This information has been contributed by and is intended for use by competent amateur yachtsmen as general guidance solely

to supplement research of their cruising plans.It has not been checked or verified by the OCC. The Information may be

inaccurate or out of date and is NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.

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Papeete – 17°32.00'S, 149°34.00'W Please note the date of this report and treat with CAUTION

1) Information Submitted by Graham Morfey – Flight of Time Hugh & Cathie Marriott - Tacit Tim & Anabel Finding - Casimir John & Pat Driscoll - Moonlight of Down

2) Date 1995, 1997 and 2000

3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long Papeete, Tahiti. 17°32’ S 149°34’ W

4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts This capital city of French Polynesia is an excellent centre. In 1997 the authorities did not object to yachts stooping at Port Phaeton and going by bus to clear in. Port Phaeton has an excellent anchorage with no swell; it is a large village with 2 supermarkets, banks, PO, Doctors pharmacy etc.

5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Charlies Charts shows the alternatives. Flight of Time anchored off the wall (the “expensive” end). We had electricity and water and easy access to the town. Well worth it. Alternatives are: In Papeete harbour stern to the Yacht Quai having asked Port Control, or stern to the beach off the Paofi Temple; the latter area being known as the low rent district. It is also possible to lie at the Yacht Club of Tahiti near Point Venus where there are marina facilities or at Taina marina, or to anchor off the latter, but for anything not in the main harbour it will be necessary to take ‘le truck’ into town. It is also possible to anchor off Maeva beach off the hotel (here you can use Tahiti Aquatic dinghy dock for $2 a day and use the showers, rubbish disposal)

6) Entry Ports Papeete is a Port of Entry and in addition all yachts have to clear in and out even if arriving from the Marquesas.

7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing:

a) from/to same country It is necessary to visit Immigration, Customs and Port Captain in that order on arrival and departure. They are all located together on the waterfront on the Yacht Quai.

b) from/to abroad See above

c) visa requirements EEC passport holders do not require visas, others should enquire before arrival. (See last page, Section 19)

d) the bond 1998 Information: The ‘Bond’ must be paid here if it has not been paid in the Marquesas. Some gendarmes in the Marquesas advise that you have 1 month to get to Papeete. If you are prepared to depart French Polynesia from Papeete within 24 hours of checking in you can avoid paying the Bond. Otherwise the Bond is paid in Papeete and reimbursed at the last port with banking facilities, normally Bora Bora. There was a lot less banking/Immigration hassle by paying the Bond in the Marquesas (Bank of Socredo only). However the Bank of Socredo only dealt in French Pacific francs so double exchange commission is involved. Westpac and Bank of Tahiti in Papeete will take the bond in US$ and return it in US$ without exchange rate involvement. In Bora Bora in July ‘97 the banks would only sell US dollars or US Travellers cheques and not other currencies. In 1997 the Bond amount for all Europeans was French Pacific francs 118200=approx.US$1182, plus a bank filing fee of between US$26 and US$50 according to bank used. If you have an air ticket for home then there is no need to pay the Bond. David Mitchell in Ondarina (1998) writes that “there was no escaping the bond when I was there. Those unable to pay had the choice of leaving the Society Islands or waiting whilst their funds came through. Plastic cards are not the complete answer as the transaction is treated as an advance and most people have a cash limit. UK charge was $US1200)

8) Location/Existence of:

a) harbour master Port Control, Immigration & Customs are in separate offices in the same building on the Yacht Quai and must be visited in turn on arrival and departure.

b) customs/immigration

c) health authorities

d) police

9) Control of Foreign Yachts Three months is the permitted time, but renewing is possible.

10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen Courteous but more formal and strict than the other islands in French Polynesia. Many yachts pass through each year, often not wanting to pay the bond, officials have little patience with this approach.

11) Repair/Hauling Facilities Haul out and repair facilities- very well spoken of.

12) Sailing Directions or Charts BA charts 998 , 1382 & 1436 & Pilot. FR 6685

13) Cruising Guide and where Obtainable. Include Phone and/or E-Mail For large scale information Marcia Davock’s book Tahiti and the French Society islands is excellent and far superior to Charlie’s Charts. It covers all the islands from Tahiti to Bora Bora, and also Maupiti & Mopelia, with first class reproductions of the relevant French charts. The Pacific Crossing Guide by the RCC Pilotage Foundation is very useful

14) Port Radio Services Yachts are asked to check in with Port Control on VHF Ch 12 before entering. Mahina radio coastal station keeps a watch on Ch. l6.

15) Weather Forecasts Weatherfaxes from NMC Point Reyes, California, on 17,151.2 at 1535 and 2144 Zulu.

