Anchorage· Mopelia (Maupiha'a)· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Mopelia South Anchorage
16° 49.7′ S · 153° 55.6′ W
The recommended southeast-corner anchorage at the south end of Mopelia's big eastern motu, over sand in the trade-wind lee with the outer reef breaking to windward.
Practical
Coordinate is the anchorage position published by Multihulls World (16°49.710'S 153°55.564'W): about 3 m over sand, very clear water, little or no swell because the main island blocks SE-NE swell. Choose a sand patch by eye in good light. Noonsite (June 2024): the SE corner of the atoll is recommended. It is spacious with good holding in sand, but a few old pearl-farm buoys sit just below the surface on the approach, so keep a lookout from the bow. Move to the NE corner if the wind goes north. Float your chain over the coral heads. Mopelia has no shops, fuel, water supply, medical care or clearance. Arrive self-sufficient in food, water and fuel (Noonsite 2024). The nearest ports of entry are Bora Bora and Raiatea, about 100 nm and more upwind. The only regular link was a supply ship from Maupiti, scheduled about twice a year (French Wikipedia), and rotations are sometimes cancelled for weather.
Best for
The default trade-wind anchorage
Season
Settled ESE trades; move north in northerlies
Nearby
- Mopelia Coconut Crabs1.4 NM away
- Mopelia Supply & Self-Sufficiency1.5 NM away
- Mopelia Access & Protected-Status Check2.2 NM away
- Mopelia Cyclone Season & No-Shelter Warning2.2 NM away
- Mopelia Lagoon Coral Heads & Pearl-Farm Debris2.6 NM away
- Mopelia Lagoon Snorkel & Bommies2.6 NM away
- Mopelia (Maupiha'a) Lagoon Anchorage2.8 NM away
- Mopelia Copra Community (gifts & trade)2.9 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).