Anchorage· Rangiroa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
West Lagoon Sand Anchorage (Blue Lagoon approach, Rangiroa)
15° 4.9′ S · 147° 55.1′ W
A big, open sand patch about 1 nm north of the Blue Lagoon reef where a crew rode out a night in good holding before moving closer to the Blue Lagoon in better light.
Practical
Position 15°04.876'S 147°55.079'W, anchored in 15 m of mostly sand with no coral in evidence; excellent holding in 12 kt of SE wind (Asolare, October 2016). Fairly comfortable overnight for a heavy displacement boat, though open across many miles of lagoon fetch, so expect pitching in fresh trades. Useful as a staging spot: arrive late in the day here, then close the coral-strewn last mile to the Blue Lagoon anchorage (15°05.657'S 147°55.378'W) the next morning with the sun high and a bow lookout. The western lagoon is roughly 18 nm from the Kia Ora anchorage; do not cross it in poor light. No services; nearest supplies are back at Avatoru.
Best for
Overnight staging before the Blue Lagoon in SE trades
Season
Settled weather; exposed to long lagoon fetch in strong SE
Nearby
- Blue Lagoon (Rangiroa)0.8 NM away
- Northwest Lagoon Anchorage (15°01.6'S, Rangiroa)4.4 NM away
- Garden of Eden (Motu Ohina, Tikehau)9.1 NM away
- Garden of Eden Anchorage (Tikehau)9.3 NM away
- Motu Puarua Bird Island (Tikehau)12.3 NM away
- Motu Tohuarei (Tikehau)14.2 NM away
- La Petite Passe (Avatoru Pass dive)14.5 NM away
- Avatoru Pass Dive (Rangiroa)14.6 NM away