250225 ATOLL' S LIFE IN SOUTH PACIFIC 2021-2025

Polynesian waters and atoll's life...What else ?

After such a long cruise in the Pacific, ALCYONE is now "relaxing" in polynesian waters:

We met again in a remote Tuamutu atoll Bertrand, a former cruiser with his polynesian wife Lucie; both were living in quasi autonomy from fishing on board of a small but nice catamaran FP Athena"ELISE".

Yann and Bertrand know each other from 1995 in Panama; Bertrand sailed his monohull and settle in Gambier to create and developp a pearl farm he sold a few years ago and Yann finished with Helena a cruise from Antibes to Bora Bora with a mini trailable/foldable F31 trimaran (1995-1996).

Both family met again in Akamaru Gambier in 2001, sharing a couple of nice months with our young children when our first Outremer 55light "PAPOOSE" circumnavigated (1998-2005).

On our third meeting 20 years later in 2021, Bertrand, polynesian resident accepted to sell "ELISE" her small Athena catamaran to share the use of ALCYONE with us. Our both skipper and polynesian experience mixed to optimize"ALCYONE"for a mooring life : All as safe and simple as possible to reduce maintenance, but with all necessary tools and important spare parts for maximum autonomy. Easy to check on some following pictures how important are the rear skirts, not only for speed, loading, showers but for catching and cleaning the fishes !

Bertrand and Lucie are AMANU residents. They live on board of ALCYONE from september to april and we use her from may to august. Our 5 years deal from 2021 finish in 2026.

Bertrand and Yann sharing use of ALCYONE in Polynesia from 2021

With little but very friendly people, anchorages for all kind of wind, permanent clear water, great living coral and fishing life, polynesian atolls are the best places so far we enjoy during our both cruising experience... and it's not over in 2026 ! ALCYONE has still a french flag but is now "Papeetized" (local taxes paid) from 2021 and is allowed to sail without limit in French Polynesia....

ALCYONE live peacefully now mostly in HAO and AMANU. If HAO has an airport with 2/3 flights/week from Papeete, no plane land in AMANU, her real "home atoll"; local fishers with 21-24 feet speed boat can always make transit between both atolls...around 2 hours regarding sea conditions.

ALCYONE return to TAHITI or RAIATEA (better) for "carenage" every 2 years 2022, 2024...next in summer 2026). TAHITI is around 5 days of downind offshore sailing from AMANU.

Return upwind is longer but offer many possible stops on other atolls of Tuamutus. As usual, best timing is the key and with patience, you can sail back with good wind conditions.