Reported by SY Jacaranda:

I am sad to report that the ongoing thefts in the Papeete City Marina are still continuing. Last week a catamaran was boarded at night with people sleeping on board and some items were stolen. From what I heard the main door was closed and locked but the adjacent window was open for air.

The marina recently moved the guard full time to the docks but this has not helped. I have lost track of how many vessels were robbed but think the count is 8-9+ over the past 2 seasons.

One of the only marinas we have had to lock ourselves in at night that is guarded, fenced and locked!

As anyone following the Puddle Jumpers’ forum this year may have seen, multiple boats docked in Papeete Marina have once again been boarded and items were stolen. As you may see from a previous post, we have boarded at night last year and items and cash stolen. This happened to us again this year; the same pattern, with easily carried electronics stolen – my laptop was ignored, but phones and iPads taken as well as all the cash from my purse.

Credit cards were left alone, but this time my driver’s license was taken (not very useful to someone in Papeete unless they are a shortish, blondish, middle dish Australian!!) We were in the centre of the marina this time, not on the outer edge. The door was probably not locked, but was closed. We heard nothing of course.

The marina staff seemed shocked that we had been boarded in that position, but there have been other reports on the forum since. The police took a statement – one of our guests speaks French so that helped, but told us it is a common occurrence. Youths taking phones and money was their assessment. They were helpful but didn’t seem hopeful of getting things back.

Security is no different from last year, although the pontoon by the marina office is not being used officially due to building works. It would seem easy to approach the marina in a kayak or an outrigger canoe and leave the same way.

trishe

Reported by Hugh Pilsworth of SY BlueFlyer:

In September last year, I left my boat at Papeete Marina, with someone to keep an eye on her. Early this year a big swell came through the harbour and broke up the pontoon where my boat, and several others, were moored. My man moved my boat to a better location with no damage at all.

On my return, I have moved to Taina Marina to have much-needed repairs done. I have found several good people to do this work.

– My agent, Laurent Bernaert of PYS, phone +68987771230. An excellent Frenchman who also speaks English. A real “Mister arrange it”, no problem. Immigration, tax-free fuel etc.
– The man who looked after my boat for 6 months, Mike Raoult, phone +68987411124. A professional yacht skipper.
– Mat Angelin, the best rigger in Polynesia, phone +68987720502, another English speaking Frenchman.
– Last is Luc, I don’t have a second name. His phone is +68987737919. He knows everyone and can do/fix most things on a boat, including refrigeration, removing and fitting a new generator, sourcing bits, and pieces. He also polished my fuel for me, no mess.

Taina is the more secure marina from the weather, though Papeete Marina is in the town. Costs during the season are much the same, but during the offseason, Papeete Marina is about 1/3 of the price. For getting work done, however, Taina is the one to go to.

There have been a series of thefts from boats tied up at Marina Papeete in the last week. Last night we awoke to shouts on the dock (at the floating pontoons close to the marina office) but could see nothing. Checked our boat and all seemed in order. We could see nothing and no-one at that point and went back to bed.

This morning I realized that my purse had been emptied of cash and that two old devices used for music storage had gone. The shouting was traced to a boat at the far end of the pontoon where the owner had disturbed someone trying to pick the lock on their door.

The thieves ran away, climbed the marina fence and disappeared into the park. Another boat next to us had a phone and wallet stolen last week. Be aware security here is minimal. There is one guy on a bike and once he cycles past, thieves can easily climb the fencing around the gate. The staff are aware of the situation and a report is being made to the police.

I stayed at the Papeete Marina and we liked it very much (more so than Taina), since close to the town center and nice security and reasonable rates. I had my watermaker inspected by Sopom, and although it was not a brand they service (Type Catalina by Spectra), they did some diagnostics.

Even though we worked together for an hour, I did not have to pay! Ask for Gilles at the counter, he is the manager of the storehouse at the bridge, though they are going to move soon. Gilles speaks French and English, and is a joy to work with.

The new marina in Papeete is very attractive, very close to the city center and the “roulottes” (food truck). We spent a week in August 2016 and paid about 250€ for a 52′ monohull (high season prices).