Puddle Jumpers Rendez-vous in Moorea

Ever since we coined the phrase Pacific Puddle Jump more than 20 years ago to describe the annual migration of sailors from the West Coast of the Americas to French Polynesia, we’ve hosted festive sendoff parties in Mexico, and, more recently, in Panama too. Back in the early days though, we always felt that the hardy sailors who made that 3,000- to 4,000-mile passage also deserved an arrival celebration.

We finally made that happen 12 years ago, thanks to our partnership with French-Tahitian sailor Stephanie Betz of Archipelagoes, plus generous support from Tahiti Tourisme, Air Tahiti Nui, the Papeete Port Authority and other key partners.

These days, we’re proud to say that the annual, three-day Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendez-vous enjoys a stellar reputation, not only as a celebration of the fleet’s safe arrival in the islands, but as an exposition of revered Polynesian cultural traditions in music, dance, sport and cuisine. 

Last Friday, roughly 100 sailors from 10 nations gathered at the Tahiti Tourisme offices on the Papeete, Tahiti, quay for the event’s opening activities, which included a chart briefing on inter-island cruising, a cocktail reception and a high-energy dance show performed by a troupe of heavily tattooed Marquesans.

Saturday morning the fleet gathered outside the Papeete lagoon for the start of a 15-mile cruise-in-company to Cook’s Bay, on the neighboring island of Moorea. Ashore that afternoon at the Club Bali Hai — owned by former Newport Beach sailor Jay Carlisle — cruisers swapped crossing tales before a round of rum punch, a bountiful dinner, cruising presentations by event partners from New Zealand and Fiji, and a stunning performance by a troupe of fire dancers.

As in years past, Sunday’s schedule was focused on traditional Polynesian sports, the highlight of which was a series of six-person outrigger canoe races staged on the bay’s idyllic lagoon. We’re certain that all who paddled in those heart-pounding sprints beneath the towering peaks of Mt. Rotui (top photo) will not soon forget the experience.

Look for our complete report on this year’s Rendez-vous in the August issue of Latitude 38. And if you plan to sail west next season, mark your calendar: Tentative dates for the 2018 Rendez-vous are June 21-23.