Marquesas Islands Sailing

Nuku Hiva · French Polynesia

Challenging21 daysOceania~£5,000 est.

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Overview

The Marquesas rise sheer and green from an empty quarter of the Pacific, 1,400 kilometres northeast of Tahiti -- basalt spires, cathedral valleys and bays that take the swell unbroken from South America. Sailing is how the islands make sense: on your own keel it is a 3,000-nautical-mile trade-wind passage from the Galapagos, most crews' longest-ever leg at three to four weeks, or you can ride the working freighter Aranui 5 from Papeete as it delivers everything from cement to communion wine. Ashore, Nuku Hiva's Taipivai valley is where Melville jumped ship to write Typee; Hiva Oa holds Gauguin's grave and the giant tiki of Puamau; Fatu Hiva's Bay of Virgins is the classic landfall. Anchorages are deep, rolly and busy with sharks -- swim with judgement. May to October brings the most settled weather. Air Tahiti also flies to Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa if you would rather join a boat locally. Three weeks costs serious money however you do it: about 5,000 pounds excluding long-haul flights, plus French Polynesian clearance formalities for private yachts.