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Ia ora na!
We’re very pleased to bring you the March / April edition of the Te Parau Api, the resource for media and information on the islands of Tahiti. In our January / February issue, we mentioned the upcoming Transpacific Tahiti Race 2008, which is back after fifteen years. This story inspired us to create a newsletter dedicated to sailing and yachting around the islands of Tahiti.
The lagoons and waters throughout the islands of Tahiti are among the best in the world for sailing. With a warm climate, steady trade winds, islands in close proximity and an abundance of dramatic anchorages, more and more visitors are chartering a sailboat or a yacht – with or without a captain and crew. Several world-renowned chartering companies are located in the islands, some with North American sales and charter offices.
Both bare boat and crewed sailings are available, offering breathtaking views of cloud-shrouded green mountain peaks, through sheltering atolls and reefs and into deep-water lagoons with visibility that extends to 100 feet. Yachts can be chartered for just a few days or for weeks resulting in lifetime memories.
The following information is provided to our media partners in North America – including upcoming events and highlighting the history, culture, and news from the beautiful islands of Tahiti. If you would like to explore any of these story ideas further, or discuss alternative pitches with our public relations team, please send inquires to: media@tahiti-tourisme.com
Please include as much information about your outlets as well as clips of recent articles / projects. We prefer in-body emails as opposed to attachments. For those of you that are old school, please rest assured that we also love receiving mail! Note: Tahiti Tourisme North America requires an assignment letter or a letter of intent from assigning editors or producers in order to consider media trips.
Please address inquires to:
Tahiti Tourisme North America
Public Relations
300 Continental Blvd., Suite 160
El Segundo, CA 90245
Maru'uru roa!
Tahiti Tourisme North America PR Team
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| The 2008 Calendar of Nautical Events Within the Tahitian Islands |
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The Long-Awaited 2008 Tahiti Pearl Regatta
The 5th edition of Tahiti Pearl Regatta will be held from May 8th to May 12th 2008 between the islands of Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora.
This memorable event, which gathers cruisers from New Zealand, the United States, France, Australia and the islands of Tahiti, highlights different activities such as diving and snorkeling as well as symbolic Polynesian traditions.
The Tahiti Pearl Regatta, which combines regattas, sailing and dugout canoes, creates an opportunity to reunite Pacific lovers and to visit the Tahitian islands.
This awaited event is open to all categories of mono-hulls or multi-hulls and is destined for amateurs or professional cruisers.
Visit www.tahitipearlregatta.org.pf  |
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The Annual Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous
The 3rd edition of Tahiti Moorea Sailing RDV will take place from June 27th to 28th 2008 from the island of Tahiti (Marina Taina) to the island of Moorea (Valara Bay).
This annual event was created to welcome charter boats, passengers and crews of transpacific sailboats passing through our islands.
The afternoon events will include a tradeshow presenting all land and water activities available within our islands as well as the opportunity to discover the “va’a” outrigger canoe.
The afternoon activities will also include a race between all participants, followed by traditional Polynesian festivities.
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The 2008 Transpacific Race
As we noted in our previous issue of the Te Parau
Api, the 3,571-nautical mile race from California to Tahiti will start Sunday, June 22, at 1 p.m. off Point Fermin in San Pedro. It will cross the equator and finish at the historic Point Venus lighthouse on the north end of the island of Tahiti, six miles east of Papeete. Participants may sail type kind of boat subject to approval by the eligibility committee.
Please visit the Transpacific Yacht Club’s website for more information on eligibility. Entries for the Transpacific Yacht Club's 13th race opened on Dec. 1, 2007. The race and entry form are posted online at www.transpacificyc.org.
There is no upper limit on boat size, as long as it fits in the Pacific Ocean. All entries must have a minimum crew of four. According to the new format, multihulls are welcome, as long as they're 45 feet LOA minimum.
