Opunohu

PGEM - Plan de Gestion de l'Environement Maritime (Management Plan for the Marine Environment) mandates the following:

In MOOREA - NINE PGEM zones limit speed to 5 knots; anchoring 48 hours in the sand and 7 days maximum in controlled zones; no anchoring at the bottom of the bays.  We saw that last rule observed in Opunohu but not in Cook's Bay, but since there is nobody to enforce the rules...

A word about PWCs- I'll take the risk of offending our good friend and PWC world-record holder Jeremy Burfoot --and maybe Jeremy can suggest a way to educate riders to the risk they represent -- As far as yachties are concerned, PWCs are a major nuisance.  As we've experienced for years, and especially in Moorea, Jetskis and other PWCs certainly pay no attention to the rules and the danger they represent when they zoom at full speed within the anchorage area, threatening to run over swimmers!  They circle around the yachts at full throttle, throwing a nasty set of wakes, rocking the yachts at anchor, and I've spilled more than one hot coffee while bothered by those nasty buggers.  There should be an etiquette for PWCs!  Jeremy? 

Enough complaining... We anchored outside of Opunohu Bay, in the light blue and 3 meters of water, along with a dozen other yachts.  Yes, the ARC is in town, getting ready for the Tahiti Pearl Regatta.  Nice yachts from everywhere, lots of Brits and Kiwis, one token Yankee.

 With Caro and the kids in her tow, we spent a great weekend doing what there's to do in Opunohu, since Caro had brought her car by ferry.  Nice!  Climb up the Belvedere, where we could catch a splendid view of both bays: Cook's and Opunohu; visit the "Lycee Agricole"," the college of agricultural science that has grown significantly in the last 10 years; visit the ROTUI Juice factory and taste their brews, including the local rum; push to the Beachcomber hotel and see the enslaved dolphins (the kids liked to see them jump for show...); lament over the closing the beautiful Club Med in Mahana Beach (will tdevelopers ever get the 5 landowners to agree to sell their land to develop a new resort?) and shop for fresh fruits on the side of the road.

Swimming?  The reef is fairly healthy.  I'd say it'son the rebound, but not quite there yet.  A few shells: cones, spider conch; some fish: leopard rays and black-tip sharks.  Not much to see, but better than I expected.  It looks like the PGEM system is bearing fruit.  We like!

In this idyllic spot, we were not the only powercat at anchor.  "JAMBO" was there too and since outsiders must band together, Laurent and JP had a nice visit, showing each-other their yachts: the luxury, hotel-style Sunreef and all its gadgets, and the small Malcolm Tennant design and its Spartan accommodations.  But that's a story for an another day.

Till then...

dominomarie