Anchorage· Mangareva· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Rikitea Anchorage (Mangareva)
23° 6.9′ S · 134° 58.1′ W
The Gambier's port of entry and cruiser base: a deep, mud-bottomed roadstead off Rikitea village, tucked behind the inner reef under the green wall of Mt Duff, with the coral-stone St Michael Cathedral ashore.
Practical
Coordinate is a Sugar Shack anchor spot (2021): 16 m mud, pulled back toward the reef. Expect 13-22 m over very muddy bottom with some debris; Pitufa rates the holding superb at 14-20 m. Lay 70-80 m of chain. Well protected from waves, best further north behind the reef marked with cardinal marks, but open to the prevailing wind. In strong winds with a westerly component, gusts off the mountains swing boats in different directions. In winter fronts, boats have dragged and bumped in a crowded anchorage (Irie, 2013). Numbers vary from 2 to 35 boats (35 in April 2019). It gets crowded on supply-ship days, and the ship needs the channel. The spot at 23 deg 07.004'S 134 deg 58.093'W works ONLY in a west wind. Otherwise you swing into the channel used by local boats and the supply ship. The markers closest to Rikitea are unlit and pearl-farm floats (many black or half sunk) stray into the channel, so do not arrive at night. Cruisers monitor VHF 16, and some use 77. Clear in at the gendarmerie and pay trash fees at the mairie. Vini 2G works in Rikitea. Do not eat lagoon fish (ciguatera).
Best for
Clearing in, provisioning and riding out fronts in the archipelago's main shelter
Season
Year-round base; crowded and gusty during June-Sept fronts