For those that lack the time or inclination to sail their boats home, Dockwise Yacht Transport can assist with the transport of 15 boats. The boats leave Tahiti the first week in August and deliver to Enseneda 12 days later. Click here for more information on Dockwise: www.yacht-transport.com
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Va’a Races
There are a number of traditional Tahitian outrigger canoe races in the islands throughout the entire year especially in the month of May.
A list of the upcoming races is on the events calendar on the Tahiti Tourisme website. Please click here to view the schedule | |
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| The Hawaiki Nui II: The Polynesian Beauty |
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In 1981, one of the last renowned Polynesian navigators, Francis Cowan, began the construction of “Va’a Taurua,” or “pahi,” with his son-in-law Matahi Brightwell. This double-hulled sailing canoe was named Hawaiki Nui, after the mythic land where Polynesian people originated. In 1985, he sailed onboard Hawaiki Nui to Aotearoa, New Zealand without the use of modern navigational instruments. Using the sun (te ra), Venus (Ta’uruanui) and the Southern Cross (tauha) as his only guides.
Today, Francis Cowan age 80 and Matahi Brightwell are currently building an 83-foot-long Polynesian double-hulled sailing canoe aptly named Hawaiki Nui II (Waka Hourua) on the island of Moorea. His goal is to revive the feats of Hotu Matua, the legendary chief who led his people to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and an unknown navigator who took the son of Maui to South America and brought back the kumara (sweet potato) which was later introduced to New Zealand.
The construction of the canoe, which started in 1999, exemplifies the traditional culture of the Pacific along with promoting the history of Polynesia and traditional construction techniques while reinvigorating the ancient arts. The project offers an opportunity to learn more about Polynesian navigation and also allows the opportunity for the general public to participate in the construction of a Polynesian double-hulled canoe.
The goal of the project, once completed, is to travel from the islands of Tahiti to Chile, through Easter Island, and then back to Tahiti through the Marquesas Islands. Once back to the islands of Tahiti, the Waka Hourua will follow its course to Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The Hawaiki Nui II, is now in production and expected to be completed in mid 2008. . To learn more about this amazing project, please click here. From their website, you can also sign-up to receive updates on their progress. Please click here to view their website:
www.hawaikinui.org
Information and images provided by www.hawaikinui.org |
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| Yachting and Chartering in Tahiti and Her Islands |
We’ve listed several of the companies that offer sailboat and / or yacht chartering in the islands of Tahiti below. Should you require more information on any of these companies, please do not hesitate to contact them directly – or, send an inquiry to media@tahiti-tourisme.com
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Archipels Croisieres
Dream Yacht Charter, a French sailboat company specializing in charter boat and cruise rentals in the Seychelles, the Caribbean, Madagascar, Malaysia, and Thailand, has broaden its presence in the Tahitian islands by purchasing Archipels Croisieres.
This acquisition will allow Dream Yacht Charter to invest in the Tahitian islands and to diversify offerings significantly through the development of honeymoon yachts.
Dream Yacht Charter will keep the Archipels Croisieres brand, currently offering luxury sailing cruises in the heart of the authentic and stunning Tahitian islands aboard deluxe catamarans, designed to accommodate eight passengers.
Archipels Croisieres (Tahiti: 011 689 56 36 39)
Visit their website at www.archipels.com
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Bora Bora Cruises
Bora Bora Cruises is an independent family-owned company dedicated to the discovery of the islands of Tahiti in a luxurious and authentic manner.
Bora Bora Cruises provides boutique lagoon cruising aboard their 30-cabin super-yachts visiting the islands of Bora Bora, Taha’a, Huahine, and Raiatea. Their two sister ships, the Ti’a Moana and the Tu Moana offer guests the opportunity to create memories that will last forever.
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Haumana Cruises
Haumana Cruises, based in the island of Rangiroa, offers a unique style of cruising and a true authentic Polynesia visit, in the comfort of a 12-cabin catamaran. Haumana offers a great range of charters, from surfing to fishing and diving as well as private charters for family and friends events.
Haumana will offer adventure trips in 2008 dedicated to surfers to help them discover the best surf spots of the islands of Rangiroa and Tikehau. Haumana has collaborated closely on projects with Quicksilver, O’ Neill, Oakley and has also hosted some of the most renowned names in the surfing world.
