot had troubles twice in one day, along with battery
charging issues, I felt we could be out there days longer with constant
handsteering and maybe a loss of refrigeration. But isolation is
relative when you know you just have to fix things the best you can and
keep going.

ย 

What was the most: Fun? Rewarding? Emotionally moving? Boring? Challenging? Unexpected?

Wow,
that's a lot! Boring is easy - the lack of being able to do many things
I love to do, go for a walk, make art, make music. There was just too
much motion of the boat to feel comfortable enough to do the last two.

Unexpected
would be the number of small (4-5 inches) squid that would be found on
deck in the morning at the beginning of the passage. At night I could
shine a bright light into the water and see the light reflecting in the
red eyes of the squid. They disappeared about halfway through the
passage, but on our list of things yet to do is to clean up the squid
ink on deck.

Most
fun was ten minutes with dolphins swimming along in our bow wake. Most
rewarding was finally getting to prove we could do it. Getting the
battery charger and autopilot to work again, thus avoiding minor
calamities was a real emotional lift. Most boring was the first third of
a book by William F. Buckley I gave up on. Most challenging was
remaining able bodied and more or less upright for 20 days straight on a
broken carnival ride. Unexpected, was how quickly the time passed.

Were there times when you were nervous or scared?ย 

We
have made enough smaller passages that I wasn't really nervous or
scared, but as is often the case, the most nerve-wracking is usually at
the end. In this case in the last 24 hours we had winds up to 25 knots
and 3 meter seas. We have had continuing issues with our bio growth in
our fuel and clogging the filters. We (and by we, I mean Bob) changed
the filters for safety reasons for the last hour before entering the
harbor at Nuku Hiva. The winds we gusting up to 22 knots and the waves
were 3 meters and coming at us from the side. We were motoring at this
point to get into the harbor. At the mouth of the harbor are two very
large rocks they call sentinels that we had to pass between. We were
making plans as to what to do if the engine failed at that point (pull
out the sails and turn back out to sea). For me this was definitely the
hairiest part of the passage. All ended well, the engine didn't die, we
made it past the sentinels, into the harbor and safely set anchor.ย 

Sometimes the way Sarah looks at me when she's handing me the hammer is pretty scary.

Favorite constellations as viewed mid-ocean?ย 

Transit of Venus and Jupiter every morning just before first light.

I
loved watching the Milky Way and seeing the Southern Cross, but I have
to admit that for all the hype that the Southern Cross gets, it is
pretty small in comparison to Northern Hemisphere constellations like
the Big Dipper or Orion. I think that the Souuthern Cross must have a
pretty good agent promoting it.

How did the food provisioning work out?

Our freezer is not big enough for everything that we would like to bring, otherwise excellent.

Our
chocolate stash of artesian chocolate from Chocolopagos lasted until
the very last days, then we knew it was time for landfall. We still had
some carrots, cabbage and potatoes left at the end, we did not have to
resort to a totally canned meal.

How do you navigate? Do you shoot the sun just for fun?

We
have no sextant aboard. We rely on satellite GPS, either through our
chartplotter or our handheld radios. GPS is worldwide accurate. Besides,
too many billion cell phone users, militaries, and Uber drivers need it
for it to fail. If by the strangest twist of fate GPS failed we would
fall back to our compass, paper charts, the position of stars and
planets if visible, and dead reckoning. You adapt.

We
plot a course on the chartplotter before we depart and then over the
length of this long passage we attempted to stay on course, often
correcting for the wind and the currents which seemed to want to take us
further south than we wanted to go.

What is the deepest part of the Pacific that you have crossed?

I think about 19,000 ft.

When
we are sailing over the top we can't really tell if the water is
several hundred feet deep or several thousand, ย it all looks the
same. And once the numbers go over several hundred feet our depth
monitor just says: depth - - -

ย 

RHAPSODY ARRIVES

SY RHAPSODY ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Sarah & Bob ย - Jeanneau 49โ€ฒ

Bob
Sarah
BRAVO ZULU

7) MEET THE FLEETย 

MEET THE FLEET

Retired medical doctor sailing ย with my wife Guylรจne from Marseille to New Zealand with our ย 42' aluminum sloop.

SY KAWAINE II ย ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Guylรจne & Jean-Dominique - C.M.P.F. โ€“ Fecamp 42โ€ฒ

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
AWARDS CATEGORIESย 

ย 

HERE ARE THE ย CATEGORIESย 

ย  ย  BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* โœ”ย 

ย  ย  PICTURE OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  SPEEDY AWARD โ€“ SEVENSTAR AWARD โœ” ย 

ย  ย  THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  HIGHEST WIND RECORDED โœ”ย 

ย  ย  SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GALLEY GOD(ESS) โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  NEWLY ADDED โ€“ BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR โœ”

*no bill-fish

Clarity of Kandavu Waters

50 feet visibility at anchor in Kandavu ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Fijiย 

9) OHANA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ THE OTOGI PASSย 
TOAU, TUAMOTUS FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

 passe otugi slack Toau - Otugi Pass, Tuamotu Archipel by SY OHANA

Video of ย Passe Otugi slack tide Toauย  Tuamotus, French Polynesia

Bays

Anchored at Anse Amyot Toau, French Polynesia 15ยฐ48'10.5"S 146ยฐ09'07.7"W ย TOAU

