French Polynesia
The absolute pinnacle of blue-water chartering. Vast reef passes, extreme isolation, and a marine environment that demands respect and serious navigational competence.
The Archipelago Landscape
Chartering in French Polynesia generally focuses on the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Huahine). The primary charter bases are located on Raiatea, meaning a typical itinerary involves navigating inside the massive lagoon shared by Raiatea and Taha'a, followed by open-ocean crossings to Bora Bora or Huahine.
Reef Pass Navigation
The defining navigational challenge of French Polynesia is the reef pass (Passe). These are breaks in the barrier reef connecting the lagoon to the open ocean.
- Tidal Currents: Water constantly flows out of the passes due to oceanic swell pumping water into the lagoon over the reef. Ebb tides combined with this outflow can create standing waves and currents exceeding 6 knots.
- Timing is Critical: Passes should only be transited at slack water or on a rising tide, and strictly during daylight hours with the sun high to read the water color.
- Vessel Choice: You need a catamaran with reliable, powerful engines (minimum 45hp, preferably 57hp+ like on a Leopard 45) to punch through pass currents if they run contrary. Calculate your Fuel Burn accordingly.
Mooring & Anchoring
To protect the fragile coral ecosystems, anchoring is heavily restricted in many lagoons (especially Bora Bora). You must use designated mooring fields, which often require payment to local operators or restaurants. When anchoring is permitted, it is typically in deep sand (10-20 meters) requiring substantial Anchor Scope and care to avoid wrapping chain around coral bommies (use a float line on your anchor).
The Mara'amu Wind
During the Austral Winter (July to August), the Mara'amu wind blows strongly (25-35 knots) from the southeast, bringing large oceanic swells. Passages between islands (e.g., Raiatea to Bora Bora) can become violently uncomfortable. If chartering during this time, consider a skippered charter unless you have significant offshore experience. Read about Sailing Qualifications.
Logistics & Provisioning
French Polynesia is vast and isolated. Provisioning outside of the main base in Raiatea is limited to small "Magasins" with basic supplies. You must provision completely for the duration of your trip regarding specific dietary needs, alcohol, and specialty items. Calculate requirements with our Provisioning Estimator.
A watermaker is virtually mandatory. Fresh water fill-up points are rare and often require docking at expensive resort piers. Check our Watermaker Calculator.