News

Update on Recent Developments

June 15, 2010

TAHITI-MOOREA SAILING RENDEZVOUS

Out in Tahiti, dancers are rehearsing, musicians are tuning up their ukuleles, and paddlers are polishing up their outrigger canoes in anticipation of the Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous, June 18-20.

Our associtates in Tahiti have worked out the details of this three-day event, and are ready to accept entries. Please be aware that the fleet size will be limited to 70 boats due to space and budget constraints.

As in the past, berthing will be available at the yacht quay along the downtown Papeete waterfront. It will not be free this year, but the Port Authority may give a discount to Puddle Jump boats.

Online sign-up is at www.archipelagoes.net/tmsrv.

Hope to see you there!

- Andy Turpin, Latitude 38 magazine

RENDEZVOUS SCHEDULE:

Friday June 18: Yachts quay, Papeete town center - Tahiti
Noon-4.30pm: The Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous 2010's village

• Meet our organization team at the committee booth and receive your welcome kit (information folder, briefing documents, T-shirt and partners gifts).
• Discover parts of the Polynesian culture through several booths: soap creation, Polynesian library, black pearl discovery, handcraft, traditional dances, and marine environment associations.
• Invitation to experience and sail on a Polynesian traditional sailing canoe.
• Invitation to learn how to weave palm tree leaves, etc.

6.30pm-8:00pm: Meeting in Papeete City Hall’s garden

• Polynesian skippers blessing ceremony.
  
• Speech and briefing for rally participants.
• Inauguration cocktail party.

Saturday June 19: Tahiti-Moorea sailing rally

• 9:00am: Sailing boats leave Papeete Harbour motoring to the pass of Papeete and sail together to Moorea, Opunohu ‘s bay.
• 9:30am: Start of the rally outside the coral reef of Papeete’s pass and in between two speedboats of the organizing committee. In Papeete’s pass, a Polynesian percussions band will greet you.
• Around 2:00pm: Line up with the two land beacons before crossing the pass.
• Anchor in the turquoise waters on the east side of the pass, in front of Mareto’s beach (see briefing instructions).
• Then come ashore on the beach and meet with us for a welcome cocktail.
• Optional evening: Barbecue Party on the beach with movie projection
  about Moorea history. Barbecued foods for sale plus bar items

Sunday June 20: Full day of festivities on Mareto’s beach, Moorea
Full day of festivities on Mareto’s beach, Moorea, including a Polynesian canoe race, a Polynesian dancing show, a traditional Tahitian sports contest, a luncheon buffet, gifts and more. All arranged to welcome cruisers.

9:30am-3:00pm:

• Fun race on V6 outrigger canoes with combined crew (3 polynesian paddlers & 3 sailors of the rally, by canoe). Departure from the beach for a 30 minutes race.
  
• Optional Tahitian Lunch: opening of the underground Tahitian oven and traditional cooking (ma’a) to enjoy on Mareto’s beach (cost with prior registration, 3500 Fcp only).
  
• During the afternoon: Handcraft, traditional sports demonstrations and other entertainment.

3:00pm:

• Awards ceremony, closing speech and free cocktail party.
• Last dance.

February 26, 2010

Ahoy Puddle Jumpers,

We want to give you an update on some recent developments.

BOND EXEMPTIONS
As some fleet members have already heard via the Yahoo.com Pacific Puddle Jump group, directors of the Tahiti Yacht Club have declined to offer to get our fleet bond exemptions this year, as they did last year, citing concerns over liability. Frankly, that generous offer seemed too good to be true, and it was. However, we have found an excellent solution.

EU passport holders are NOT required to post a bond, but all Americans and other non-EU sailors normally must post a cash bond (refundable when you exit) of roughly the value of a return air ticket to your country of origin, unless A) you can show possession of such an air ticket or B) you use a ‘yacht agent’ to obtain a bond exemption letter for you.

French Polynesia has two such agencies: and . Both have worked with the fleet in the past, and are anxious to work with us again this year. Their pricing structures are quite different, however.

We assume that most fleet members will want to work with Tahiti Yacht Agents, as they have made the extremely generous offer to do all of the following for a flat fee of about $110 USD, including the cost of the electronic payment to them.

1. Obtain bond exemptions for all of a boat’s crew regardless of how many.
2. Do clearance in and out.
3. Give you a duty free fuel document which will save you roughly $2 USD / gallon.

Even if you do not use the competing company, Polynesia Yacht Services, for these initial services, you may choose to use them for additional services during your stay. Both companies have received mostly positive feedback from past fleets.

If you are a member of the non-commercial Puddle Jump group at Yahoo.com, you will find a detailed letter in the “Files” section, labeled “Entering French Polynesia.” Written by four-time Puddle Jumper Bob Bechler, it is a concise explanation of the entry process, and is accompanied by the service offerings of both Polynesia Yacht Services and Tahiti Yacht Agents. Do not delay in studying these.

If you are not a member of the (free) Yahoo group, you should be, because its members share all sorts of excellent up-to-date info through daily emails, and the files section contains a wide range of useful info that all Puddle Jumpers should have. There is also a database of 2010 passage-makers. To join, simply go to www.yahoo.com, search for “Groups” then request to join the “pacificpuddlejump” group (no spaces).

NINTY-DAY VISAS
We were just informed last week that the initial visa for all American (and possibly also other non-EU sailors) will now be for 90 days instead of the previously standard 30 days (which was extendable to 90). This is very good news as it will save everyone lots of hassle.

TAHITI-MOOREA SAILING RENDEZVOUS, JUNE 18-20
Our associates in Tahiti work very hard every year to put on this annual three-day event which is designed with the dual purpose of welcoming the fleet to French Polynesia and introducing fleet members to traditional Polynesian music, dance, sports and cuisine. It also serves as an ideal way to celebrate your successful crossing with other fleet members from around the world. We hope you will time your arrival at Papeete so you can join in the fun. By encouraging a large turnout of international yachts, we are helping to reinforce the argument that cruisers are an important niche of French Polynesia’s overall tourism market.

After the opening days’ activities, we’ll rally/race to Moorea. There we’ll have all sorts of entertainment and beach games, the highlight of which will be six-person outrigger canoe races where cruisers mix with locals. A good time is practically guaranteed! More info to come on this, and other events in French Polynesia.

Many thanks,
Andy Turpin, Managing Editor
Latitude 38 magazine