Frequently asked questions
What are the dates of the 2022 Hawaiki Nui Voyage?
November 19th-27th, 2022. Sailing days: November 20th-25th.
What is the best way to get to Tahiti?
Our partner airline is Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) and we highly recommend flying with them from Los Angeles (LAX) or Seattle (SEA) to Papeete (PPT). Standard tickets on ATN include one 50 lbs suitcase + 1 sport item (this can be your paddle bag).
How can I participate?
The short answer: buy or rent a Holopuni (the racing class for this adventure is the Holopuni Sailing Canoe).
The long explanation: The Holopuni fleet in French Polynesia is privately owned and the voyage is the ultimate sailing canoe adventure that is not to be missed. As such, only a limited number of Holopunis will be available for rent. Most crews are already set by the captains/owners. They will invite friends and crew members that raced with them during the championship race series (10 regattas February to November). In addition, the voyage having evolved into a race for most of the legs, the stakes have been raised. However, the recent opening of a Holopuni sailing school has grown the fleet of potential canoes available for rent. Also, many owners having done the voyage numerous times, may make their canoes available. Please inquire. If you are motivated, we will find solutions.
Can I participate?
Buying or renting a Holopuni is not a guarantee of being able to participate in the voyage (on a canoe). A minimum of experience is required (for instance, by participating in our championship series or at least having a veteran/experienced steersman). All crew should be paddlers/waterman/waterwoman and in good physical condition. All participants must be approved by the organizer. Crews can be mixed. There will be one final standing: there are no categories by gender or age.
Can I come alone?
Yes. We will do our best to find you a canoe to paddle on. Most crews come complete (2 paddlers and a steersperson). If you and a paddling friend want to come, we can line you up with a local steersperson. All combinations are possible, we just need to know in advance to do our best to form crews.
I want to join the fun, but not paddle for hours on end
Part-time or non paddlers are welcome! Many crew members come with their significant other. Our escort and housing during the voyage are charter catamarans. If you are not on a canoe, you can follow along comfortably on your catamaran. In the past, some paddlers have come with their whole family.
But it is a race?
Yes. And no. There is a racing category which includes 2 legs (Tahiti to Moorea, Huahine to Raiatea). Racing crews are iron. No changes during or between legs (with minor exceptions). In the cruising class, anything goes.
Where do we sleep at night?
On the trampoline of your Holopuni. Bring a sleeping bag.
Where do the locals sleep at night?
On board luxury charter sailing catamarans complete with captain, hostess, meals, bar, music, private cabins and bathrooms, hot showers, bedding, etc. The host committee has, exceptionally for this edition, decided that visiting paddlers can sign-up to sleep like the locals. Seriously, our fleet is accompanied by catamarans which serve as our escort and housing. Most have 4 cabins which each sleep 2 persons (so best to come in multiples of 2 or take your chances). You can also opt to privatize a whole catamaran for your team (3 to 8 or more passengers, as you wish). Any number of combinations are possible. Inquire/reserve early as demand for catamarans in May maybe high.
What is the cost of all this fun?
The exact cost will largely depend on your catamaran option and what we can line up for this edition (we will update this as we firm up participations). The costs include: registration for the voyage (includes race jerseys, numerous group meals, return shipment of Holopuni, event organisation, etc.), your spot on a catamaran (includes everything but alcohol, i.e. shared (or not) cabin, food, water, fuel, hostess, captain, etc.). The typical option (shared catamaran + everything else) is estimated at about US$2,000.00 - US$3,000.00 per person. That is for 7 nights/7 days on a catamaran. Holopuni rental is US$1,000.00. Depending on your flight schedule, you will need to add lodging in Tahiti and/or Bora Bora as well as a one-way flight from Bora Bora to Tahiti (about US$200). This is a non-profit organization/event. We do our best to keep costs down by sharing them and optimizing catamaran yield. Note: our costs are in € so exact US$ prices may change slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations.
