Tahiti Crew
Thinking of visiting French Polynesia?
Whether you are visiting Tahiti on your way home from Europe or you’re choosing to take delivery on this incredible island we thought we would cover how Tahiti Crew will be there to help.
TMG Yachts John Cowpe recently caught up with Tehani Fiedler-Valenta, the director of Tahiti Crew, to find out more about the services Tahiti Crew provide to TMG Yachts Lagoon owners who’d like to visit French Polynesia.
SERVICES
“Tahiti Crew is a marine conciergerie and as a partner of TMG Yachts they have the capabilities to organise everything regarding immigration and customs, as well as boat parts, technical assistance, wash down, boat keeping, etc for TMG Yachts Lagoon owners who wish to visit French Polynesia.
If you are a non-European sailor, you have three options to enter French Polynesia. You can post a bond at the bank (the equivalent of a return ticket to Australia), own a return ticket to Australia or use the services of Tahiti Crew to organise a bond letter for you.”
CONTACTING TAHITI CREW
“The main season in French Polynesia is from March to September and once the main season starts, Tahiti Crew become very busy with requests from different boats.
So if you’re planning to come to French Polynesia during the main season, the earlier you contact Tahiti Crew (so we can start processing your papers) the better, to ensure everything goes smoothly when you arrive.”
WHY TAHITI?
“If you have some work to do on your boat, all the work should be done in Tahiti because the facilities in the other islands of French Polynesia are very limited.
In Tahiti, you will find everything you need to get work done on your Lagoon.
But once again, because the season gets very busy, the better you plan your work before, the better it is, so if you contact Tahiti Crew beforehand to let us know when you want your work done, we can organise that for you.”
VISAS
“Although the numbers, for now, are pretty much the same, one thing that we have noticed is that a lot of cruisers are now applying for a long stay visa before they arrive in French Polynesia.
The reason they apply for a long stay visa is because otherwise they are only allowed to stay in French Polynesia for up to a maximum of 90 days.
However, if they apply for a long stay visa, they can stay for up to one year and their visa is renewable.
Every year there are about 900 sailing boats visiting Tahiti and although most of the boats are monohulls, we’re now getting more catamarans and we’re also getting more superyachts.”
OWNER EVENTS
“In French Polynesia we have two major events for Lagoon owners.
We have the Tahiti Pearl Regatta in May, which is racing between the Society Islands, and then we have the Tahiti Sailing Rendez-Vous in the last weekend of June which is a big cultural event for the cruisers, and a get together, and it’s a very nice weekend on Moorea.”
SELLING IN TAHITI
“Tahiti is a good place to sell your boat because you don’t have the taxes that other countries impose when you sell your boat.
Also, in this region there’s a lot of networking between Tahiti and New Zealand and Australia, so you will be able to promote your boat better.
And because everybody in the Pacific loves sailing, it’s easier to find customers in the Pacific compared to other parts of the world.”
THE ROUTE FROM EUROPE
“Most TMG Yachts Lagoon owners come from either Panama or Mexico. Some owners stop in the Galapagos and then come directly to the Marquesas.
From the Marquesas they go down to the Tuamotus Archipelago and arrive in Tahiti, where they do all their repair work before they continue to either Cook Island or Tonga, New Zealand and finally home to Australia.”
MEDITERRANEAN
The Mediterranean has many countries and coastlines to explore with calm and pleasant sailing conditions.
THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean is scattered with quiet islands and sealife galore. The shallow turquoise waters are a catamarans natural habitat, it is time to take a dip.
PANAMA
The Panama Canal is an artificial 82 km waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is the most popular route that cruisers take when travelling from the Caribbean back to Australia.
GALAPAGOS
The Enchanted Archipelago is renowned as an iconic tourist destination – and with good reason. It features some of the world’s most unique and endemic wildlife species, wonderful beaches that continually rank among the world’s best.
MARQUESAS
Unlike the other islands in French Polynesia, there are no lagoons or protected coral reefs surrounding these landscapes. Instead, steep volcanic mountains plunge straight into the pounding Pacific Ocean, while jagged ridges lay interspersed between deep valleys and thriving jungles.
TUAMOTUS
The Tuamotus; 77 atolls – narrow coral rings encircling turquoise lagoons – that make up this stunning archipelago are flung over an immense stretch of indigo-blue ocean. The sealife and diving is incredible.
TOP CRUISING DESTINATIONS IN FRENCH POLYNESIA
“There is such a large variety of things to do in French Polynesia, so we advise that you allow enough time to visit all of the archipelagos if you can. Also, visit the Society Islands, they have a lot of events and cultural events not to be missed.”
Here is Martin Herlov, Lagoon owner Martin Herlov’s favourite places in French Polynesia…
Tahiti
As a sailor it’s very nice to spend some time in Tahiti, get back to civilization, have good internet, buy good food, buy spare parts, meet up with other cruisers, go to restaurants and simply relax.
Moorea
Only 2 hours from Tahiti. A tall mountain island, surrounded with a protecting reef and great anchorages. Lots of hikes, and in the spring/summer, you have a good chance to dive or snorkel with the humpback whales.
Fakarava
#1 in French Polynesia. Almost always a fresh breeze from the east, no waves, beautiful view and lots of places to stop. In the North; there is a small town with shops, a new fuel station where you can dock the boat and fill up directly. In Fakarava south pass the famous wall of sharks has the worlds highest concentration of reef sharks.
Fatu Hiva
500-600 nm from the Tuamuttos region, the first island is also the most beautiful and remote island. Fatu Hiva is also often where cruisers who come from Panama, makes landfall. The climate in Marquesas is a bit cooler with the cold mountain breeze but also drier in the cyclone season, where Tahiti can be more wet.
Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva is the biggest island in Marquesas and the main island. Here there are some fantastic hikes to fx Vaitape waterfall in Daniels bay and some cool diving with manta rays in the main bay, Taoihae.
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