Tuamotu 2

SY OHANA ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ย Aisling & Darryl - Lagoon 46โ€ฒ

Aisling
Darryl
Anse Amyot Toau in Good Nautical

10) CHRIS ย SCOUTN SYDNEY ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย AUSTRALIA

Seaglub

Meet
Chris on SeaGlub - Lead Vessel of this season's South Pacific Posse
currently scouting the Australia Routes at select whiskey bars in
Sydneyย 

The Baxter Inn - Sydney

11) MO'OREA ย ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ WINDWARD ISLANDSย 
FRENCH POLYNESIA

Gargoyle

Cooks Bay, ย Moorea, Society Islands, French Polynesiaย 

Mo'orea

Mo'orea history

According to recent archaeological evidence, the Society Islands were settled from Samoa and Tonga around 200 AD.ย 

Nine
tribal principalities emerged in the enclosed valleys, which in turn
were subdivided into individual clans. The stratified society was
characterized by a hierarchical leadership whose elite combined both
political and religious power. The leading families of Mo'orea remained
linked by marriage and kinship for centuries with those of the
neighboring island of Tahiti. These connections led to important
alliances, but at other times were also the source of bloody
conflicts.ย 

The
marae, a stone platform, was where the gods communicated with the
Polynesians and political, social and religious decisions were made. The
marae was tapuโ€”sacrosanct. To violate it was to call down the godsโ€™
wrath.

On
Moโ€˜orea ย the largest collection of maraes is in the Opunohu
Valley. More than 550 structures have been uncovered, including more
than 100 maraes.ย 

On Moโ€˜orea, 10 minutes from Tahiti by plane (30-45 minutes by ferry), the largest collection of maraes is in the Opunohu Valley. More than 550 structures have been uncovered, including more than 100 maraes.

SY ย GARGOLYE ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆย  Kevin & Carlaย  - Beneteau 50โ€ฒ

Kevin
Carla

12) ย MARINA SPONSORS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC ย POSSEย 

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Safe Harbor South Bay โ€“ Chula Vista - USA

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ย Marina Chiapas โ€“ Mexico ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท ย Marina Papagayo โ€“ Costa Rica ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Shelter Bay Marina โ€“ Panama ย 

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ ย Marina Puerto Amistad โ€“ Ecuador ย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Vuda Point Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ ย Yachting World Marina - Port Vila - Vanuatu

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ย Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealandย 

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Rivergate Marina ย - Brisbane ย - Australiaย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Denarau Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Royal Suva Yacht Clubย  - Fijiย 

13) SAMOA ๐Ÿ‡ผ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย 

Samoan Dancer

Polynesian Samoan dances in Apia ๐Ÿ‡ผ๐Ÿ‡ธ Samoa

Aggie Grey's

The ancient art of fire (sword) dancing originated ย in Polynesia
Taking
his inspiration from the Samoan warrior, a ย fire knife dancer
takes center stage twirling, tossing, catching and throwing a flaming
machete at high speeds.ย 

Fire

Taking
his inspiration from the Samoan warrior, a ย fire knife dancer
takes center stage twirling, tossing, catching and throwing a flaming
machete at high speeds.

The
fire knife itself, called โ€œnifo oti," is an ancient Samoan weapon that
features a 14-inch blade with a hook on the end. ย Before the
addition of fire, the traditional Samoan knife dancer portrayed the
movements of the warrior at battle. The custom eventually evolved into
performance art, with the dancer slicing objects in mid-air.

nifo oti samoa

Human migration ย from Indonesia into Micronesia, Melanesia and ย Polynesiaย 

Cultures

During
Colonial times Samoa consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i,
Apolima and Manono ย was a German protectorate from 1900 until the
takeover by New Zealand forces during World War 1

German Colony

The
takeover of Samoa was New Zealand's first military action in World War
I. In late August 1914 with landings by the Samoa Expeditionary Force
from New Zealand on behalf of King George V. The Samoa Expeditionary
Force remained in the country until 1915.ย 

MAP

Vailima,
a German-style lager brewed in Samoa here are two versions to choose
from, the normal 4.9% strength and the the export-only 6.7%.

Vailima, a German-style lager, has been brewed in Samoa since 1978. There are two versions to choose from, the normal 4.9% strength and the the export-only 6.7%.

14) HOW WE FLOAT OUR ANCHOR CHAINย 

Picture of the Week

Where and why we float the chain:ย 
At
anchorages with (lots of) coral heads to avoid the chain tangling on
those coral heads. If the chain would tangle on the coral heads it would
have a couple of adverse effects: the catenary effect of the chain is
reduced (or even eliminated if tangled very close to the bow of the
yacht), lifting the anchor might be difficult or even impossible without
diving, the galvanization of the anchor chain chafes off faster, more
coral gets destroyed. The adverse effect of floating the chain is
obviously to loose the friction of the part of the chain which is
floating. The way we position / deploy the buoys we end up with some 10m
chain on the seabed. There is obviously a residual risk of even that
chain tangling, but less likely given of the length of the chain
thereafter and rather stable wind direction of the trade winds.

Floating your anchor chain over coral explained

Which buoyancy devices we use:ย 
When
we arrived in the Tuamotus we started off with fenders as we did not
carry anything else. The disadvantage of fenders is that they compress
if they submerse, one gets growth on them, etc. Those hard plastique
pearl farm buoys are much better. Some people say, they are washed
ashore everywhere in the Tuamotus. Well that was not our experience.
Kauehi was our first atoll and in any reasonable distance from the
village the shore line was cleaned by the locals. Nevertheless, many
villagers have their stash of pearl farm buoys in their gardens. So we
simply walked to one obviously very friendly fellow and asked whether we
could have four of them. He actually picked the four nicest he had, of
the same color, including lines attached to them and did not even want
to have anything in return. We put on clips/little carabines to the ends
of the lines for fast attachment / detachment to/from the anchor chain
and were ready to go.

ย 

What kind of clips we use:ย 
We
use little stainless steel carabiners, the size is basically driven by
the diameter to fit through a chain link, i.e. it needs to be
sufficiently thin (we have a 10mm DIN chain, so carabiners end up being
like 4-5cm in length), we use different sorts, i.e. whatever we found in
our related spare part bag

ย 

Where we position the buoys:ย 
Our
approach is to put the first buoy typically / normal conditions at 10m
plus water depth from the anchor, then a buoy every 5m of chain, after
the fourth we let out another 7-8m of chain and then hook the bridle.
There are other recommendations which take a multiplier to water depth
(like 1.5x or 2x water depth), but we just find that not suitable to
accommodate for all ranges of water depths. The 10m basically decides
how much chain ends up on the seabed, one could do less if the sandy
patch is really small or more if there is a larger sandy patch to anchor
(in case one sees that at all).

With
this approach we end up with a few meters more chain out than based on
our non-floating chain length rule under normal conditions (we apply
waterdepth plus 30m) โ€“ in bad conditions we obviously deploy more in
both cases (non-floating and floating).

ย 

How we deploy the buoys:ย 
First
we explore to find the spot we want to anchor as usual. If possible we
would look for a sandy patch for the anchor itself, but despite the
clear water, when anchoring in deeper water we are not able to see for
good and/or be able to drop the anchor that accurately. We put out as
much chain as we feel comfortable to โ€œdrive inโ€ the anchor. Then we pull
up the chain again to the first spot for the first buoy (the 10m +
water depth), then put out 5m chain, attach a buoy, etc. (lifting the
anchor is as usual, just stopping at every buoy and unclipping it, it
does not really delay the process once one gets the hang of it).

ย 

How we clip on the clips:ย 
For
us it is exactly the same as putting the chain hook / bridle on. So in
our case we have to bend over the pull pit and downward to clip them on,
but as said, thatโ€™s the same as we do with the bridle as well and
โ€œnormal procedureโ€ for us. If we had a set-up where the chain hook would
come through the bow roller, the clips could go through as well as they
are way smaller than our chain hook and in our case it would be easy to
get a clip and line from the front through the bowroller back on deck.
Difficulties I could only see arising if it was โ€“ due to bow design /
set-up โ€“ tricky to get to the chain outside of the bow or the clip from
the front through the bowroller back on deck or into the chain locker,
but thatโ€™s set-up specific, hard to comment in general (in the worst
case I would deploy by dinghy).

ย 

General experience:
ย In
general, the boat swings easier than with a non-floating chain, due to
the missing friction of the chain length towards the yacht. In places
where the wind is dominant anyways and is stable trade wind from the
same sector all the time, thatโ€™s no issue at all. In places, where
swinging is dominated rather by current or tide, one obviously has to
check for the space.

In
our case only the buoy closest to the yacht is floating on water level
in a low wind situation, the others are submersed. We actually measured
in one instance the depths of the clips on the anchor chain on an
anchorage where the anchor was at 11.5m depths: the clips of the buoys
were at 7m, 4m, 2m and 0m water depth respectively (starting from the
anchor) at low wind.

Floats

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น ย Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

FLorian
Vicky

15) TRACKING THE 22' PACIFIC POSSE ย FLEETย 
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PREDICT WIND

Tracking

Visit https://pacificposse.com/tracking to view the progress of the 22 South Pacific Posse Fleet.ย 
To be added visit https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

16) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPONSORSย 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • CENTENARIO PANAMA CANAL AGENTS
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOSย 
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17) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

ย SPONSORS THE SOUTH POSSE

More info on Sevenstarโ„ขs services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

Sevenstar

Who is Sevenstar Yacht Transport?

Sevenstar
is the worldโ€™s leading provider of yacht shipping services on a
lift-on, lift-off basis. Sevenstar has access to the Spliethoff fleet of
over 120 company owned vessels. With an impressive 1,500+ transports
per year, they are calling over 100 ports in more than 40 countries
worldwide.

For a quote with the Panama Posse discount please contactย 
Kris Caren

email: kris@sevenstar-usa.com

web: sevenstar-usa.com

18) PANAMA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ CANAL AGENTย 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gรกlvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick
https://panamaposse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/new-panama-canal-graphic.jpg

19) STRATEGIC PARTNERS
ย 

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ย 

ยฉ 2022 South Pacific Posse / Ocean Posse LLC


Floatin Chain

FLOATING THE ANCHOR CHAIN

Where and why we float the chain: At anchorages with (lots of) coral heads to avoid the chain tangling on those coral heads. If the chain would tangle on the coral heads it would have a couple of adverse effects: the catenary effect of the chain is reduced (or even eliminated if tangled very close to the bow of the yacht), lifting the anchor might be difficult or even impossible without diving, the galvanization of the anchor chain chafes off faster, more coral gets destroyed. The adverse effect of floating the chain is obviously to loose the friction of the part of the chain which is floating. The way we position / deploy the buoys we end up with some 10m chain on the seabed. There is obviously a residual risk of even that chain tangling, but less likely given of the length of the chain thereafter and rather stable wind direction of the trade winds.

Which buoyance devices we use: When we arrived in the Tuamotus we started off with fenders as we did not carry anything else. The disadvantage of fenders is that they compress if they submerse, one gets growth on them, etc. Those hard plastique pearl farm buoys are much better. Some people say, they are washed ashore everywhere in the Tuamotus. Well that was not our experience. Kauehi was our first atoll and in any reasonable distance from the village the shore line was cleaned by the locals. Nevertheless, many villagers have their stash of pearl farm buoys in their gardens. So we simply walked to one obviously very friendly fellow and asked whether we could have four of them. He actually picked the four nicest he had, of the same color, including lines attached to them and did not even want to have anything in return. We put on clips/little carabines to the ends of the lines for fast attachment / detachment to/from the anchor chain and were ready to go.

 

What kind of clips we use: We use little stainless steel carabiners, the size is basically driven by the diameter to fit through a chain link, i.e. it needs to be sufficiently thin (we have a 10mm DIN chain, so carabiners end up being like 4-5cm in length), we use different sorts, i.e. whatever we found in our related spare part bag

 

Where we position the buoys: Our approach is to put the first buoy typically / normal conditions at 10m plus water depth from the anchor, then a buoy every 5m of chain, after the fourth we let out another 7-8m of chain and then hook the bridle. There are other recommendations which take a multiplier to water depth (like 1.5x or 2x water depth), but we just find that not suitable to accommodate for all ranges of water depths. The 10m basically decides how much chain ends up on the seabed, one could do less if the sandy patch is really small or more if there is a larger sandy patch to anchor (in case one sees that at all).

With this approach we end up with a few meters more chain out than based on our non-floating chain length rule under normal conditions (we apply waterdepth plus 30m) โ€“ in bad conditions we obviously deploy more in both cases (non-floating and floating).

 

How we deploy the buoys: First we explore to find the spot we want to anchor as usual. If possible we would look for a sandy patch for the anchor itself, but despite the clear water, when anchoring in deeper water we are not able to see for good and/or be able to drop the anchor that accurately. We put out as much chain as we feel comfortable to โ€œdrive inโ€ the anchor. Then we pull up the chain again to the first spot for the first buoy (the 10m + water depth), then put out 5m chain, attach a buoy, etc. (lifting the anchor is as usual, just stopping at every buoy and unclipping it, it does not really delay the process once one gets the hang of it).

 

How we clip on the clips: For us it is exactly the same as putting the chain hook / bridle on. So in our case we have to bend over the pull pit and downward to clip them on, but as said, thatโ€™s the same as we do with the bridle as well and โ€œnormal procedureโ€ for us. If we had a set-up where the chain hook would come through the bow roller, the clips could go through as well as they are way smaller than our chain hook and in our case it would be easy to get a clip and line from the front through the bowroller back on deck. Difficulties I could only see arising if it was โ€“ due to bow design / set-up - tricky to get to the chain outside of the bow or the clip from the front through the bowroller back on deck or into the chain locker, but thatโ€™s set-up specific, hard to comment in general (in the worst case I would deploy by dinghy).

 

General experience: In general, the boat swings easier than with a non-floating chain, due to the missing friction of the chain length towards the yacht. In places where the wind is dominant anyways and is stable trade wind from the same sector all the time, thatโ€™s no issue at all. In places, where swinging is dominated rather by current or tide, one obviously has to check for the space.

In our case only the buoy closest to the yacht is floating on water level in a low wind situation, the others are submersed. We actually measured in one instance the depths of the clips on the anchor chain on an anchorage where the anchor was at 11.5m depths: the clips of the buoys were at 7m, 4m, 2m and 0m water depth respectively (starting from the anchor) at low wind.

Floatin Chain

BY IBEX FLorian and Vick SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE '22


Picture of the Week

FLEET UPDATE 2022-05-13

South Pacific Posse

blovck

May 13, 2022

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
FLEET UPDATEย 

TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

1) FRENCH POLYNESIA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ ย FULL RESET

2) NEW ZEALAND ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ OPENS JULY 31

3) FIJI ย ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FREE WELCOME DRINKS AT CLOUD 9

4) COOK ISLANDS ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ย OPENINGย 

South Pacific Posse 13 Particpant Flag States

1) FRENCH POLYNESIA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ ย FULL RESETย 
ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ

UPDATE ON PORTS OF ENTRY FRENCH POLYNESIAย 

Bonjour,

I
have just recveid an email from the DPAM showing that the requirement
to request permission to enter has been lifted according an order from
the High commissionerโ€™s office.

