French Polynesia Cruiser Problems

[double u]

https://www.tahiti-pacifique.com/sho...2019_p168.html
January, not march, sorry.
BTW: anybody doubting the capacity of these gentlest & welcoming, peaceful & relaxed people to be incited to the most irrational actions by the “right“ persons:
Tahiti, ses îles et autres bouts du monde: The pyres of Faaite (1)

[double u]

Xenophobia is popular with politicians worldwide to rally voters behind th.eir “cause“. This is conjecture now:
some politician(s) here focus latent discontent of parts of the population on very “visibl.e“ strangers, the cruisers. FP has seen huge changes (we have come back after 22 years & see these islands being propelled by a rocket into an - uncertain - future. They are being confronted by many first world problems all at once: trafficjams, overpopulation, nature destruction, obesity, diabetes, change from subsistence economy to 9-5 jobs, une.qual distribution of wealth, pollution,...
& I suspect that politician(s) of the independence party are trying - & succeeding - in focusing discontent on us (“the squatters of the lagoon“...!!!)

[double u]

somebody shared a strange post on Tahiti flea market (puces nautiques) that has been deleted now. I don't know where he had it from, but the gist was:
More & more boats anchor in Maraa lagoon, no toilets, so pollution assured. The people hide below during daytime & only come out in the evening to pick up “minors“ ashore. “What is being trafficked here?“. Is there no law against such things/there should be a law against such things.

Vicious slander, I wonder who is behind it.
& no, it is not a misunderstanding because of my poor french...
The poster' french suggested a non native speaker (or he intentionally wanted to seem one)

[double u]

In the issue 420 of Tahiti Pacifique Valentina Cross, elected representative of the sovereignity party for the community of Teva i Uta is quoted (page 10):
“the lagoon of Papeari, Mataiea & Atimaono is teeming with sailboats,...the squatters & polluters of the lagoon“
The same lady has already been convicted for diffamation/slander in another contex:
https://www.radio1.pf/valentina-cros...r-diffamation/
Hmmmm...

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by chouliha

The French Polynesia paradise is changing rapidly. There are a number of locations with anchoring restrictions either already put in place or going to be put in place very soon. The anchoring restrictions are not the only thing happening regarding Yachties in FP.

The French Polynesia Yachting Association (AVP) is a group located in FP trying to help resolve these issues. See additional information at the end of this post.

Press release from the AVP (Association des Voiliers en Polynesie)
- Association of Sailboats in Polynesia –

The AVP is concerned about a recent evolution towards restricting the conditions of stay of sailboats in French Polynesia.

For the last few months, one has witnessed a whole series of constraints, prohibitions, even violent actions towards the sailing community:

- In Bora Bora, total prohibition to anchor, even on sandy grounds (sole available areas in green on the chart below). Obligation to take a mooring for 3000 xpf/night, without any guarantee the mooring is safe, as proven in the case of catamaran “Archer” which broke its lines, suffered considerable damage as did the pontoon of the Pearl Beach Hotel it ended up against. The boat’s insurance had to cover these damages, but the moorings concession holder (“BBMS”) refuses to answer the boat’s insurance queries, and notably confirm whether he is insured or not. (as of 11/11/2019).

- In Raiatea, several yachts were insulted, menaced, and in at least one instance attacked in the Miri Miri area. One of the catamarans (“Tao”) had its anchor line cut – while the owner of the yacht was filming the deeds. A police report was filed, but was not followed up by the Attorney General (as of 11/11/2019). The DPAM (Maritime Affairs Department has informed the AVP, without showing any legal documents to that effect, that in fact anchoring was illegal throughout Polynesia and that regulations were being drafted to confirm these prohibitions wherever required.

- In Moorea, a “PGEM” will shortly be put in place (General plan for the maritime area):

o Prohibition to anchor outside area defined by the PGEM.

o Prohibition to exceed the quotas allocated to each area.

o 83 boats maximum allowed over the entire Moorea lagoon.

o 50% of these allowed anchorages will be well inside the bays (Cook and Oponohu) in 25 to 35m of water.

o Most allowed areas are on the Northern side of the island, where the sandy areas are the smallest and where hence the risk of damaging flora and fauna are the highest and where the concentration of housing and touristic activities are highest.

o 48 hours maximum allowed in any one location.

o Only 13 boats will be allowed on the Eastern side of the island, the only one likely to be accessible reasonably by sailboats coming from Tahiti for the limited 48h allowed. Moorea has over 50 resident sailboats on this side of the island, and Tahiti over 250 resident sailboats. These areas will be used by the sailboats from marina Vaiare in Moorea for their week-end outings.

o These quotas will be reviewed annually unilaterally by the commission.

