Rapa

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Rapa

Rapa is the largest and only inhabited island of the Bass Islands in French Polynesia. This island group is often linked with the nearby Austral Islands but they are linguistically and geologically a separate group.

Background

Cruising the region

Charts

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Communication

Submit details of local radio Nets.

Routes to/from

Popular routes, timing, etc.

Check-in facilities/Ports of Entry

Rapa isn't a port of entry for French Polynesia but apparently according to the local gendarmerie, it's OK if you enter the country via Rapa.

"Le Marie" (the mayor's office) is the place to check in, as the Gendarmerie's office is inside. Limited if any English is spoken.

Checking in is a formal process that's handled rather informally. You'll need your ships papers, previous exit papers, and all passports, like everywhere. Fill in the forms after taking them to the gendarmerie and take them to the post office for mailing to Tahiti. Keep your copy, of course. You will need to complete full entry formalities in Papeete.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

There are no marinas or yacht clubs here.

Anchorages

List details of all safe anchorages in the area.

• Anchor in the deep areas (~45m, instead of on top of reef flats that are ~15m deep) if you can. Expect 1-2 metre waves continually at the anchorage. Anchor relatively close to the "downtown" wharf if you can, since that's the best place to tie your dinghy.

Tourism & things to do ashore

List places of interest, tours, eateries, etc.

Marine stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Offshore Islands

Other uninhabited islands of the Bass Islands are the Marotiri / Bass Rocks (Îlots de Bass in French) which are a group of four uninhabited volcanic rocks about 40nm SE of Rapa. The Marotiri are an important bird sanctuary but don't support human habitation.

See the Austral Islands page for the nearby island group. The next nearest island is Pitcairn.

References

Publications, etc.

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

Links to relevant websites.

• Rapa on wikipedia
• Rapa on noonsite
• Feasts and friendliness -- blog post from SV Illusion about their time on Rapa.
• Above all else, it’s the wind -- another post from the same blog about the wind at Rapa.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Notes supplied to Delatbabel by a cruiser who had visited there:

Before I went to Rapa, I searched and found that the clearance conditions are still pretty much the same as when I passed through French Polynesia in 1999 (see noonsite.com or google: FrPoly's ports of clearance): clear with the Gendarmerie everywhere you go. It's not a problem to arrive at Rapa first. They only get a boat or two a year (usually none) and no airport, so they're pretty isolated down there.

The wind there is crazy! Do you have the French chart of the harbour? Anchor in the deep areas (~45m, instead of on top of reef flats that are ~15m deep). I've anchored before in shallow areas with crazy wind (in Mexico), but this is much more extreme. One to two meter wind waves in the harbour was common. In five weeks there, only a few days of <20 knot wind. Anchor relatively close to the "downtown" wharf if you can, since that's the best place to tie your dinghy. "Le Marie" (the mayor's office) is the place to check in, as the Gendarmerie's office is inside. How's your French?

As for checking in, it's a formal process that's handled rather informally. You'll need your ships papers, previous exit papers, and all passports, like everywhere. Fill in the forms and take them to the post office for mailing to Tahiti. Keep your copy, of course.

Living on the boat while there was like living in the middle of a constant storm and it's not easy to remain dry while coming ashore. They offered my use of the main wharf and to make it easier on my crew, I said yes. Another mistake: I was worried about rats, debris and storm damage -- and suffered all three. I still find "Rapan rocks" tucked into bizarre nooks on the boat. I borrowed a cat and eventually got rid of all the rats.

It was an amazing experience, but a bit too crazy for a crippled boat (I lost use of my engine 10 days out of NZ); Raivavae was much easier and more like tropical cruising, even though it's too cold to call the Australs "tropical".

Contributors to this page
Names: Delatbabel