The
DPAM no longer requires nor will they treat any requests to enter
French Polynesia. ย Below is the translated text from the DPAM.

This
also means and I have a confirmation that the restriction on entry
ports has been lifted. ย It will take a week or more for the other
islands to be aware of this change.

ย 

I hope you all are as happy about this news as we are.

ย 

Cheers, Kevin.

ย 

Kevin

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva ย Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

YSNukuHiva@hotmail.com +689 87 22 68 72ย 

Bay

Hello,
You will find attached the order HC 917 CAB of May 9, 2022 amending the
order HC 7934 CAB of November 15, 2021. This order deletes IV of
article 36 relating to reporting obligations and authorizations prior to
the arrival of pleasure boats. As a result, entry clearance requests
put in place for the COVID crisis are no longer required and will no
longer be processed. Cordially,

Hello, You will find attached the order HC 917 CAB of May 9, 2022 amending the order HC 7934 CAB of November 15, 2021. This order deletes IV of article 36 relating to reporting obligations and authorizations prior to the arrival of pleasure boats. As a result, entry clearance requests put in place for the COVID crisis are no longer required and will no longer be processed. Cordially,
French Polynesia

2) ย NEW ZEALAND ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ OPENS JULY 31

New Zealand

From
31 July 2022, New Zealandโ€™s maritime border will reopen to currently
prohibited foreign flagged vessels including cruise ships, recreational
craft, and specialist vessels.

Further information about arriving in New Zealand via sea from 31 July will become available on the Ministry of Health website.

COVID-19 update for Private Yachts on C4G/Temporary Import entry (TIE)

In
January 2022 Customs sent out a reminder notice that the COVID-19
extension for vessels in New Zealand on C4G/Temporary Import Entry
concludes on 30 June 2022. ย Customs accepts that under the current
environment there have been some that are unable to comply.
Customs has taken this into consideration and the date has now
been extended for a further 12 months.

OPUA

OPUA PORT OF ENTRY NEW ZEALAND

RESTRICTIONS ย 
WHAT YOU CAN NOT BRING INTO NEW ZEALAND

MAF

New
Zealand Customs Immigration and Biosecurity Officers are very friendly
but will remove all prohibited items and destroy themย 

3) FIJI ย ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย FREE DRINKS AT CLOUD 9ย 
AND NO MORE QUARANTINEย 
FOR PEOPLE OR YACHTS

CLOUD 9 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI ยท SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

CLOUD 9 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI ยท SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

BULA BULA ย ย 

JUST FOR VISITING US FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU RECEIVE 2 FREE WELCOME DRINKS PER SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE YACHTย 

Cloud 9

The
Iconic barrier reef location of Cloud 9 is a great spot to view,
mingle, play and relax and watch the sunset from - bring your yacht !

 CLOUD 9 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ FIJI ยท SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

JOIN US ON THE REEF FOR AN AMAZING TIME ON THIS ICONIC FIJI BARRIER REEF

http://www.cloud9.com.fj/

+679 869 7947

Drinks on Cloud 9

Sometimes it's nice to get off the boat and drink out of proper glass especially if the drinks are FREE

Cloud 9 Video

Download your Fji Resourcesย 

4) COOK ISLANDS OPENING ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ย 

LAgoon anchorage

COOK ISLANDS ARE OPEN VIA RAROTONGA AVIATU ย 

must be vaccinatedย 

meet normal requirements for maritime entry

meet normal immigration requirements

https://goodnautical.com/cook-islands/port-of-entry/avatiu

"Our
extremely high vaccination rate has given us a very high level of
protection against Covid, with an incredible 98% of our eligible
population aged 12 and over having had at least two vaccine doses as of
this week, along with 80% of our 5-11 year-old population."ย 

Kia orana tatou katoatoa, e kia manuia.

Hon Mark Brown Prime Minister, Cook Islands

Prime Minisiter

5) PICTURES OF THE WEEKย 

Ibex

A beautiful sunset on our light-wind and no-waves sail to the Tuamotus ibex

MArquesas

The Spires of Ua Pou

In
1791, American Joseph Ingraham passed through the northwest group of
the Marquesas on his way to China,[ ย but without setting foot
there. He gave the island of Ua Pou, visible in the distance, the name
"Adam" or "Adams Island" after Vice President John Adams.

It
was also formerly known as Trevenen Island. The name Ua Pou means "two
pillars" and perfectly reflects its orography. It has also been written
as Ua Pu, Hua Pu and Ropo.

It
is considered that the real European explorer was the French
circumnavigator ร‰tienne Marchand (1755-1793), who arrived shortly after,
on June 20, 1791, anchored with his ship Solide first in Vaiehu Bay, on
the west coast, and then off Hakahau. He remained off the island for a
total of three days, but contacts with the inhabitants during the brief
excursions ashore were limited. Marchand named the island "รŽle
Marchand," after his own surname.

