[password] pilot25041
[position] 17 53.9s 149 57.1w
[status] Thursday ....... still in Tahiti, well Papeete Marina to be precise, so right in the centre of town!

We moved from outside Taina Marina down to here via both ends of the runway ...... we had to get clearance to pass through on Tuesday morning, safely down in Papeete Marina, we then set about various tasks, not the least being filling up with water so we could get some washing done .....but more about that later!

Allan went to the Marina Office we then filled with water and had some lunch ..... Steven set his first load of washing going ..... so everything going to plan, we went and ordered the batteries and tried to get some new fuse-holders to replace corroded ones in battery bay, couldn't find any so went for a beer and a walk around town then through the local market, back to the boat for spag bol for dinner only to find the washing machine wouldn't empty/drain out the water!

Wednesday morning batteries were delivered at 08.30 and we tried to fit them shortly afterwards ........ only to find that the connecting cables were now too short as the new batteries, although measuring the same size, the terminals were in a slightly different configuration meaning 3 of the cables were 5mm too short, bizarrely enough 10mm cables don't stretch! Also our new 'big' alternator is still AWOL with the courier, so we put the old alternator (15kgs) into a ruck sack and set off to get new battery cables and hopefully the alternator repaired ........ 3 1/2miles & 2hrs later a very hot and sweaty Barry & Andrew get back to the boat, with the new cables and old alternator!! Some measure of success ..... we also ascertained that the alternator can't/won't be repaired here, we believe they have the capability, but they don't want to order the parts ....... why, well they have a new one in stock that they want to sell us!

After much angst and removing various amounts of debris from washing machine pipes, Steven managed to get it back together again and working, so we went into town had a beer again and then decided to go out for dinner to the local roullette ....... an outdoor dining experience in the local park ........ trestle tables and stools, caravans/vans cooking the local/chinese/thai type food. Whilst eating there, a big 4 masted schooner came in and moored alongside where we were eating ........ quite a sight!!

We also managed to book online a hire car for 3 days to make the airport runs a lot easier, so we collected that at 11am today, picked up the fuse holders from a local shop, following a tip during our marathon alternator hunt yesterday, got rid of the old batteries and took the empty gas bottle to the local Mobil for filling ...... not sure of logistics to return it to the boat without a hire car on Monday, but we've all weekend to think that out!

This afternoon, we went for a drive around the whole of the main Tahiti island, stopping at Venus Point for a walkabout and photos and found a nice anchorage right at the bottom of the island we may visit next week! We stopped at the Carrefour on our way back, to restock on essentials and Andrew cooked a nice Chicken curry for dinner, before we take him to the airport around midnight, collecting Lyn & Zuny at the same time.

Weather is very warm and some days the humidity makes life a little difficult ........ well it stops the washing drying properly, however, we man-up and struggle on by just having another beer!

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