Tuamotus to Fatu Hiva

[Eder]

I'm looking to take the boat from Fakarava further East to get a decent angle to Fatu Hiva.



Any atoll suggestions to hit to make this easier? Looking for stress free pass entries only though...no surfing.

[nhschneider]

Makemo was a fabulous stop for us on our way west, however, I’d still recommend that you time your entrance to the lagoon for slack water.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[Paul L]

Makemo and then Raroia would be good stops to set yourself up for passage to the Marquesas. Both interesting places. As Neil said you need to time the entry and exits - the price you pay for visiting an atoll.

[Eder]

Both look like stops I'm looking for.
Is Raroia upwind enough to get a decent angle at Fatu Hiva or go further up?
I know its weather dependent, last year we had a lot of easterly when cruising from the Marquesas, but isn't SE wind more likely this time of year?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Eder

Both look like stops I'm looking for.
Is Raroia upwind enough to get a decent angle at Fatu Hiva or go further up?
I know its weather dependent, last year we had a lot of easterly when cruising from the Marquesas, but isn't SE wind more likely this time of year?

Its 400 miles at about 35*, luck of draw to how hard on the wind you will. They do call them the SE trades.

[chouliha]

Don’t wait to long into the season as once the spring winds go NE it will be much more difficult. Boats that waited last season until the end of the cruising season had a very difficult slog headed to the Marquesas. In our limited experience of 4 years in FP the trades are mostly E except when a high gets squashed to the south and then they go SE strong. We just had our first Maramu of the season bringing ESE winds of 25 in Fakarava.