After leaving a wake that has taken them to the other side of the globe, Pierre and Sylvie are continuing to explore French Polynesia aboard their Venezia 42. They’re now heading for the Leeward Islands, still enjoying welcoming family and friends on board… even if, after three months of constant comings and goings, the crew is beginning to feel the need for a little rest!
Published 02/10/2026
Perrine: After our rough passage, we were happy to find a little stability on the boat again! We sailed past the mountains illuminated by the early morning light before entering through the pass and reaching magnificent Cook’s Bay. We were welcomed by a katabatic wind – you’ll notice that our vocabulary has improved thanks to our sailors – strong enough to blow your socks off! It was our last meal as a group of six: Alice and Qui were leaving the boat for Tahiti and then Australia.
The following day, we rented a car to explore the island, enjoying superb views over the lagoon and Tahiti before heading off on our first hike to a waterfall.
Perrine: We anchored in Opunohu Bay, staying near the entrance to enjoy the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon. The four of us headed off in the dinghy to a snorkeling spot where we were hoping to see turtles.
But on the way back, our dinghy troubles began: about a hundred yards from Kookaburra, the engine began struggling and we stopped making progress. So now it was our turn to do the rowing! That evening, we removed the engine and hoisted it aboard…
Sylvie: Our stop in Tahiti was a quick one! In four days, we changed anchorages three times, visited Papeete market, bought and fitted a new propeller for the dinghy, said goodbye to Perrine and Quentin and welcomed our two new visitors, Jean-Luc and Marie-Christine. Not forgetting 33 lbs (15 kg) of laundry and two huge shopping carts of provisions!
We reached the Leeward Islands, with Huahine as our first stop. We arrived just in time for the opening ceremony of the Heiva, the major Polynesian festival of arts and sports.
The crew – Jean-Luc and Marie-Christine, Louise and Thomas, Sylvie and Pierre, for anyone who’s lost track! – arrived in the peaceful bay of Tapuamu. Three electric scooters were booked in record time and suddenly we were a merry little expedition setting off to explore Tahaa: a pearl farm, an organic vanilla plantation, a rum distillery and magnificent scenery along the lagoon.
We arrived in Bora Bora and picked up a mooring in front of the Yacht Club before heading straight to Vaitape for the Heiva. After a meal from a food truck, it was time for singing and dancing. Choirs, live music, costumes: all six of us were captivated! The ruru, the women’s incredibly rapid hip movement, is amazing. Gentlemen, it’s your turn to try the pa’oti, with its scissor-like knee movements guaranteed to build strong thighs!
The Bastille Day weekend saw a major crew change aboard Kookaburra: Sylvie’s cousins Martine and Philippe arrived, followed by the departures of Louise and Thomas, then Jean-Luc and Marie-Christine.
Needless to say, we really needed the dinghy! While bringing Martine and Philippe and their luggage back from Vaitape, we strayed a little too close to a shallow area and CRRAAACK! A coral head. This time it’s serious: the engine’s gearbox is broken and the propeller – brand new in Moorea! – is no longer turning. We rowed the final 200 yards back to the boat. Quite an introduction for the cousins!
A few days later, we were back in Huahine to collect the new engine, delivered by cargo ship at… 2 am. Now we just had to get it aboard. While we were wondering about the best way to do it, a powerfully built Polynesian man appeared: “You, move aside. You, get on board.” Ten seconds later, the engine had been hoisted aboard. As he walked away, he simply said, “Better than dropping it in the water.” Hilarious and incredibly efficient!
After one final visit to Bora Bora, it was time to say goodbye to the cousins. We’d loved sharing all these moments in Polynesia with the ten guests we’d welcomed aboard over three non-stop months, but we have to admit, we were pretty exhausted… For the next two or three days, it was going to be all about doing absolutely nothing!
More importantly, July 23 marks an anniversary: exactly one year ago to the day, we left our home in Andernos, France, on this great voyage around the world. So many unforgettable memories, adventures, encounters and shared experiences, both ashore and aboard Kookaburra, whether on our own or with our 33 guests – yes, 33!!
This makes an opportunity to warmly thank everyone who follows our adventures for all your comments and messages, which we always read with enormous pleasure. THANK YOU!
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