Anchorage· Tubuai· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Mataura Jetty Anchorage and Mooring (Tubuai)
23° 20.5′ S · 149° 28.5′ W
Tubuai's main yacht stop: the ferry jetty and breakwater about 3/4 mile east of Mataura village on the north shore, reached through a marked channel from the north pass. You can lie at the jetty between supply-ship calls or anchor off it, with the dive centre, petrol station and village a walk away.
Practical
Coordinate is Pitufa's anchor spot behind the breakwater (23°20.53'S 149°28.55'W). 'Mooring' here means tying up at the jetty: 4-5 m alongside, and both the E and W sides are usable but NOT the N side; the goélette calls every 10-15 days and takes the W side (Chugach, Sept 2020). Ask before you tie up. Anchoring off the jetty: 4-6 m over sand, rock and bommies, worst in the E part; boats swing with both current and wind, so float your chain. There is always some swell: the outer reef on the north side is so deeply submerged that ocean swell rolls almost straight in, and Pitufa rolled badly even in light easterlies (Nov 2018). N and W winds are a problem; the goélette has had to wait days to come in, and Chugach left the jetty for an anchorage 150 m out in NW-SW 20 kn. A second spot Pitufa tried a little farther east (23°20.34'S 149°28.18'W) was just as uncomfortable. In strong E-SE wind the better shelter is the South-of-Airport anchorage. Water by jerry can from the dive centre 150 m away; free garbage disposal on the main road by the jetty; petrol station 300 m away. Lagoon current is milder here than on the west side.
Best for
Clearing in, provisioning and whale trips; rolly in N-W wind
Season
Workable in moderate E-SE trades; poor in N and W winds