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

Kawau Anchorage (Hao)

18° 11.1′ S · 140° 50.6′ W

An anchorage behind a 'kawau', a finger of reef that runs out from the rim into the lagoon, about 6 nm SE of Otepa. It is a quieter alternative to town in light easterlies.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Jacaranda (Jan 2019) anchored at 18°11.105S / 140°50.583W on the west side of the reef finger in about 30 ft, in a 12 kt E-ESE breeze. The reef top is about 0.2 m below the surface at low tide, with parts exposed, so it breaks only the wind waves. Many bommies: you need luck and good light to land the anchor in sand, so float your chain. When the wind went SE at 18 kt the boat bounced, and the pearl-farm anchorage 2.5 miles farther along would have been better.

Best for

A light-easterly overnight away from the village

Season

Light E-ESE winds; bouncy in SE 18 kt+

Nearby