- In Tahiti, the Taina area is due to be “evacuated”. Some 63 boats were there on November 4th, more than 80 in high season. Some are wrecks, but most are in perfect state, and are either transient boats, awaiting spare parts or on provisioning runs or boats parked there more permanently. This technical stop is absolutely indispensable for all boats in transit after a long passage. Taina is home to a marina (full), a fixed mooring field (full) and an area of tolerated anchorage, which now is being cleared.

- The minister in charge of this issue proposes to relocate some of these boats to Taravao (on the Southern end of Tahiti, some 40 miles away!), perhaps in a new marina that may be built a few years down the road (!), and meanwhile in zones P2 to P5 below in areas without landing facilities, and in any case catering to less than 60% of the boats concerned.

o P3,P4 and P5: No landing possibilities at all, less than 1.5m depth and already occupied by small crafts used as party boats.

o P2: Vaitupa Bay, already saturated as shown in the satellite picture below.

The increase in the number of yachts since the rules of stay were changed 5 years ago has led to some degree of rejection from the local population. Some elected members of Parliament have indicated their intention to legiferate in order to prohibit the lagoon on the Southern side of Tahiti and thereby avoid the migration of boats towards this area, quite in opposition of what the Minister indicated.

All existing infrastructure of the territory is saturated: Marina Taina, Marina Papeete, Marina Apooiti in Raiatea, , Yacht Club in Tahiti, Marina Vaiare in Moorea, Taravao, Raiatea mooring fields all full and will not be able to receive the yachts being removed following the prohibition to anchor.

The AVP points to the fact that the nautical tourism has been earmarked as a strategic component in the economic development of French Polynesia, towards which it contributes over 1.5 billion CFP today.

Aiming at increasing this contribution further, the government has chosen to increase the number of sailboats by lengthening the allowed duration of stay and by decreasing the import tax for boats to some 7% (June 2014).

However, against this increase, no new infrastructure has been put in place, leading to a significant concentration of yachts on anchor in all islands, and generating the relative rejection by locals today.

The AVP is a non profit organization founded and run by sailors, both transient and resident. Its charter includes:

- Promote the image of the sailing community

- Defend sailors rights

- Educate sailors to all existing regulation and good practices, in particular environmental and cultural.

- - Provide practical information regarding anchorages, infrastructure, suppliers and services to facilitate the stay of transient boats and the general well being of all concerned.

Contact: Pourquoi adhérer ? | Association des Voiliers en Polynésie
avp.tahiti (at) gmail dot com

Further information from Chuck
Currently AVP is the only group representing the yachties both French and International that is:
1. Attending the majority of meetings held by government agencies related to the sailing community.
2. informing the general sailing folks that the meetings are taking place and where.
3. Summarizing the meeting and informing the sailing community.
4. They gather up all the incidents of issues in FP relating to the sailing community.
5. They are also trying to gather any theft incidents, helping non french speakers submit a online police report and then helping follow up.
6. The AVP have come up with a good practice charter and flag that will show the locals this boat has signed up to respect the lagoons, not pollute, etc etc.
7. AVP has organized discounts with many marine vendors in Tahiti. Your membership card can pay for the membership in short order.

I could probably come up with more reasons to join if given more time.

In general AVP are the boots on the ground. If not for AVP in many cases we would not have a clue what laws are being proposed and how they are being implemented. Not speaking french we don’t listen to the radio or watch FP tv.

By having yachties join the number of boats they represent will gain more leverage in the talks to senior ministers.

HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH THE ISSUES IN FRENCH POLYNESIA - JOIN AVP >> For less than $17 your membership makes a difference.

