Societies — Tahiti — Taapuna Pass

August 9, 2000. 1130 local time. 17º35'31.5" S 149º36'52.6" W. Anchored at Maeva Beach.

We are anchored at Maeva Beach just outside downtown Papeete. It is just a short Le Truck ride into town. Jim and Clark surfed Taapuna for the first time. We motored down the channel inside the lagoon and anchored the dinghy in the pass. It looks like a South Pacific Monte Carlo here with all the mega-yachts anchored and moored everywhere. As we approached the surf break we saw two locals get perfect stand-up barrels. The waves are so intense in Taapuna, I decided to go snorkeling. The current is so strong, I drifted the entire pass in less than a minute.