Seasonal· Huahine Nui· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Maraamu & Swell at the West Passes (Avamoa & Avapeihi)
16° 43.1′ S · 151° 3.1′ W · approximate
The two west-coast passes into Fare sit in Huahine's lee, so the June–August maraamu mostly shows up as a hard beat from Raiatea and as gusts off the hills rather than as breaking seas in the passes. Swell with any west in it is the one that makes Fare uncomfortable.
Practical
Approx: a point outside the reef between Avamoa (OSM 'Te Ava Mo'a') and Avapeihi ('Te Ava Pēhi'). The 2025 brief calls both west passes wide and usable in all weather, with leading marks, and says the anchorages in the island's lee are well protected. Winds are E trades, SE in the austral winter and NE in summer, and the relief makes them gusty. Charter base guide: Leeward trades blow E–SE 15–20 kn, rising to 25 kn, with 3–5 ft of chop; the maraamu blows from the SE at 25–35 kn from June to August, with 8–9 ft seas in open water for several days. Raiatea to Huahine is upwind in these conditions, so wait for a lull or go early. Noonsite cruiser report (2020): the Fare moorings get rolly in strong swells with any west in them. Noonsite also warns of lagoon current near the Fare pass of 2 kn or more, an unmarked reef just south of the Fare entrance (visible by its breakers by day only), and a yacht that grounded on the reef at the south end of the island in July 2017. The south pass (Araara) faces the open south, so treat it with extra caution when a big south swell is running; no source gives a swell limit for it. Forecasts: meteo.pf, or VHF 16 then VHF 13 at 6:30am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm.
Best for
Timing the Raiatea crossing and the Fare entry
Season
Maraamu Jun–Aug; west/south swell any time