Also we still have to sail 2000 NM to the Gambier Islands, they are moving into my focus already.

I plotted already the WPTs from the “GambierReef N” WPT into the large lagoon. The reef has a diamond shape with corners into each compass point. Extension NS is 20 NM and WE is about 18 NM.

There is one entrance channel marked in the sea charts through a reef opening on the west side. It goes around the southern side of the main island Mangareva on leads to its eastern side where the main settlement Rikitea is located. Also there are markers in the sea charts, it doesn’t mean they are in the water. Maybe they were planned or really set-up in the past, they might have disappeared or become invisible by time. Thus, we will go along the indicated route using GPS, the sea chart and most important eyeball navigation.

What will be at the island? From reports we read there will be no supermarket, no fuel station.
SIM cards for internet access are said to be available at the post office, which also provides WLAN for everyone. Once every 2 weeks a supply boat is coming, which also is supposed to have fuel on board in 200 l drums.

That’s what we know! It looks like real adventure. At the end we will know more of the SE corner little group of islands of French Polynesia.

What is of interest for me is how the people are living there, what their daily life is. The good things and the bad things.

Walking around, try to talk to people, hiking, snorkeling will be parts of our exploration of the islands inside the large lagoon.

This island is off of the beaten tracks of yachts rushing through the Southern Pacific Islands with a fixed schedule, and this makes it attractive for us.