Sailing the family back to Tahiti

On December 27, we said our good-byes to our friends and sailed the family back to Tahiti.

Dad really enjoyed getting to know Irwin. He also thought he looked like Sean Connery. Yeah, I can see that.

Who knew my cousin Mike and Kevin would become such good friends?

I think Mom and Dad had a really good time. Look at those smiles!!

Miguel is at the helm as we head out of Cook's Bay.

All the rain had caused some new waterfalls to show up!

The view as we leave of Cook's Bay with Mount Mouaputa on the left.

Another view of those amazing waterfalls.

Mom and Dad at Bougainvillea park in Papeete.

In the beach side bed and breakfast where Mom & Dad had to stay for the last night because we did not have room for everyone on the boat.

For Mom and Dad's last night, God displayed one of the most beautiful sunsets of their trip!

Wood mosaic of a traditional Polynesian Sailing Canoe at one of the shopping centers.

My wonderful cousin Mike had paid for us to have a week at the downtown marina. The next morning we got a big surprise with a big hoopla on the docks. There was a full Polynesian welcoming committee of dancers, but was this for us?!?

No, it was for the French Vendee Globe sailboat racer, SMA, who had to drop out of the race due to an equipment failure. He was just sailing into the dock.

It was a very impressive boat, and welcome!

We got to know the guys who were helping and they showed us the part that broke. It is a big hydraulic ram that moves the cantilevering keel.

Here you can see the crack in the housing.

And if you were not sure how big this hydraulic ram is, I stuck my foot out so you can see its hugeness!!

Another surprise, a huge, yacht transport ship came in to take several yachts somewhere else. The next morning the ship, sinks itself from the back and becomes a moving drydock. We saw two mega yachts load up, but not the SMA boat. They left the next week on a regular transport ship after they removed the mast and keel. Never a dull moment in Papeete!