Location 16° 32S, 151° 44.7W
Sunday, 08.19.2007

The Schooner Maggie B sailed through the Pass in Bora Bora at about 0945 this Sunday morning, the 19th of August. We are at about 16° 32.0S, 151° 44.7W I say “about” because, for the first time in a long time, the GPS and chart don’t match up. The difference is only 300 meters, but then the Pass is only 200 meters wide. It certainly is a good reminder to keep one’s eyes open. I did also do hand-bearing-compass sights to nail down our position, but they came out crazy, until I saw the note on the paper chart “Magnetic Anomalies.” And then a little later “Differences in Latitude and Longitude may exist between this chart and others.” So, anyway, we are in a marvelous spot, let here by our friend Richard Postma of Taravana and his son Kahai and his granddaughter.

We had a quiet motor sail from Papeete. Dodged Huahine, Tahaa and Raiatea, which was easy. Also dodged perhaps half a dozen cruise ships rushing back to Papeete for the next change-over, or whatever.

We have had a lovely welcome from Bora Bora already and our “dance card” is filling up fast. We are near the famous Hotel Bora Bora, where my father has been going for 45 years. Dad was made the First Honorary Citizen of Bora Bora when he was here last. We have already had the chance to check in with six pals. Bora Bora will be great fun even before our yachtie friends from Papeete arrive! We hope to work out the opportunity to do a traditional pig roast (underground oven, cook for a day, etc.) with all our new and old friends.

All is well.

Location 17° 35.2S, 149° 37W
Saturday, 08.18.2007

At 1400 today we departed the Marina Taina 17° 35.2S, 149° 37W for Bora Bora. The day is overcast with some rain and no wind. It is about 135 NM to Bora Bora, so we should enter the pass at about 1000 tomorrow morning. Having come to Bora Bora many times since 1972, it is going to be very interesting and emotional to sail (wind permitting) in through the pass.

We are greatly regretting Theresa’s departure this morning for the Gambier Islands, to join a sloop, TeTega that we met in Raivavae. We all hope that she has a safe journey and we will do our best to keep a sense of her Joie de Vivre on board.

Kath Moore will join us and Willis Sautter will return on September 8th and 9th in Bora Bora. Willis was with us from Cape Town to the Seychelles and we met Kath in Hobart, where she was Mate of the Windward Bound, a Brigantine.

We had two marvelous days in Moorea. We anchored just outside Cook’s Bay in a deep hole that didn’t give us much swinging room. One high point was to have a drink with a long-time friend Moana Suchard, who is chief designer for Tapu, a Tahitian surf clothing firm. It was fascinating to hear how he got the inspirations for next year’s successes, as well as the dynamics of leading the creative work for an international clothing company, from a perfect house on the beach in Moorea.

On returning around Moorea yesterday to Tahiti, we had the pleasure of watching a mother and tiny calf humpback whale pair play around at the edge of the reef.

In Marina Taina, we had gotten to know the crew of some of the Super Yachts. Friday night is BBQ night, and last night was a lovely one. We have persuaded the crew of at least one of the yachts to bring her along to Bora Bora for “training” while her owner is away, so we’ll have some pals to play with….

All is well.