Anchorage· Fakarava· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Airport Anchorage (Fakarava)

16° 3.3′ S · 145° 39.0′ W

A five-boat overflow anchorage off the airstrip, between Rotoava and the north pass. Handy for crew changes, and the place to go when the Rotoava zones are full.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Official zone 'Aerodrome': up to 5 boats, 48 hours maximum. Its corners run from 16°03.234'S to 16°03.347'S and from 145°38.89'W to 145°39.138'W (coordinate is the zone centre). Kokopeli logged a free mooring here in 2018 at 16°03'15.09"S 145°39'05.62"W. Exposed to north wind. A small dock in front of the airport takes dinghies, and a snack (panini, sandwiches) opens when there is a flight. The road runs to the village and out toward the pass, a good bike ride or walk. The village is under 2 NM by dinghy. Zone rules (Arrete 414 CM of 28 March 2024): overnight stays (4 pm to 9 am) must be pre-booked at escales.gov.pf (or escales.dpam@administration.gov.pf, DPAM +689 40 54 45 78, 24/7); the service was free in the 2025 pilot and the 2025 brief says fees will be charged in 2026. Boats under 20 m may use zone spaces between 9 am and 4 pm without booking, within the quota. Inside zones: 5 kn speed limit, no sailing (motor in and out), no scuba, windsurfing or towed sports, swimming and snorkeling only close to your own boat, show anchor lights from sunset to sunrise, keep AIS on if you carry it. No sewage discharge, hull work, antifouling, sanding or engine testing at anchor. Anchoring outside the five designated zones, or in channels and passes, is a 4th-class offence. Permanent moorings are planned for 2026; once a zone has referenced moorings, anchoring in it becomes illegal.

Best for

Crew changes at FAV and overflow when Rotoava is full

Nearby