CRUISING SECTION Cruising and Power Yacht Members enjoy the cruising lifestyle in French Polynesia.

The opportunity to return to Tahiti in September and October for more island cruising onboard SV Bula was quickly snapped up by Amanda Watson and Garry Morrison. Fellow Power Yacht members and Narrow Neck, Rotto neighbours, Lynne and John Cooper, leapt at the invitation to join Garry and Amanda onboard SVBula for first 2 weeks of September, coinciding with both John and Garry’s birthdays and Cooper’s wedding anniversary. All occasions celebrated with local cocktails, beers, and happy hour! More on the first visit and Coopers adventures later…

A 2-night Tahiti rendezvous was also planned with Cruising Section members, Jan and Brian Culver, who are on their ‘Big Cruise’ onboard Majestic Princess. During 8th Oct stopover in Papeete, the enormous cruise ship, berthed right alongside the marina where SV Bula was waiting to welcome them. Jan and Brian easily spotted Bula’s green and gold boxing kangaroo flag from the balcony way up high. The ship had already cruised as far north as Alaska, the next stop on the itinerary was in N.Z. on their way home. Culver’s visit was an excuse to hire a car to drive around the entire Tahiti island shoreline, an opportunity to view the waterfalls, turquoise beaches and lunch at the world famous surf break at Teahupo’o. Jan has wonderful stories and photos of their “Big” cruise and holiday to share.

Going back in time to how this adventure came to be…. Garry and his son Brett cast off from La Paz in Mexico in March 2022 to sail SV Bula across the Pacific Ocean, to meet up with Brett’s wife Dilana in the Marquesas, for island cruising in French Polynesia. Nuku Hiva, Marquesas was their first landfall after the 20-day crossing. Bula arrived in Papeete Tahiti on May 6th.

SV Bula is a Jeaneau 43 Sun Odyssey perfectly equipped and set up for cruising, having been purchased by Brett and Dilana in Panama in Dec 2018 for their planned ‘honeymoon’ pacific crossing in 2020. COVID restrictions delayed the dream until 2022

Amanda flew to Tahiti to join Bula in May as planned. Soon after, Brett and Dilana flew back to Perth to await the birth of their daughter Marielle.

For a glorious 3 weeks in May, Garry and Amanda cruised and explored the bays of nearby island of Moorea, 12 nm off Tahiti, gaining more confidence and experience onboard, before securing Bula at Papeete Marina and returning to Australia in June.

On 4th September, Amanda and Garry returned to Tahiti with the Coopers, to prepare Bula to once again set sail for a “memory making holiday in paradise” quoting Lynne. This cruise included a revisit to Cook and Opunohu bays at Moorea and an adventurous 90 nm, overnight passage to the twin islands of Huahine, anchoring in bay at village of Fare. It was a fairly rough overnight passage, a first (and last) for the Coopers, who admit they prefer their catamaran’s stability, over the monohull. Sailing at night in the moonlight, added to the ‘adventure’.

Lynne’s photos are spectacular, especially the underwater fish and coral images, they are better than the tourist brochures. Postcard perfect views in every direction.

Amanda and Garry have extended their vacation onboard Bula and are currently anchored at Huahine. They are due back in Perth in early November, just in time to join the “ Power Section: 12 year Reunion”holiday to Bali

Look out for photos of the Bali reunion in next Soundings edition

Happy Cruising

Grand Sponsors June Sundowner

On Friday June 16, passionate junior O’pen Skiff sailors Ophelia and Lailah Beck treated a bunch of interested Grand Sponsors to an engaging talk about their sailing experiences at our July Sundowner in the beautiful Wardroom. The girls are a great example of how the Grand Sponsors program continues to help our junior sailors get onto the water and follow their dreams. And as a bonus, we managed to raise $1600 towards the Club’s purchase of some new skiffs so that we can offer pathways to all kids who want to get into the wonderful sport of sailing.