For more information, please visit www.tahitihaumanacruises.com |
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Moorings
Moorings operates from the island of Raiatea in French Polynesia. With suggested seven and 10 day itineraries from their website, as well as their Captain Rewards program, Moorings is a wonderful way to sail tranquil lagoons in the shadows of volcanic peaks just as ancient Polynesians did in outrigger canoes. Trade winds scented with the fragrant mix of orchid, frangipani and vanilla carry passengers to the islands that have cast their mesmerizing spell for centuries on writers, painters, and sailors.
For more information, please call (888) 952-8420 or visit: www.Moorings.com
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Motor Yacht Roa
Roa Yachting, created in 1996, is the owner of the 23-meter Falcon 72 yacht motor named “Roa” and based on the island of Bora Bora.
In 2008, the company joined the yachting industry of Tahiti. Operating from Bora Bora to the Leeward Islands of Taha’a, Raiatea and Huahine, offering four to seven days cruises as well as full-day excursions and sunset voyages.
To read more about Roa, please visit: www.roa-yachting.com |
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Sunsail
Sunsail, part of the international leisure travel company TUI Travel PLC Group, is specialized in providing worldwide bare boats and crewed yacht charters. They offer a wide range of yachts in many locations, which allow visitors to enjoy the pleasure of their destination in a unique way.
To better serve and suit all sailors’ needs in 2008, Sunsail customized and upgraded its fleet by adding a 13-meter Leopard 43 Catamaran for charter cruises.
For more information, please visit www.sunsail.com |
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Tahiti Yacht Charter
Tahiti Yacht Charter is a Polynesian company specialized in yacht sailing charters.This company operates only within the waters of the Tahitian islands and offers top quality sailboats from the best European shipyards Fountaine-Pajot and Beneteau.
Tahiti Yacht Charter has recently acquired several new catamarans. To read more about Tahiti Yacht Charter, please visit www.tahitiyachtcharter.com
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| Yachting and Chartering Guides, Books and Resources |
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The Yachtsmen’s Guide of French Polynesia
The Papeete Port Authority has created Yacht Guides to make the discovery of Tahiti and Her Islands even easier.
The objective of this guide is to answer all questions on cruising in Polynesian waters. It provides yachtsmen with the needed and practical information to make their stay more enjoyable while visiting the islands of Tahiti.
In addition, the 32-page Yachtsmen’s Guide offers detailed information about customs and immigration formalities when entering French Polynesia as well as information on different marinas, yacht services contacts, sanitary formalities, shipyards, and fueling locations.
The guide is currently being printed in Tahiti. If you would like to request a copy of this guide, or if you have any questions, please contact us at: info@tahiti-tourisme.com |
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World of Yacht Chartering
Discover everything you have ever wanted to know about Tahiti and sailing in the French Polynesian waters!
This brochure, produced by Tahiti Tourisme, is the perfect guidebook to visit and enjoy our islands. It provides sailors with practical information on history, culture, and cruises available, as well as, detailed descriptions of each of the islands.
One section is fully dedicated to navigation, including updates on safety and sailing conditions, the environment and weather. This 24-page brochure also includes exclusive sailing itineraries for the five archipelagoes.
To order a copy, please send an email to: info@tahiti-tourisme.com |
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The Guide to Navigation and Tourism in French Polynesia
The Guide to Navigation and Tourism in French Polynesia offers a detailed orientation about sailing within the islands of Tahiti. It provides sailors charts, information on numerous anchorages, passes, and ports that the Tahitian Islands offer.
The full-color book also includes photos, drawings, piloting instructions, as well as advice for administrative and customs formalities. As Amazon notes, "it's an indispenable tool for both those new to French Polynesia and experienced sailors alike."
This book can be ordered online from Amazon.com as well as other retailers. Click here to visit Amazon.com for more information. |
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For more information, please contact us at media@tahiti-tourisme.com
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