Bora Bora with Tilikum
We had to leave the shaft alternator and the dinghy motor on Raiatea for repairs. Rather than sit in Raiatea for a week waiting, we sailed to Bora Bora for the week. Pete and I were both happy to be returning to Bora Bora. It is beautiful. The first night we stayed at the town dock. That evening there was a dress rehearsal for the dance competition that will be held the following evening.
Remember we saw them practicing weeks ago when we were on Rhum
Punch. We walked over to the small viewing stands and watched. The next
evening we watched the competition.On Friday, June 29, we rented bikes and did a circle island tour. It's 18 miles around the island. We stopped at Bloody Mary's, a famous restaurant. The floor is white sand and the chairs are cut logs. Pete had a "world famous" Bloody Mary and I had a frozen margarita.
On June 30, we moved the boat from the town dock to an anchorage
at the south end of the island. We all went snorkeling at a small coral head in
the middle of the lagoon about a ten minute swim from our anchorage spot. As
usual the water was crystal clear and turquoise.
On July 3, we convinced Dario
to move the boat to the anchorage near the Aquarium. I was at the helm the
whole time. Dario was up front with binoculars looking for markers. Pete was at
the bow looking for coral heads and directing me around them. Mike was at the
first spreader on the mast also looking for coral heads. Juan was below looking
at the depth meter to make sure we didn't run aground. (Yes, the depth meter
screen is at the navigation station. Something I have never seen on a boat
before. Usually the screen is in the cockpit so the helmsman can keep an eye on
it. When Dario had Juan mount the depth meter, he had it put at the navigation
station. Actually the depth meter is a fish finder and you would normally find
it on a fishing boat. Oh well, at least it works.)