The
arrival of the U.S. whaling ship Tuscan from Nantucket on March 4,
1835, was a prelude to other encounters with whalers, adventurers, and
someewhat shady traders in the following years, who brought firearms and
alcohol to the tribes.ย 

The
year of Ua Pou's final submission to French rule is considered to be
1880, when Rear Admiral Abel Bergasse Dupetit-Thouars ย forcibly
removed the last resistance. The Marquesas then became a French colony.

ย 

It
is located about 28nm ย south of Nuku Hiva, Marquesas. The island
is characterized by four high basalt pillars ย the tallest Mount
Oave rises 1,230 m (4,040 ft) above sea level and is the highest
elevation in the Marquesas.ย 

Ua Pou
When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days ๐Ÿ˜€ (Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days ๐Ÿ˜€

When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days ๐Ÿ˜€ (Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

(Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

(Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡นย  Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

Vicky
FLorian

6) SY VA ARRIVES IN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ FRENCH POLYNESIAย 
ย 

As many times as we have probably wanted to kill each other while living on a boat we have also become a little better and a little stronger because of it. Okay maybe A LOT stronger, even if there are a few more grey hairs amongst us LOL! But despite the obvious challenges created by living on a small, isolated, susceptible, floating home that is always trying to sink, break, or kill us, we wouldnโ€™t trade this life for anything. Reality check: Life on a boat is hard, life on a boat with your significant other, well yeah itโ€™s fucking harder. 24/7 togetherness isnโ€™t always rainbows and rum punches. We argue, we yell, we fight just like any other couple would on land. We have been married 4 years, and on the boat it feels more like 10. Many people who choose this life, generally speaking, have been married already for a lifetime, and have had time to figure each other out before putting themselves in a situation like living on a boat, but for us we sorta just packed it all in for our first 4 years of marriage. But itโ€™s worked, and itโ€™s working, and we are figuring it out together. At the end of the day we are partners and we just have each other!

WE
officially made it! After 34 days, 2400 miles, 80 eggs, 30 avocado, 50
tomatoes, 10 banana breads, 4 soaking squalls, 8 rolls of toilet paper,
and 2 bags of rice. We caught 11 fish and successfully brought on board
3.5 and possibly had the shortest record setting doldrums crossing (that
we know of)

WE have made it to The Marquesas.

Our
Pacific Ocean passage was unlike anything else. We had a solid crew and
spirits were high every step of the way. We hope you were able to
follow along on our tracker with daily blogs of our time at sea.

We have so much to catch up but for now we are eager to get our feet on some terra firma.

WE SAIL ARRIVES

WE SAIL aka "SY VA" with their South Pacific Burgee

Largest Ocean

There
is very little that could compare with the feeling of sailing across
the worlds largest OCEAN under your own skills and canvas, being at sea
and then having these islands be the first place you see.ย 

We Sail

Arrival in the Marquesas

LOG ENTRYย  Day 36 Tue Apr 19 2022 ย 04:30 GMT 10ยบ 30.721 S ย 138ยบ 41.362 W Course: 243ยฐ true, 0.0 ktsย 

LAND HO

Today
I complete something that I have worked towards for several years, and
dreamed about for many, many more. I have had the pleasure of sailing
across the worlds largest expanse of open ocean, aboard a sound and
solid vessel with able crew that took on each day and every obstacle
with grace and courage, not a complaint or doubt among us. The lessons
have been numerous, only outnumbered by the moments of wonder and awe,
with mother nature and the gods of the ocean coming together to grant us
pass, and to shine on us with not just good fortune, but the best of
fortunes during this, the largest of undertakingsโ€ฆ I wonโ€™t be the first
to write this and itโ€™s no secret to explorers, but its clear that the
more that one is willing to put on the line and risk in his endeavors,
the more he stands to gain, and looking back I suppose we definitely put
a lot on the line and went out on a few branches, but itโ€™s equally true
that weโ€™ve always been paid back in spades and this experience has been
no different. Itโ€™s been WAY more than I could have ever asked for, and
Iโ€™m honored to have followed in the footsteps of the great explorers who
risked way more than we ever did. My final parting thought is this: now
that we donโ€™t risk jinxing things by mentioning them I can say this -
OK first the doldrums: itโ€™s unbelievable that we got through them in the
lightning speed that we did, thanks Aelous & Neptune/Possidon, much
appreciated and we wonโ€™t forget it. Secondly, the boat and her hardware
weathered every and all storms with only a few small items to address
and no major failures or losses, thanks VA and the Universal magic that
clearly watches over us all! Lastly thanks to the sea for sharing a few
of her ancient secrets, the ones that cannot be told, sold, or traded,
but must be claimed in person, I will keep them close to heart for the
rest of my life.

