Having spent many months cruising and chartering in French Polynesia, we can say with enthusiasm that cruising these South Pacific Isles with their reef-surrounded lagoons is a true highlight of any cruiser’s life.
The main chartering area is among the Leeward Islands, what are known locally as Les Isles sous les Vents. The charter bases are located in the modern marina on the west end of Raiatea where you can provision and get a briefing before setting off.
Raiatea and Taha’a nearby are both enclosed in one large lagoon so many a charter crew will choose to stay in the flat water for the first day as they get their sea legs. There’s a sandy motu, or islet, at the east end of the lagoon and Ta’aha has pretty anchorage on three sides.
Next stop might be Huahine where you can pick up a mooring in the village or head around the island inside the reef to a pretty anchorage at the east end.
The trip from Huahine to Bora Bora will take several hours in the full trade winds so it can be a bouncy ride. That only makes the calm inside the reef at this famous and beautiful island all the more precious. The Bora Bora Yacht Club is known for their hospitality. If you have a private signal flag or a yacht club burgee, become part of the scene by hanging it there.
The highlight for more experienced cruisers chartering in the Leewards will be the passage west from Bora Bora to the beautiful island of Maupiti. The entrance to the lagoon can be tricky with a southerly swell running but once inside the lagoon the anchorages are totally protected.
The island is mountainous and similar to Bora Bora but the tourist trade has not taken over the island. Landing here is sort of like visiting Tahiti in the 1950s before jets started bringing in the crowds; it’s French Polynesia in its natural state. If you can afford two days here, it is worth it.
The trip back to Raiatea will mean another stop in Bora Bora and then the short hop to Taha’a and the charter base. You can do all of this in an active week but 10 days will be more relaxing and you’ll see and experience a lot more.
The best times to charter in French Polynesia are in our fall, September and October, and in our spring from April through July.
Check out Dream Yacht Charters’ French Polynesia guide here.
