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French Polynesia
Pearl of the Pacific | Group Journey
One hundred & eighteen islands and atolls rise in serenity from the heart of the South Pacific, each with a character as unique as its shape, to form the land of French Polynesia. From the more renowned Society Islands to the more remote Marquesas, a great diversity of experience awaits. Diving among bright rainbow fish in crystal clear lagoons. Hiking in lush tropical forests. Sunning on powdery clean white or exotic black sand beaches. Dining on cuisine influenced by French, Asian and Polynesian tastes.
Your journey will be crewed by a captain and chef who are trained professionals and explorers at heart. Sailing Collective crew includes sailors, travelers, artists, gastronomes and academics who will offer a wealth of information and diverse experience. This crew will work with you to build a customized day to day itinerary tailored to your group needs, interests, and desired activities.
This is now a two-boat voyage! See availability under the "Book Now" button. Not seeing the cabin you're hoping for? Email us at info@thesailingcollective.com.
Itinerary
Raiatea
The second-largest island in the Society Islands, Raiatea is mountainous and lush with plenty of agriculture to make for a plentiful farmers market in Uturoa each day. The Lagoon that surrounds it is almost entirely navigable except for a few impassable sections where sailing yachts must exit a pass in the reef and enter another to continue on around. You can also sail up to Taha’a without leaving the lagoon that they share.
Taha’a
Amidst the Leeward Islands is one of the archipelagos more picturesque islands, Taha’a. Located just north of Raiatea. Sailing between Huahine and Bora Bora, Taha’a is an ideal midpoint to break up the passage and spend a few days discovering all the island’s deepwater coves along the shore and sandy anchorages along the reef.
Huahine
Two islands connected by a low bridge, Huanine Nui (the big island) and Huahine Iti (the smaller) share a lagoon that has limited passes navigable in a sailboat. This is the most easterly island in the Leewards. The experience of sailing to this island will stay with you long after you depart this unique destination, it has a certain magical ambiance. Huahine is even greener with a sprawling jungle that envelopes the twin peaks. Hidden in the thick brush are marae, ancient temples and these mountains are home to more of these archaeological sites than anywhere in French Polynesia.
Bora Bora
The pearl of the Pacific-the very name Bora Bora is synonymous with exotic adventures at the end of the world, but none of the lore and legend prepares you for the feeling of sailing through the impossibly blue waters of the lagoon in the shadow of a sheer cliff face. Bora Bora is so odd in its formation that it takes on radically different shapes and personalities as you sail around it. Viewing the famous spire is like looking for shapes in clouds, ever-changing before your eyes.
Maupiti
Sitting 28 nautical miles west of Bora Bora is the island of Maupiti, often referred to as “little Bora Bora” for its geographic similarities, but culturally the two islands sit an ocean apart. Maupiti has none of the luxurious hotels that ring the lagoon at Bora Bora and the culture of the island is a little more relaxed because of it.
Crew
Jamie Earle
Captain
Jamie grew up just outside landlocked London although this didn't stop him from finding his way to the water. He started racing dinghies at eight years old and turned his hobby into a job at thirteen as a sailing instructor throughout his youth. whilst at university studying mechanical engineering he progressed to a Commercially endorsed Yachtmaster and spent the summers skippering throughout the Mediterranean. After a year of office life working in the tech sector Jamie chose to swap the desk for the waves and became full time yacht crew. Captaining SY Solitaire a 75ft sloop on charter for season, multiple stints on superyachts and ocean crossings. He has amassed in excess of 15000 miles at sea. He is a keen skier and enjoys anything out on the water or outside.
Gabrielle Badawy
Chef
Gabrielle is passionate about the intersection of food, shared-experience and nutrition. The origin, quality and seasonality of the ingredients are essential to her methodology, and she strives to use her cooking to connect people and open diners up to new flavors and sensations. Her style is a mix of home-cooking, experimentation, and ethnic flare. She attended Natural Gourmet Institute, where she learned to cook for people with dietary restrictions and transform culinary techniques into health-supportive recipes and menus. Additionally, she worked at Blue Hill, where she was trained in the highest level of farm-to-table food preparation and presentation. From there, she moved on to Pietro, where she was the Sous-Chef, and delved into the nuances of Sardinian-Italian cuisine. Most recently she made a pilgrimage to Lebanon where she investigated her heritage through the lease of food, by spending time cooking with women from various regions of the country at Tawlet, Beirut.
Travel Details
Overview:
This journey begins on the island of Raiatea, an island roughly 45 minutes away from the capital island of French Polynesia, Tahiti. All international flights arrive in Papeete, Tahiti and from there you will take a local flight to Raiatea. There are multipe flights from Papeete, Tahiti to Taiatea and you can book your local through Air Tahiti Nui. Flight cost from Tahiti to Raiatea average $100 0 $150 round trip and some flights have a 'touch and go' at Boro or Huahine, those flights are completely acceptable as you do not have to get off the plane during the stop over.
Travel
Airlines:
a) Air Tahiti Nui - LAX to Tahiti
b) United Airlines - SFO to Tahiti
8-hours non-stop from Los Angeles or San Francisco
Daily non-stop service
Leaving Tahiti at night provides early morning arrivals into the US to allow easy connection
Starting Marina & Meet Up Location
Marina Base: Marina Uturoa, Raiatea
By Air: Fly direct to Tahiti via the international airport in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti. Internal flights between Papeete and Raiatea are with Air Tahiti. Airport transfers can be made on request and the base is close to the airport and from Uturoa, the capital of the Leeward Islands. There are also flights to Raiatea from: Moorea, Maupiti, Bora Bora, and Huahine.
Meet Up Location
Marina Uturoa, Uturoa, Raiatea - The marina is just 5 to 10 minutes away from the airport and when you arrive at the Uturoa airport, any taxi driver will know where DREAM YACHT CHARTER at Marina Uturoa is and be able to take you there.
Arrival Time
Please arrive at the Marina Uturoa in Raiatea no later than 2:00 pm on Day-1. Once crew is finished with the check-in process and guests have all arrived, we will depart the marina for our first anchorage. 3:00 pm is when we ideally depart and 4:00 pm is the latest we can depart the marina and arrive safely at the first anchorage.
Departure Time
On the final day, we arrive at the final marina by 9:00 am. Please notify the Sailing Collective travel team if your departure flight is before 12:00 pm on Day-8 so we can make arrangements for you to get to the airport ahead of time.
Not Included in Cost
Travel
Alcohol
Crew gratuity
Onshore activities
About the Food
The Sailing Collective Travel Co. takes food to a new level. We believe by sourcing local ingredients from local friends we have made throughout our travels pushes us to experience where we are by being engulfed by the regional flavors. You will feel bewildered at first, and then you will feel ecstasy with each meal.
Each voyage, both group & private, has a private culinary artist aboard preparing some of the most unique, interesting, and thoughtful food you may ever enjoy in your life! From breakfast to dinner each day of the journey, we are blessed by beautiful meals by one of the most talented culinary teams in travel anywhere in the world.
Boats
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