VA's Track

SY VA ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ Erica Thomas ย  - Fountaine Pajot 44โ€ฒ

Erika
Thomas
BRAVO ZULU

7) GOOD NAUTICAL NEEDS YOU ย 

Over the last 12 years we have added over 7,000
anchorages into Good Nautical - and ย  are looking to enhance this
information with first hand accounts from you - please add pictures,
details and updates as you see them.
ย 

Minerva Reef

The iconic Minerva Reef Yacht Club Anchorage

MINERVA
REEF - ย Please email us your anchorages and tracks to safeguard
them for those who will attempt them after you please email your tracks (
any format ) ย  to
registration@pacificposse.comย 

North MInerva Reef Entrance

ย The
Minerva Reefs (Tongan: Ongo Teleki) are a group of two submerged atolls
located in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji and Tonga. The islands are
the subject of a territorial dispute between both nations, and in
addition were briefly claimed by American Libertarians as the centre of a
micronation, the Republic of Minerva.ย 

MInerva Reef

The
reefs were named after the whaleship Minerva, wrecked on what became
known as South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829. Many other
ships would follow, for example Strathcona, which was sailing north
soon after completion in Auckland in 1914. In both cases most of the
crew saved themselves in whaleboats or rafts and reached the Lau Islands
in Fiji.ย 

Sailing Nikau's blog about Minerva Reef

The
reefs were first known to Europeans by the crew of the brig Rosalia,
commanded by Lieutenant John Garland, which was shipwrecked there in
1807. The Oriental Navigator for 1816 recorded Garlandโ€™s discovery under
the name Rosaretta Shoal, warning that it was โ€œa dangerous shoal, on
which the Rosaretta, a prize belonging to his Majesty's ship Cornwallis,
was wrecked on her passage from Pisco, in Peru, to Port Jackson, in
1807โ€. It noted that it was โ€œcomposed of hard coarse sand and coralโ€, a
description that must have come from Garlandโ€™s report. It also said that
โ€œfrom the distressed situation of the prize-master, Mr. Garlandโ€, the
shoalโ€™s extent could not be ascertained, and concluded: โ€œThe situation
is not to be considered as finally determinedโ€. It cited different
coordinates from those given by Garland: 30ยฐ10 South, longitude 173ยฐ45'
East. ย The reefs were put on the charts by Captain John Nicholson
of LMS Haweis in December 1818 as reported in The Sydney Gazette 30
January 1819.[3] Captain H. M. Denham of HMS Herald surveyed the reefs
in 1854 and renamed them after the Australian whaler Minerva which ran
aground on South Minerva Reef on 9 September 1829.ย 

MInerva Reef Wrecks

A wreck inside the Minerva Reefs

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSEย 
AWARDS CATEGORIESย 

ย 

HERE ARE THE ย CATEGORIESย 

ย  ย  BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* โœ”ย 

ย  ย  PICTURE OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  SPEEDY AWARD โ€“ SEVENSTAR AWARD โœ” ย 

ย  ย  THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD โœ”ย 

ย  ย  HIGHEST WIND RECORDED โœ”ย 

ย  ย  SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GALLEY GOD(ESS) โœ”ย 

ย  ย  GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR โœ” ย 

ย  ย  NEWLY ADDED โ€“ BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR โœ”

*no bill-fish

9) MEET THE FLEETย 
SEA PEARL

MEET THE FLEET

Hello South Pacific-Posse,ย 

We are Luisa and Matthias sailing on our 2008 Dufour 455 GL.ย 

We
started our present journey in August 2021. Since then we traveled the
Mediterranean westwards and hopped over Madeira, some of the Canarian
Islands and Cape Verde to the southern Caribbean Islands. Since then our
course was northwards with a touring point in Eleuthera/Bahamas. We are
now on our way back south to Panama and are planning the canal crossing
mid of June to sail on-wards into the big Pacific.ย 

Bays

We are looking forward to meet you guys and share our experiences along the way.ย 

Personal
facts: we are 28 (Luisa) and 34 (Matthias) and have been dinghy-sailing
since our childhood on Bavarian inshore lakes. We are both German and
our journey shall last a total of two years, so we are planning to
return to our normal lives by end of August 2023.

Tracking

10) CHRIS ON SEAGLUB GOT THE BURGEE

Seaglub

Meet
Chris on SeaGlub - Lead Vessel of this season's South Pacific Posse
currently scouting the Fiji - New Caledonia - Australia Routeย 

11) LANDFALL IN ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ณ PITCAIRN ย 

Pitcairn

Pitcairn
is the least populous national jurisdiction in the world. The Pitcairn
Islanders are a biracial ethnic group descended mostly from nine Bounty
mutineers and a handful of Tahitian consorts โ€“ as is still apparent from
the surnames of many of the islanders. The mutiny and its aftermath
have been the subject of many books and films. As of January 2020, the
territory had only 47 permanent inhabitants.ย 

The Landing

Horizon landed in Pitcairn today. 2700nm in 17 days from the Galapagos. We felt
like we were on the ย "Cream Run". Beam Reach all the way. We were a
little worried that the engine would not start after 14 days (but it
did :-) . Life is good and Pitcairn and the people here are amazing.

