Seasonal· Ua Pou· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Ua Pou Swell and Gust Conditions

9° 21.5′ S · 140° 2.8′ W · approximate

Ua Pou has no truly swell-free anchorage, and its spires bend the trade wind into violent, shifting gusts. Picking the right bay for the day's swell direction, and setting anchors to cope with gusts, is the core of a good Ua Pou visit.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Coordinate approximate: the Hakahau anchorage. Chugach (April 2019): swell in most bays, including the main villages of Hakahau and Hakahetau. At Hakamaii and Hakaotu they anchored but could not land the dinghy. Baie Hikeu and Baie Hakaotu were the least rolly. Migration (Mar 2024): at Hakahetau, conditions change a lot with a small change in swell direction; if it rolls, try Vaiehu a few miles south. Hakahau: Moon Rebel (Aug 2018) found the bay usually gets NE wind whatever the direction outside, and it turns gusty in stronger trades. SV Nereida (July 2023): gusts off the mountains swung boats in all directions; several boats dragged or could not raise their stern anchors. Behind the breakwater, swell is much reduced. Outside it (where the approved festival area was in Dec 2019), Sugar Shack spent 3.5 rolly, uncomfortable weeks. Hakahau opens north-east, so it is the bay to avoid in a N-NE swell, while the west-coast bays (Hakahetau, Vaiehu, Hakaotu, Hikeu) are exposed to anything with west or south in it. Check swell direction, not just wind, before choosing. No source we found states a fixed calendar season for this; treat it as a forecast-by-forecast decision. Night tip: set the main anchor first and add the stern anchor in daylight.

Best for

Choosing the right Ua Pou anchorage for the forecast

Season

Year-round; worst in strong trades (gusts) and in swell from the exposed quarter

Nearby