French Polynesia: Popularity puts pressure on free anchorages

Cruising French Polynesia © Hugh & Heather Bacon

Since the law changed in 2014 permitting visiting yachts three years instead of three months in French Polynesia, there has been a huge increase in the number of cruising boats in the area.

Unfortunately the yachting infrastructure has not been developed to accommodate this increase in traffic, so inevitably the great majority of visiting yachts seek a safe anchorage. This has led to over-crowding in many of the popular anchorages, particularly as many cruising yachts that once would have moved on, are now staying put. As Cyclone Season looms in the South Pacific and the number of yachts in FP has not dwindled, tensions are rising.

The last two months have seen a number of anchoring prohibitions and limitations put in place by the FP authorities throughout French Polynesia but in particular in Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea and Tahiti.

With the existing marinas already full to capacity, many cruisers moved out of anchorages are being forced to use expensive moorings instead with no guarantee the mooring is safe. Read more here.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.