SY ย HORIZON ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธย  Anders & Anette - Outbound 46โ€ฒ

Annette
Christopher
BRAVO ZULU

12) ย MARINA SPONSORS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC ย POSSEย 

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ย Safe Harbor South Bay โ€“ Chula Vista - USA

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ย Marina Chiapas โ€“ Mexico ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท ย Marina Papagayo โ€“ Costa Rica ย ย 

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ย Shelter Bay Marina โ€“ Panama ย 

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ ย Marina Puerto Amistad โ€“ Ecuador ย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Vuda Point Marina - Fijiย 

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ ย Yachting World Marina - Port Vila - Vanuatu

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ย Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealandย 

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ย Rivergate Marina ย - Brisbane ย - Australiaย 

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฏ ย Denarau Marina - Fijiย 

Wallis and Futuna

Roasted pigs of Wallis and Futuna on St. Chanel Day

Festivals and dance Wallis and Futuna

Numerous
festivals are celebrated in Wallis and Futuna throughout the year; on
St Chanel Day, pigs are roasted and placed in the sun, and dancing
performances are held. The Wallis and Futuna Festival is put on in
Noumea annually. Flae fones are community feasting and meeting
structures.ย 

There
are at least 16 types of dances (faive), their differences based upon
location, occasion, number of dancers, gender, accompanying instruments,
and other modifiers. Most dances are accompanied by singing and some
type of percussion instruments as dancing without drumming is considered
unusual. The kailao (paddle-club dance), however, has no song and only
includes percussion. ย Wallis and Futuna dancers perform across the
Oceania region at festivals.ย 

ย There
is not much tourism in the two islands. The natural heritage of the
territory is largely preserved; there are not many recreational sites in
Wallis and Futuna.ย 

Souht Pacific Posse

13) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPONSORSย 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • CENTENARIO PANAMA CANAL AGENTS
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOSย 
  • YACHT SERVICES NUKU HIVAย 
  • NOUMEA YACHT SERVICES
  • SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
  • WESTMARINE PRO
  • SAILMAILย 
  • OCEAN TACTICS WEATHER ROUTING
  • CLOUD 9 ย FIJI

14) PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Picture of the Week

view from Makemo dinghy dock

SY KISMET ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Kevin - Passport 41โ€ฒ

Kevin

15) ARANUI 5 SUPPLY & CRUISE SHIPย 
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ ย FRENCH POLYNESIA

Our โ€žintimateโ€œ Aranui 5 experience in Kauehi ๐Ÿ˜€

M/V
Aranui 5 is a dual passenger/cargo vessel that entered service 12
December 2015 between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. With a homeport
of Papeete, French Polynesia, the Aranui 5 replaced the Aranui 3 which
entered service in 2003.

Our โ€žintimateโ€œ Aranui 5 experience in Kauehi ๐Ÿ˜€

Like
its predecessor, is registered as a passenger ship under the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), for
international operation.

Apart
from supplying cargo to the six ports in the Marquesas Islands, Aranui 5
also operates a passenger service and tourist cruise as part of its
14-day itinerary. It also stops at the islands of Rangiroa and Fakarava
in the Tuamotu Islands before returning on its 13th day to Bora Bora in
the Society Islands.ย 

Supply landing craft
Arnui 5

Vessel particulars:

ย  ย  Flag: France

ย  ย  Length: 126 m. Breadth: 22 m. Draught: 5.2 m.ย 

ย  ย  Cruising speed: 15 knots

ย  ย  Propellers: 2

ย  ย  Freight: 3000 tons

ย  ย  Capacity: 230 passengers โ€“ 103 cabins

Aranui 5 in Tahuata

SY IBEX ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น ย Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42โ€ฒ

Vicky
Floria

16) TRACKING THE 22' PACIFIC POSSE ย FLEETย 
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PREDICT WIND

Tracking

Visit https://pacificposse.com/tracking to view the progress of the 22 South Pacific Posse Fleet.ย 
To be added visit https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

17) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

ย SPONSORS THE SOUTH POSSE

More info on Sevenstarโ„ขs services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

Sevenstar

Who is Sevenstar Yacht Transport?

Sevenstar
is the worldโ€™s leading provider of yacht shipping services on a
lift-on, lift-off basis. Sevenstar has access to the Spliethoff fleet of
over 120 company owned vessels. With an impressive 1,500+ transports
per year, they are calling over 100 ports in more than 40 countries
worldwide.

For a quote with the Panama Posse discount please contactย 
Kris Caren

email: kris@sevenstar-usa.com

web: sevenstar-usa.com

18) PANAMA CANAL AGENTย 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gรกlvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick
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MArquesas

UA
HUKA is one of the smallest islands of the Marquesas French Polynesia.
Home of the โ€œgreat houseโ€ of gods overlooking the ocean, this wild and
deep universe offers a preserved nature with steep slopes and desert
plateaus.

The
population lives mainly horse breeding in the highlands, because there
are more horses on the island than people, fishing and coprahculture.

They live around Vaipaee, capital of the island which has an archaeological museum located in the local authority.

Ua
Huka is also the place whre the Marquesasโ€™ most ancient archeological
sites can be found. The preservation of cultural heritage and
environmental protection are very important for the local population.
You can visit the site Meiaute with red stone tikis, the cave โ€œPasโ€, the
birdโ€™s island, petroglyphs of vaikiki and many others.

Traditional
arts, seen in โ€œtapaโ€ factories or monoi fabrication places โ€œKumu Heiโ€
are also preponderent in wood or stone carving.

Horses
South Pacific Posse

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