[password] pilot25041
[position] 17 57.9s 149 62.2w
[status] Monday ..... short, sharp & sweet ...........we got here to Tahiti!!

After nearly 6 days of frustrating sailing and a last night where we did everything to slow the boat down ....... not easy with wind gusting 28kts behind pushing you towards your destination ....... however, we ended up just off the entrance through the reef at Taapuna at 9am, and with the sun shining we could easily see any dangers, but the channel is well marked so no dramas. Once through the gap, we motored up to Marina Taina ....... "no need to book just turn up" to be told "there was no room at the inn", maybe a place for you on Wednesday, but we don't take advance bookings or reservations, just turn up on the day! Particularly frustrating when we can clearly see many empty berths that are more than big enough to take Surreal!

So we've anchored about 1/3mm from the marina, got sorted and headed ashore, to clear in with customs and hopefully source new batteries, having found the bus stop .... first major obstacle we got to town. A quick visit to Tourist Information and Allan off in one direction Andrew & Barry in the other ........... 2hrs later after missing each other numerous times we ended up having a beer and pizza for a late lunch. Allan failed to find customs, Barry & Andrew managed to source new batteries ..... so at 3pm we then decided to catch a bus back to the Marina ........ 40 mins later and no bus appearing at our "bus stop" Barry goes back to TI only to find out our return bus stop is some 500m away in the middle of town ........... we got back to the boat at 5pm after a quick visit to Carrefour for some fresh croissants and pain chocolat for tomorrow's breakfast.

Allan did manage to book us into the Marina Papeete in centre of town, so we will move tomorrow, tonight we ate ashore in a little Italian restaurant that is part of the marina complex ....... a pleasant change from all our own cooking for the last few weeks!

So all in all, a safe conclusion to the first major part of our South Pacific extravaganza!
Position 11.00 nzst.

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