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Notification

November 2020: Shamal and her Crew have arrived safely back into Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand completing their circumnavigation a year ago. Due to Covid-19 and New Zealand's Boarders being closed, they will continue to spend their 2020/21 Summer exploring some of New Zealand's waters. Thanks to all of you for following our Adventures. There will be more.

22 September 2019

French Polynesia

Hello to you all once more.
Bastille Day, Nuku Hiva
French Polynesia – A French overseas territory consisting of about 130 tropical islands strewn over some four million square kilometres in the South Eastern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of five main groups.

The Marquesas Islands are the most northerly sitting between 8deg.-11deg. south of the equator. They are high volcanically formed islands of which there are twelve.

The Tuamotu Archipelago is made up of approximately 78 islands, all but two being coral atolls. The atolls are made up of coral reefs and motu (small coral islands on which many have been planted with coconut palms) surrounding beautiful lagoons. Many have one or two navigable passes into these lagoons. They lie around 550 miles south east of the Marquesas and extend almost 1,000 miles in a NW-SE direction.

Tuamotus
The Gambier Islands are located at the south eastern end of the Tuamotu Archipelago, and situated 1,700km east of Tahiti. This group of 5 high islands and 18 motu lie in a lagoon surrounded by a single coral reef. As they are close to the Tropic of Capricorn-25deg. south of the equator, lush vegetation and fruit trees thrive here.

The Society Islands lie approximately 250 miles west of the Tuamotu Archipelago. This group is made up of twelve major islands and divided into the Windward and Leeward Islands. The main islands of the Windwards are Tahiti and Moorea. The main islands of the Leewards are Raiatea and Tahaa, Bora-Bora, and Huahine. The Society group are a mixture of high volcanic islands, and atolls. They extend over 400 miles.
Tuamotus

Lastly, the Austral Islands. This group are spread along the Tropic of Capricorn for over 800miles. There are 5 islands, some surrounded with a reef and lagoon. Again their situation makes for fertile lands where coffee, oranges and tropical fruits are grown.

As for our visit, we are given a three month visa on arrival into French Polynesia. There is no way we can explore this vast area, so time will tell just how much we can see.