Public domain (NASA), Wikimedia CommonsAnchorage· Makemo· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Pouheva Village Anchorage (Makemo)
16° 37.6′ S · 143° 34.3′ W
The lagoon anchorage off Pouheva, Makemo's tidy, brightly painted main village, just inside Arikitamiro (East) Pass. It puts you a short dinghy ride from the bakery, the island's best-stocked stores, the post office ATM and a fun wreck snorkel in the harbor.
Practical
Waypoints from the Soggy Paws Tuamotus Compendium: Nehenehe (Jan 2019) 16°37.599S / 143°34.259W in 13 ft over a small deep-sand spot, held well in NE squalls on a single float; Sugar Shack (Nov 2019) found 5 m sand close to the pier at 16°37.595S / 143°34.202W and 16°37.589S / 143°34.288W. AVOID anchoring on the wreck at 16°37.610S / 143°34.245W. The bottom is thin sand over coral with many bommies: float your chain (fenders or old pearl floats) or it will wrap. Protection is from N round to E and just ESE (Soggy Paws 2010); noonsite's cruiser report calls it sheltered from all but southerly winds. It gets very choppy in strong SE trades, and a microburst in June 2020 (50+ kt gusts from NNW) drove two boats onto the town quay (noonsite comment). Pass current affects the area near the pass; aim to arrive on a slack. Dinghy dock at the small-boat harbor by the wharf; water from the town tap near the concrete pier (ask first). 4G cell coverage is good (Natitua fiber cable since Dec 2018). No mooring fees reported.
Best for
Provisioning, bakery runs and internet in the central Tuamotus
Season
Year-round; uncomfortable in strong SE or S winds