What else do I need to know?
The 10 previous voyages have seen all types of conditions across the 5 main legs; from no wind, night crossings, 25+ knots and 20+ foot seas, rain storms, white-out conditions, to sunny skies. Being ready for whatever the ocean and nature serves us is all about being safe and not taking unnecessary risks. A minimum amount of physical and material preparation is required to insure a fun and rewarding voyage.
Golden Rule: Light is Right. Take the essentials, leave the rest. A lighter canoe will float higher, be dryer, easier to paddle, and respond faster. You will be safer.
Safety
The safety of our fleet is our priority. Weather conditions on inter-island crossings can change rapidly and you can quickly lose sight of everyone else. The event is fully declared and vetted with our local (French Polynesia) and national (France) authorities. In addition, no less than 9 distinct local districts must give the green light/be informed. Your registration includes adherence to Va’a Ta’ie Tautoru, our local sailing canoe association. This gives you a limited event coverage assurance (for damage). You must also have your own personal emergency medical insurance. You will need to provide a medical affidavit stating your fitness to participate in the event.
Each canoe must have an active Garmin inReach (or similar device) on board. This device is a GPS, PLB, and satellite communicator & tracker which allows your canoe to be located. The ability to track each canoe puts everyone at ease, especially between Moorea and Huahine, when you will be out of sight of land.
Minimum required equipment (3-person canoe, what you need to bring):
1 life vest per person (may also be provided)
1 paddle per person + 1 extra paddle
2 steering paddles
Spray skirts (min. 2)
Waterproof VHF radio
Mirror
2 knives (in sheaths with straps)
Waterproof flashlight (s)
Strobe light
4-6 liters of water per person minimum (3 liters for crossing of less than 30km)
Optional equipment:
2 harnesses
Hand pump
Waterproof mobile phone (or in waterproof case)
Waterproof GPS (inReach has a GPS)
Other flotation device
Small dry bag + medium dry bag
Small repair kit (innertube, tape, epoxy repair kit, etc.)
2 seat covers
3 seat pads (foam pads to sit on)
Your own favorite main sheet block
Personal gear:
Our escort catamarans will be our homes for 8 nights. They are comfortable, however, as on any boat, space for storage is always at a premium. A duffel bag is a must rather than a hard-side suitcase (which will be harder to stow). Although it does not need to be, a waterproof (or greatly water resistant) duffel bag is better for all the times it will be transferred around (all the big brands make very nice such bags: Patagonia, Naish, Dakine, Quiksilver, etc.). A wheeled duffel could even do it.
Light is right for the canoe but also for you in general. You’ll find that you don’t need that much stuff. Do not overpack. A couple of board shorts (or paddling shorts – perhaps long ones to protect your knees from the sun), a clean T-shirt for everyday/evening, lightweight long sleeve cotton hoodie, lightweight pants, a pair of socks, one pair of comfortable closed shoes (good for your plane trip and for the few “dress up” occasions here), flip-flops, water shoes (that drain well and don’t have places for sand to get stuck), toiletries, bath/beach towel, good waterproof and reef safe sunscreen, hat, 2 pairs of sunglasses with retainers (note: The waterman by Maui Jim does the job nicely – and Maui Jim is an official sponsor). The person in the front seat especially needs good eye protection from the sun AND the water. You will be provided with a long-sleeve race jersey which you will wear each day.
A jacket or neoprene type upper body vest is recommended to have handy on the canoe. Even if the sun is out, you can get cold during the day. We are still in the tropics, so don’t get a heavy-duty offshore vest, but something which can keep you warm and is not bulky or heavy for easy storage.
A small pharmacy kit is good. Pain killers. Aloe vera.
To charge your small electronics, a 12-volt plug can come in handy (ideally with 2 USB ports). Other onboard power is 220v with European style plugs. An extra battery bank can also be handy (small rechargeable battery which you can use to charge small electronics). If you don’t have any electronics, you can skip all of this!