Sailing in French Polynesia - Tahiti and Moorea

One August I flew to Papeeta to meet up with a friend who had sailed there from San Pedro California. He was staying on a 50 foot Pinky Schooner which was built in a back yard in Michigan and towed to Boston to have the rigging fitted. The sail rigger married the boat builder & they went on a round the world sail - wind power only no engine. For a small weekly fee they took on crew members (three max) & taught sailing. I only had 10 days of vacation so was not able to sail with them when they left for Australia. The name of the schooner was Le Papillon.

 This is Le Papillon with sails furled off Moorea near Cook's Bay. The schooner was made of steel with a green body & yellow deck. It measured 63 feet from the bowsprit to the pinky stern.

I took this photo of Le Papillon sailing, from the deck of a smaller yacht.

 Closer view; the mast of the smaller yacht is on the right edge. I don't recall the name of this yacht but had sailed from the UK by a doctor and his wife. At 26 feet it must have been quite a trip. The cabin had 2 small bunks and eating space was on the deck. They had to take turns keeping watch & passed through the Panama Canal as did Le Papillon.