Return to Raiatea and the Carenage

Wings spent the 2012-3 typhoon season "on the hard" in the Raiatea Carenage yard. We were familiar with the pro and con aspects of the place and decided that known issues were easier to handle than unknown ones, so we made arrangements for the pull and storage.

This year it was Bill's turn to take us into Teavapiti Pass, a pass that Bill thinks is the most beautiful that he's passed through.

This is the north side of Teavapiti Pass: it's stunningly beautiful.

This large Norwegian schooner passes us as we motored toward the Carenage. Her crew of several families were needed for such a salty and traditional vessel.

Conni leaves Wings as we prepare to haul her from the water.

Our WONDERFUL Mantus anchor grabs first time, every time, and holds tightly. If you're in the market for a great hook, consider a Mantus.

Our ride arrives in the form of a TraveLift.

The forestay, a stainless steel cable that supports the mast from the front, has to be removed for hauliing here, and we replace it with the blue line that Conni's surveying. Even that line has to be disconnected and re-attached on the outside of the Travelift frame.

No longer a boat, Wings is hauled to her winter rest. Man, does she need some bottom paint! There were three coats of red and a coat of blue that I applied in Mexico and she needs another two coats of red, I think.

In the ocean, you're never alone. This rider chose a protected and nutritious location to live: the forward head output through hull.

Raiatea is the chartering capital of the South Pacific. This is a string of charter catamarans and both the Moorings, SunSail, Dream Yacht Charter, Tahiti Yacht Charters, and many others have their headquarters here. It's a very nice facility and we plan to stay a few days on our return since there are laundries, fuel, and boat parts.

Conni's trip up the mast is part of our scheduled decommissioning procedure. She removes wind instruments from the mast head, checks all fasteners, and waxes the expensive mast paint.

This is our collection of fuel jugs: Red for gasoline, blue for water, and yellow for diesel. We carry fuel for the generator and the outboard in the red jugs. The dinghy is stowed forward nd the two sails are at right.

Bill bought a machete and learned to open green coconuts! He's been wanting to learn this skill for years, and finally got it done in Raiatea. The pan is full of cool, refreshing, nourishing coconut water, about a cup per coconut.

Conni works toward the ladder, closing the summer cover behind her.

Our last view of Wings as we leave for the airport.

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