• Public Gallery  • Help
		• Join Now!  • Log In  • Feature Tour

Gerard Coulson | Home > Browse:Palmerston AtollRaiatea, Tahaa and Bora BoraTahiti and MooreaThe TuamotusThe MarquesasPacific OceanGalapagos 2Galapagos 1Inland EcuadorCrossing the Line - Panama to EcuadorOur Panama Canal TransitRio ChagresPanamaSan Blas 2San Blas 1Colombia, CartagenaBonaire divingThe ABCsOffshore IslandsOrinoco flowInland Venezuela - we go on tour!Venezuela - en routeTrinidad 2Trinidad 1GrenadaThe Tobago CaysSt Vincent & the GrenadinesDominica and St LuciaIsles de SaintesGuadeloupe againSt Kitts and NevisAntiguaIsles de Saintes and GuadeloupeDominica 2Dominica - CarnivalDominicaMartiniqueSt Lucia, West IndiesThe Atlantic CrossingSao AntaoSao Vincente, Cape Verde IslandsSan Sebastian, La GomeraTenerife againThe Atlantic - Take 1TenerifeGib to TenerifeIn GibraltarA weekend in MoroccoSpain and Portugal then to GibraltarEngland to SpainVideo Clips/Family photos/Current Position
The Marquesas Les Isles Marquises are the first of the French Polynesian islands on our route through the Pacific.  Arriving at Fatu Hiva after 23 days at sea was amazing; the anchorage was stunningly beautiful, and the people ashore gave us our first glimpse at how friendly the Polynesians can be.  On Fatu Hiva the small community of 200 people welcomed us and were generous with their hospitality, inviting us to a Fathers’ day celebration after church.  In church we became hooked on the Polynesian singing, which has to be heard to be believed. After Fatu Hiva we sailed north to Hiva Oa, where we cleared in, re-provisioned (French bread and croissants being a real treat) and hired a 4WD car to travel to the north of the island over progressively bad roads to the small village of Puamau where we saw a famous Tiki site (ancient stone statues carved by the first settlers of the islands) and where again we were invited to take part in a local lunch celebration. From Hiva Oa we sailed south-west to Tahuata and enjoyed 3 anchorages although the swell in each made going ashore a perilous affair.  The highlight of the frist anchorage was spending a lazy hour snorkelling with a school of manta rays.  Again in the village of Vaitahu we were overwhelmed by the generosity of the locals, and by the beauty of the surroundings.  Lovely, lovely islands. Date(s): June and July 2007. Album by Gerard Coulson. Photos by Gerard Coulson. 1 - 65 of 65 Total. 12417 Visits.
The Myrdinns welcome us in We arrive with the supply boat.  Dropping off a car The wharf at Fatu Hiva Lots of locals gather when the supply boat comes in Marquesas 06 Local girls selling trinkets The sea wall protects the wharf.  Supply boat in the anchorage Local church Tourist from the supply boat, and kids from yachts at anchor watch a coconut being emptied Our first taste of Polynesian dancing Luckily all these tourists left after an hour ashore Marquesas 13 The boys playing on the sea wall Marquesas 15 Marquesas 16 Marquesas 17 After the Sunday service Marquesas 19 Fatu Hiva anchorage Marquesas 21 Marquesas 22 Ashore on Hiva Oa, at the Tiki site Marquesas 24 Marquesas 25 Marquesas 26 Marquesas 27 Marquesas 28 Marquesas 29 Marquesas 30 Marquesas 31 Marquesas 32 Ernst, from Myrdinn Marquesas 34 Marquesas 35 Marquesas 36 Marquesas 37 Marquesas 38 Marquesas 39 Marquesas 40 Marquesas 41 The beach at Puamau The kids play in the surf Marquesas 44 These ladies are playing Bingo! The church at Puamau, where we joined a celbration lunch. Marquesas 47 Marquesas 48 Sailing to Tahuata We leave Hiva Oa astern Marquesas 51 Hanamoena, a beatiful anchorage on Tahuata.  Getting ashore in the surf was dreadful! Leaving Hanmoena astern Marquesas 54 Sailing peacefully down the western side of Tahuata Ashore at Vaitahau Looking down on Clarabella and Meta in the anchorage off Vaitahau The cross overlooking a headland The anchorage Brother and sister Vaitahau The vatican-sponsored church in Vaitahau - a beautiful place to enjoy the singing on Sunday Marquesas 64 Marquesas 65 Marquesas 66 Clarabella, Meta and Myrdinn at anchor