RAIVAVAE is not so far from the other austral island RAPA wich is famous in Polynesia for the strong natural conditions including wheather as the location seems ito be n a corridor that depressions love to follow. We must leave the island mostly because the north pacific hurricane season ll start soon n we must arrive in Hawail before north hemisphere summer.

No need more fuel before leaving, just a bit of cans in local stores but impossible without the 8 baguettes of local bread (we could  eat the last one 13 days later) and local fruits especially the delicious polynesian pamplemouses . Local a generous as these fruits are plentyfull and there are not enough people to eat them; we could load Alcyone with  Pamplemousses but also lemons bananas, pumkin, eggplants direct from the gardens.

We leave the island with 7 boat anchored, this is a record...when a hear on the SSB net that there are now 25 cruisers in Fakarava atoll, (we were alone there 18 years ago); We hope that  the island ll stay long  in the welcome polynesian tradition: From all these given fruits, to the special welcome of Mr le maire wich is offering  to transit cruisers free internet vouchers...

A big thanks to him, to Natana, Tehau n all islanders we met during this short stay, including Thibaut , the french gendarme with n his team as kind as professionnal.

From my tiny cruiser's point of view, how not to wish

"God save RAIVAVAE... like it is !"

Thanks,...we ll religiously eat our last pamplemousse 4 weeks later on Hawai arrival

Nearby in a garden, an authentic Tiki...you find also Marae on the island

Tehau's place not far from main anchorage with solid  cruisers arguments around...

...including a garden where he give us we  free access n picking

his local logistic is also planet's friendly

Tehau will fly for first time out of Pacific to Swizerland tomorrow...may be a little contrast to come...

Better having GPS track as glare wait for you when you leave through the pass

This the last gift of RAIVAVAE: A Yellowfin tuna...

n wich better meal than a sashimi for first lunch on board ?

with no  shortage of desserts...

From Australs to Tuamutus...couple of sailing days