How to join AVP https://voiliers.asso.pf/comment-adherer/

Additional write up by Totem
https://www.sailingtotem.com/2019/11...ip-tahiti.html

https://www.cruisingworld.com/story/...HhPL67wlJX75C4

Safe Sailing

Chuck
Jacaranda

i did have some sympathy with you , despite also recorgnising that times are a changing and that the indiginous population are now demanding some return from those who want to enjoy / and ultimately destroy the islands , but when the " boots on the ground " phrase arrived you lost my sympathy ,, are you american by any chance,, surely yo must realise by now that you cannot trample people , you have been trying it all over the world,, it just builds up resentment with sometimes dreadfull repercusions . did you really think that the over population of the world and the ever increasing amount of cruisers can go on for ever ,, well it cant ,, those from the richer countries, who dont forget , have made their wealth often from the exploitation of poorer nations , will sooner or later have to pay up,,,, when will the USA ever get round to cleaning up or properlly compensate ( how can that ever be possible ) for the effect of nuclear weapon testing in the S pacific , ,,, enjoy while you can hon, cause not only ( significant in the S Pacific ) are the waters round you have grown , but , the times they are a changing.....

[double u]

...maybe go to the trouble of reading my posts too, Cherod...

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by double u

...maybe go to the trouble of reading my posts too, Cherod...

i did,, labouriously ,, and others ,, about the jet skis and liners etc,, you probablly know about the original Gaugin,, i know there is a statue to him and all that ,,, but the truth remains,, memories can be long,, resentments deep , eventually ??!!??

[El Pinguino]

When I was in Papeete in 2014 I think they had just increased to time that yachts could stay in FP by another year.
Speaking with Ken Vernaudon at the Bureau des Yachts he said that they recognised the contribution visiting yachts made to the local economy.

In fact he said that they contributed considerably more than FIFO tourists staying on foreign owned hotels.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Cherod

......... when will the USA ever get round to cleaning up or properlly compensate ( how can that ever be possible ) for the effect of nuclear weapon testing in the S pacific , ,,, enjoy while you can hon, cause not only ( significant in the S Pacific ) are the waters round you have grown , but , the times they are a changing.....

I thought the nuclear weapons testing in French Polynesia was done by the french.......

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I thought the nuclear weapons testing in French Polynesia was done by the french.......

maybe it is hard to tell or not important when you only have three fingers , your children have cancer and there are no fish .

[double u]

1. Cherod, on how long a stay in french polynesia is your knowledge about the pacific islands in general & french polynesia in particular based?
2. absolutely NO-body in FP confuses the nationality of the nuclear testers
3. I am not so absolutely sure there is 100% resentment about the tests, as the french annual contribution to the FP budget is sizeable (1,2 billions € or so) "in recognition of the huge contribution og FP to the french defence"
4. this enmity is, I am absolutely certain & every day & each "interaction" with the locals confirms this, not shared by any sizeable proportion of the population. Since our arrival in March (& on none of our earlier visits) we have not met a single individual that was not welcoming & friendly, not 1 single one!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I thought the nuclear weapons testing in French Polynesia was done by the french.......

why let facts get in the way of an argument with someone who has never visited the area and spouts unsubstantiated climate change drivel on this and other forums.

[double u]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

When I was in Papeete in 2014 I think they had just increased to time that yachts could stay in FP by another year.
Speaking with Ken Vernaudon at the Bureau des Yachts he said that they recognised the contribution visiting yachts made to the local economy.

In fact he said that they contributed considerably more than FIFO tourists staying on foreign owned hotels.

& that is the next thing I don't understand - extend the time before "papeeteisation" & unlimited time for EU citizens, & now "no anchoring anywhere" - move...

[chouliha]

Many of the marine businesses contacted in Papeete regarding the restrictions on anchoring in Papeete felt they it would not make any difference to their business!

yachts spend a heck of a lot more than those attending FIFO. FIFO only lasts a week.

I think the thing to keep in mind is most of these anchoring restrictions are NOT about $$$$. The locals could care less. They don’t want us in their back yard.

It’s separate parts of the government one trying to increase tourism the other not wanting yachts. Crazy....

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by chouliha

Many of the marine businesses contacted in Papeete regarding the restrictions on anchoring in Papeete felt they it would not make any difference to their business!

yachts spend a heck of a lot more than those attending FIFO. FIFO only lasts a week.

I think the thing to keep in mind is most of these anchoring restrictions are NOT about $$$$. The locals could care less. They don’t want us in their back yard.

It’s separate parts of the government one trying to increase tourism the other not wanting yachts. Crazy....

FIFO.... my usage is 'Fly In - Fly Out'..... ie tourists who fly in to stay at the Hilton or whatever for a week and hardly leave the premises during their stay.