Maupiti: August 12th, 2018. Our last French Polynesian island… after Bora Bora .
We sailed off the mooring ball in Bora Bora, out the pass on the west side of the island, hoisted the asymmetrical, and aimed for Maupiti. Shortly afterwards, we had to douse the asymmetrical and go with the 120 due to wind direction. We weren’t entirely sure that we would make it into Maupiti. The passage is narrow, and with any sizeable south swell the entrance would not be passable. On that same note, we might be able to get in, but if the swell picks up while we are in there, we would be stuck. The weather forecast looked promising, so we were going for it. S/V Bajka was already on their way, as well as S/V La Cigale.
The sail over was a just a day sail, but again as with all of the passes and atolls in the South Pacific, you always want to have good day light to be able to see any under water obstetrical. S/V La Cigale made it in well before we did, so Xavier got out the drone and filmed us sailing in through the pass. The entry, even without a large south swell was exciting. There was not much room for error, and we were under sail power only. I stayed at the helm and Christian made sail adjustments and verbal instructions. We enjoy being able to sail on and off the hook (anchor or mooring in this instance) for the challenge and for the pleasure of not having to use fuel. We made it through the pass and up into the southern anchorage, and found a spot between our friends La Cigale and Bajka.
If you look at the screenshot of Maupiti, above, you will notice the narrow pass in which we sailed through.
We spent the next few days there in the southern anchorage and in the anchorage just east of the inner island. Our friends on S/V Bellini, who we met over in Raiatea, were also already here as well. The population of Maupiti is extremely small. Provisions are limited, but there are a few fresh fruit stands and a bakery. Since we weren’t sure we were going to stop here or not, we spent the last of our French Polynesian money in Bora Bora, so no fresh food for us.
While Christian went for a long SUP paddle, myself and other families went diving with the huge Manta Rays!
Josie with the Manta.
Nina
Taj
Christian had already SUP circumnavigated the whole inner island, but the mountian that stood so grand above was calling our name. We first attempted to do it with our friends on S/V Bellini, but it was a little too late in the afternoon. We made it about half-way by the time the sunset, so we turned around with plans to do it with the other kid boats another day.
Our next go at it, S/V Bajka and La Cigale went as well. What an amazing adventure!
Watch our quick video below:
After a few days in Maupiti, our weather window to sail the five days (700 miles) to Suwarrow, Cook Islands, was up. Again, we weren’t entirely sure that we would stop in Suwarrow. If the weather window was closing to head to Tonga, we were going to bypass Suwarrow, but if the weather was going to give us even just a few days there, we would take it. It would have been a bummer to sail right past the Cook Islands, but weather dictates.
Lucy off of La Cigale on her SUP for our last sunset in French Polynesia.
Church with an anchor cross 🙂
Picking up some fresh produce at a roadside stand with fellow cruisers on S/Y Bajka.
House of shells and coral. 
The S/V Bajka Boys are good boat buddies for Taj. 
Many houses have their deceased family members buried out in their front yard.
S/V La Cigale anchored near us.
We had these two men join us for a bit of fun… they were using our wake for a lift. It was great fun, but what we didn’t realise was that they scuffed up our “new” paint job on the hull. Hmmm, a bummer indeed, but left lasting memories of the fun it was and the smiles they gave us.
From Bora Bora (our last official French Polynesian island) , we sailed off the mooring ball at Maikai Marina, out to Maupiti, through the narrow pass and onto the hook next to our friends on La Cigale and Bajka.
Just west of 
From the east pass entrance at Fa’aroa Bay, we anchor hopped southbound until we reached the south pass, until finally exciting to make way to Bora Bora.
A Family Afloat 