A note about Bora Bora

First off the Owners of the Maikai Yacht Club are wonderful. Highly recommend grabbing a ball there if you pass by. And heck, its Bora friggin Bora! You have to check that one off the bucket list.

However, and I hope the situation improves, there were some issues.

We heard through the vine that you would need to lock up everything and raise the dinghy every night. Leave nothing on deck or in the cockpit. Leave nothing in the rental cars. Etc.. We have heard this before but fleet wide we have had no issues. We are actually getting pretty lax about it all. I haven’t locked up anything for a long time.

While attending an onshore event a boat got quite a bit of very expensive fishing gear stolen. Plain sight. On a mooring ball. Second night we were there an ARC boat and three other non-ARC boats got their dinghies pinched. The ARC boat was in the middle of the mooring field. Third night we were there an ARC boat was boarded at 3 AM but the skipper happened to be in the cockpit at the time and scared the lone intruder off. Several of the younger, (read rowdy), ARC crewmembers have been involved in fisticuffs with locals. Two nights in a row. No doubt some alcohol involved but it is the first time since we left the Caribbean that we have encountered such issues. This is not second hand info. We were there for all of this.

I debated whether to post this or not. In deference to the excellent job the Maikai owners are doing. Their homegrown security patrol etc.. But I guess I feel some responsibility to pass along a warning. I wouldn’t skip Bora Bora by any means but be aware that you’re not in Kansas anymore.

And definitely visit the Maikai Yacht Club.

M