16) Yacht Club(S) Big Yacht Club with berthing facilities, very well spoken of

17) Other Facilities:

drinking water For large amounts contact Port Control. Water taps on the quay and on the beach which should be treated. Particularly suspect after heavy rain

fuel Flight of Time took fuel at the Yacht club at Maeva beach which was very easy. For large amounts contact Mobil, Total or Shell. Fuel is easily obtained at the Taina & Lotus marinas south of the airport, no problem with 7ft draft, but ask permission of Port Control to move because of the airfield traffic. Half price Duty free fuel is available only in Papeete on departure. Take a copy of Port Clearance stamped by Customs to Mobil Pontoon, Papeete or Taina marina.

gas (propane)/gaz Either dinghy or taxi to the gas depot. Usually they will fill while you wait. Butane easily available. Take your bottles to the Gaz de Tahiti depot with ‘Silver Globe`. Best to take the dinghy up the harbour and moor just beyond the bridge close to the depot.

chandlers Several in the Fare Ute district. Reasonable chandlery in dock area (next to gas depot). With time it was possible to get most marine problems solved. bank Plenty of ATM’s (But some did not appear to take Mastercard).

shops/market Superb supermarket “Continent” near Maeva Beach . Take the bus there, but you will need a taxi if you buy as much as we did. Covered market. Sunday morning was the major day but you need to get there early , we arrived at 0700 and everything was closing!

restaurants/hotels In town with wide choices if you can afford the prices! We particularly like L’Auberge (traditional French), located on same roundabout as e mail café. Also Market Café (open early for breakfast near the market)

post office/telephones including mobile facilities In town - very modern facilities, card phones

internet cafes Several in town . We used the café which stayed open to 2300. Located by a roundabout up from the harbour near the Sony centre.

best mailing address Amex, or Poste Restante (officially mail is returned to sender after 14 days), or the Capitaine du Port, Papeete, Tahiti BP 91. This last is most convenient because you can look through the mail yourself to make sure you collect all your packages, and if something arrives after you have left, it is easy to get another yacht to pick it up on your behalf.

showers Open air showers on beach by the Temple but in 1995 not on the quay laundry Launderette in town.

transport/air services International airport with direct flights to USA. Europe & Australia. Inter-island ferries, and good bus service. medical facilities/hospital Major hospital

18) Recommendations or Warnings Every movement in the port should be mentioned to Port Control, especially transit through Lagoon da Faaa, which requires authorisation of airfield control to cross both east and west ends of the runway. In 1991 it was disappointing to visit the Gauguin Museum and find that they had no original works on display. On the other hand the near-by Botanical gardens were enjoyable and free of charge if landing from a yacht. The museum of ‘Tahiti and The Islands’ is worthwhile. Some crews find that living aboard in the harbour is hot and dirty and recommend anchoring at Taina marina, at Maeva beach, where the dinghy can be left, and using a bus (le Truck) or hitching in to town. The ‘South Pacific Handbook’ is excellent for shore based exploration.

19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting. A city to be enjoyed. The 14th July celebrations have been toned down but the Heiva cultural festival with its associated Artisans’ show was wonderful. Check the dates and try and arrive at the right time. Hire a car go to the museum, Gauguin etc. (The last bus is at 1630) 1998 Stephen & Marja Vance who are skipper and mate aboard Locura write the following on visas:- We did run into some surprises and problems in renewing our tourist visas in French Polynesia (F.P.) and hopefully we can make it easier on fellow members with some information. If you are French, you can basically go to F.P. and stay as long as you want and you do not have to pay a bond. Cruisers from other EU countries have to pay a bond, the equivalent of an airplane ticket to their home country or have airplane tickets themselves and have 3 months to get to Papeete to get an extension if they decided to stay longer.

Cruisers from the USA, Canada, N.Z, & Australia basically have one month without a need for a visa but three month visas can be secured from a consulate outside F.P. or upon arrival in F. P. Here is the problem. If you decide you want to stay longer than 3 months, then you must have a visa or a visa extension. You must, however apply for this extension about a month and a half in advance which means that you must apply by mail from some place in F. P. Or you must be in Papeete after a month and a half to be in time to apply. To renew your visa or get 3 months additional time to stay in F. P. if you are from an EU country, you must write to the High Commissioner of F.P. explaining your reasons for a visa extension. The letter can be in English. With the letter you must include the following

1) a copy of your passport page with your picture and passport number.

2) a copy of the page showing your current visa and/or entry stamp from the Gendarme,

3) a copy of your bond ( or airplane tickets if that is what you used for your bond). All these documents must be taken to the High Commissioner’s Office near the Vaima Shopping Centre in Central Papeete at Rue Jeanne d’Arc, Bloc Donald on the 2nd floor.

To mail your application address it to:- The High commissioner, DRCL, B.P.115, Papeete, French Polynesia. Marie Francois, the woman who processes the visa extensions, is very helpful and friendly and speaks English. If you have any questions about the visa extension business, or about Polynesia in general, she is a great person to ask. The important thing to remember is to get your application in early. This coming year (1999) the High Commissioner is supposedly going to start denying late applications.