Baie Hanamoenoa On The Island Of Tahuata.

Monday 02.06.2014:

We left Atuona, Traitors Bay, Hiva Oa, yesterday in strong wind of 25 kn and loads of very dark clouds and rain and enjoyed the current following us as we went through the Bordelaise pass between the islands of Hiva-Oa and Tahuata. It was a fast sail as soon as we could ease the sheets and the maximum speed totted 10.1 kn. Going around Tahuata north coast, we anchored in a wonderful Baie Hanamoenoa on the island of Tahuata. This is, so far, the best bay we have been to since arriving in the Marquises. The water is relatively flat, although there is a swell coming in, which is not strong and only give us a small roll. There is wind and we put out the anchor riding sail, which steadies us. The water is crystal clear.

We had a walk on the beach and spoke to the only resident there. He makes a living from Coconuts and Cobra and hunts for wild pigs. He had caught two pigs that morning and was grilling them. He offered us some, but we did not thing they looked appetising enough, so we declined his kind offer. But he gave us fresh Coconut and cut it, so we could drink the milk and eat the Coco meat. he also give advise of which fish we can eat. Each time we have fish, we go to his beach and ask which one are poisonous and which ones we can eat.

As we arrived we were met by two (Devil) Rays that swam around New Dawn and were curious to see us. Jon went into the water and took photos, and also discovered two Sting Rays at the sand below us, they are supposed to be dangerous to man.

Jon went to harpoon some fish and got three. One was a big one and served as marinated raw fish for our Susi dinner.  The other two are potential dangerous to eat, so he gave one to the chap that live alone on the beach and the third fish went to the Sharks next to us. Yes there are many Black Tip Sharks and Lemmon Shark here. When Jon is harpooning, I have to standby with the tender because as soon as he shoot a fish the Sharks approached him and want to snap the fish, so we quickly had to get Jon and the fish back into the tender. When Jon cut up the fish, the Sharks returned and eat whatever was strewn into the sea.

Initially we had thought to stay just one day before sailing north, but this bay is just so perfect and its crystal clear water is just too good to leave behind. So we will stay a bit longer. Jon has again been busy and have now harpooned six fish in total, so fish is for dinners at the moment. Yesterday we had a Susi dinner with a raw Grouper. Today he shot another one and his is cutting it up as I am writing this. It is Jon’s great hobby to spear gun fish and as the water is very clear and he can dive several metres, he can get to so many fish. But, as I mentioned above, each time he get a fish I have to pick it up quickly with the tender, as the Sharks are quickly approaching him, so it is a bit of a team work, but Jon does the major efforts. Chris went snorkelling with him this afternoon, but she is worried about the Sharks. We were told by the fishing man that there is a seven metre Tiger Shark in the area, and they are highly dangerous. So we watch out all the time.