Taravai Village Anchorage (Gambier)

23° 9.0′ S · 135° 1.4′ W

A deep, well-sheltered bay off Taravai's tiny village of five houses and a church, home to Valerie and Herve, whose Sunday potlucks, garden produce and hospitality make this the social heart of the Gambier for cruisers.

Tuamotus Marquesas

Practical

Coordinate from Pitufa: good-holding muddy sand in the 15-20 m basin near Motu-o-Ari. Avoid the 6-10 m fringe, which is a thin layer of sand on coral plates. Entry crosses a reef with large bommies. Sugar Shack saw 2.7 m at the shallowest point at low tide and 3.5 m at high. Pitufa once had only about 1 m under a 2.2 m keel. Enter first at high tide with full sun and light wind. Pitufa's approach from the east, if the three entrance buoys are gone: WP1 23 deg 08.954'S 135 deg 01.111'W; WP2 23 deg 08.944'S 135 deg 01.149'W; WP3 23 deg 08.927'S 135 deg 01.175'W; WP4 23 deg 08.902'S 135 deg 01.193'W; WP5 23 deg 08.912'S 135 deg 01.230'W. Watch for debris from abandoned pearl farms (submerged buoys and lines). It gets bouncy in strong E winds. For N winds, use the northern basin S of the tiny islet, around 23 deg 08.6'S 135 deg 01.49'W in about 15 m (Sugar Shack: 23 deg 08.535'S 135 deg 01.4576'W, 16 m, 75 m chain). Six boats rode out a forecast 40-50 kn NW blow there in 2021 (30-35 kn seen). Valerie and Herve monitor VHF 77. Bring your compost to their pile rather than dumping organics in the bay. Herve sells pearl floats for 500 XPF (verify locally).

Taravai Village Anchorage (Gambier)

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby