Marina Safety

Coffee time at Mai Kai Marina

We’re BAAaack!  Oh boy, that was a very long break: 3 months!  But what a great time we had, hopping around from on kid’s home to another, getting to really know them, their wives, their kids, and understand their lifestyles.

The Dufour women having a moment












 The Dufour boys preparing a MECHOUI
 James and Sekah and their 1st hens

JP's always good to make early morning coffee












Like grandfather, like grandson











They were all very gracious in accommodating us and we are grateful for their hospitality and their kindness.  And now, here we are, back home, wherever the boat is—this season: French Polynesia.
                                                                               

Zoe's 1st weing project

Celbrating my bday with family, for once!

From cooking to cleaning, from sewing to projects, JP and I got busy on land, a very different story!  Mostly, we just enjoyed the company, amazed by our growing grandchildren and their awesome parents.

Grandaughter Maddie is such a joy

JP always ready for a project: Closet? DONE!

We got back to Mai Kai Marina in Bora Bora to find DOMINO in good shape.  Teiva took excellent care of our boat, airing it frequently, adding fenders when other yachts were at the dock, adding dock lines when the big swells came from the SW, hosing down the deck so we would find a clean boat.  Teiva take such great pride in catering to his clients that it’s no wonder he was shocked and ticked off when he had to report an incident.  DOMINO had been hit by another yacht, suffering damages beyond just a paint patch.

What happened?  A sailboat docked windward of DOMINO decided to leave the dock unassisted.  During the maneuver, a wind gust side-swept the aluminum yacht and flung it against our port hull.  Ouch!

The question we’ve been debating with JP is, When do you ask for help to get out of your slip or dock?

Personally, I’d say: always!  There are never too many experimented hands (novices abstain, please.)

JP is more discerning.  If you know your boat, the marina, if the weather is calm and the water is flat, no problem.  But some areas are notoriously tricky; case in point: the Mai Kai Marina, where the wind often rushes down Mt. Otemanu, Bora Bora’s spectacular granitic piton.  At Mai Kai, Teiva insists on assisting all yachts, arriving AND leaving, free of charge: line handling, dinghy support, additional hands, all with efficiency, knowledge, calm, and a smile.

Why did this particular sailboat (we had met that couple in Salvador de Bahia) decide to leave the dock unassisted is beyond our understanding.

Lesson learned: when leaving a marina, inform the owner/manager or dockmaster, and ask for help… even if you have to pay a few extra bucks for line handlers, it’s cheaper than having to repair the boat you might damage on your way out.

Wind funnels down that mountain, pushing yach

Now, it’s grinding, laminating, and painting time for us!

Till next blog…

dominomarie