THE TUAMOTUS ARCHIPELAGO
The Tuamotus consist of 78 atolls stretched in band over 1000 nm miles. This is the largest band of atolls in the world.
They are the opposite of the Marquesan islands. While the Marquesan islands have high volcanic mountains, the islands of the Tuamotu atolls rise only a few feet above sea level. Where the Marquesan islands capture the rain in their fertile valleys the islands of the Tuamotus are no more than palm covered sand and coral.
The atolls are created by sunken volcanos. Coral reefs and small islands, called ‘motu’ form a ring around a central lagoon. The protected waters of the lagoon inside makes a unique environment for coral and fish, attracting diving enthusiasts world wide.
Some of these atolls are truly huge. Rangiroa, at 177 km around, is the second largest atoll in the world. There are over 240 islands surrounding this atoll alone. It is not surprising that the atolls are populated with many villages and the business of pearl farming. Many of the atolls, close to the main island of Tahiti, have become tourist destinations. But many of the smaller atolls further away are still left to the traditional ways of life.
It is our intension to visit a few of these atolls on our way through to the island of Tahiti.
THE TRIP THERE SO FAR
Two days ago we left the island of Ua Poa, in the Marquesas, for the atoll of Raroia, in the Tuamotus. We chose Raroia because it was the landfall of the sailing expedition Kon Tiki, and we thought it would be fitting to make our landfall here. But more on this and the pass to get into the atoll in the next blog.
Our position is:
12 52.95S 141 21.34W (Note: I am told you can copy and paste these coordinates into google earth and it will show you where we are)
We are about half way there.
DAY 1 was a cracking sail. We had the wind on the forward quarter, but the sea state was very slight. It was one of those perfect sunny day sails and we were all very excited to be at sea again. Even me! We covered almost a third of the trip in one day 126 nm.
DAY 2 the wind died. We wallowed in gentle seas as the sails flopped back and forth. Our speed ranged from 1-2 knots most of the day and I am sure a majority of that was a favourable current. Thankfully we still managed to be traveling in the right direction, so we went with it. We only covered 88nm. But we are half way there and the winds are supposed to pick up again.
We will fill you in on how the rest of the trip goes!
END
