Sailing with the Hawaiki Nui Va'a Race - Tahiti

This year Team Holopuni was invited to return to Tahiti by Stephan Lambert, who has 3 Holopuni Sailing Canoes there that he currently charters out of the Meridian Hotel on Bora Bora.

Our big opportunity was to sail along with the Hawaikinui Marathon Canoe race. This is the biggest marathon canoe race in the world. It is an incredibly spectacular and challenging outrigger marathon event.

The 3 day race starts on the island of Huahine and paddlers race across the open seas to the island of Raiatea. On the second day the crews race in flat water from Raiatea, through the lagoons to the island of Taha. The final leg takes the crews back through the Taha lagoon and again into the open seas, crossing yet another open ocean channel to the island of Bora Bora. But getting to Bora Bora is just the beginning of this final grueling leg. Once crews reach Bora Bora ,they still have miles to paddle out side the reef until the reach the only pass on the island and then have to double back inside the reef another 10 miles or so to the finish line.

Following the event in 2 of our Holopuni Sailing Canoes was absolutely incredibly. We had every condition imaginable. The first day crossing was windy with great sea conditions, The second day we had flat water lagoon sailing ( while the wind lasted ). Then a full on rainstorm that blanketed out the island of Taha, which was at times only several hundred yards away.

The final leg was great for the racing paddling crews...but for sailing...flat. Sheet glass, no wind...which meant for us about an 8 hour paddle.

But it was still beautiful and although we passed up on going to the finish spot of the Hawaikinui Race we were given a special welcome by Stephan's, Hotel Meridian where we returned the canoes.

Holopuni inter-island canoe sailing is now a reality. Major channels have once again been crossed. Plans are being formulated for more Tahiti inter-island adventures, along with trips to through the Tuamotus and the remote Marquesas Islands.

We were very fortunate to have Wim Lippens (www.wimproductions.com)...surfer, snow boarder, world traveler and most important, a fantastic professional photographer along on this trip to help document this part of our latest Holopuni Adventure.

[Pictures] (especially Wim's...along with some of my own) are worth more than 1,000 words. So join in and enjoy another Holopuni Day!

Aloha, Nick www.holopunicanoes.com