Calling in Tahiti

Welcome to New Kythera, that is, Tahiti. Since the arrival of European sailors in the 17th and 18th centuries, Tahiti is a dream destination. Tahiti is the most visited island by the tourists. The development of cruises helped to strengthen the tourist attraction of Tahiti. The cruise liners of are not the first boats to make a call in French Polynesia where Tahiti, the most important island, does part of the Windward Islands in the Society Islands archipelago. The 14 Society islands are divided into two groups: the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands.. .

James Cook, in 1769, explores the islands surrounding Tahiti and named the set " Archipelago of Society islands" after the Royal Society in London which financed the expedition. James Cook in 1769 explores the archipelago of Society islands then discovers Rurutu. He comes back in 1773, 1774 et 1777. Tuamotu : the last atoll discovered is Ahe, on 6 September 1839 by Charles Wilkes.During the call in Tahiti of the HMB Endeavour in 1769, Tupaia joins to the expedition and act as a pilot before dying at the end of 1770.

On 24 January 1521, the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan discovers Puka Puka in Tuamotu. In 1616,

In 1595, the Spanishs Álvaro de Mendaña and Pedro Fernández de Quirós discover the Marquesas Islands. On 4 February 1606, Quirós discovers the Acteon group, then the Hao on 10 February 1606.

Seen by Quirós in 1606, the island is really visited by Samuel Wallis who calls there on 19 June 1767, and named it “Island of King George”.

Dutch Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten are in Takaroa, Takapoto, Ahe and Rangiroa. Then no more contact with Europeans during one century.
On 5 June 1606, John Byron is at Napuka and Tepoto.

On 2 June 1722, Jakob Roggeveen discovers Makatea and, on 6 June 1722, Bora Bora. Charles de Brosses names Polynésia Austral Land islands in 1756.

Bougainville approaches it a few months later, first of all gives it the name of “Nouvelle-Cythère” (New Kythira). The admiral Abel Aubert Dupetit-Thouars will oblige the queen Pomaré IV to sign a protectorate treaty with France in 1842.

Raevski islands, at the centre of Tuamotu, were discovered on 15 July 1820 by Bellingshausen, German explorer serving Russia, who give them this name of Raevski in memory of Russian general Nicolaï Raevski

The British sailor James Wilson discovers Gambier Islands. Navigating with his crew and some missionaries of LMS en route to Tahiti, she gives to the archipelago the name of admiral Gambier supporting the mission activities. He names also the culminating point of islands as his ship: DUFF.
Rapa is found by George Vancouver on 22 December 1791, the island being named at this moment Oparo.

A call in Tahiti on 26 October 1788 will become famous: BLIGH comes to take away seedlings of breadfruit tree, dedicated to nourish the slaves in Caribbean plantations. Bounty arrives at the bad season to collect breadfruit trees and Bligh must patient six months to load his precious cargo.

Tahiti and Polynsesia have inspired many painters. Constance Frederica Gordon Cumming accompanies her brother Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon and Lady Gordon, appointed first governor of Fiji on spring 1875. She used to cruise east of Samoa to the Tonga, Tahiti, the Marquesas and other islands of the Pacific where she has painted many watercolors.

Louis Isidore Duperrey leaves Toulon on August 11 1822 after stopover in the Fallkland calls in Tahiti where missionaries English are installed. After a world tour rich in observations and scientific experiments, La Coquille arrives in Marseille on 24 April 1825. The ship was taken over by the second Jules Dumont d'Urville, who renames her Astrolabe.

TROPIC BIRD, a 368-ton three masted schooner, operated in 1893 a regularly service between San Francisco and Tahiti via Taiohae in the Marquesas Islands. The voyage lasted 28-34 days and involved a 10-day stopover at each port of call. The schooner PAPEETE built in 1892 is used by the French Navy until 1901, when she is sold to local ship-owners. She comes back in the Navy in 1931, named ZÉLÉE.

In 1947, the raft " KON TIKI " stranded on the Raroia coral reef after drifting along 9000 kilometres through the Pacific ocean. The intention of Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian designer of the trip, was to prove that, contrary to all the allowed theories, the settlement of the Polynesian islands had been carried out also, at least partly, starting from South America.

Alain Gerbault buys in England in 1921 an old sailing ship, Firecrest, built in 1892. From 1923, after a long crossing of the Atlantic, he rounds the world tour rejoining Le Havre in 1929 after several stopovers of which Tahiti. He returns there in 1932 and is buried in Bora-Bora.
Team-member of Eric Tabarly who disputes the Sydney-Hobart race, Alain Colas embarks on board Pen Duick III then Pen Duick IV at the time of the 1968-1969 races. His base camp is Tahiti. Winner of the single-handed English Transatlantic race in 72 with Pen Duick IV. With this trimaran renamed “Manureva” (the bird of the voyage in Tahitian), he beats of 32 days the record of the single-handed round the world tour held by sir Francis Chichester, on a monohull. In 1978, Alain Colas disappears at sea on board Manureva, during the first Route du Rhum.

TAHITI is the name of a 1904 liner built at Glasgow as PORT DIXON for Elder, Dempster & Co. Bought by Union S.S. Co of New Zealand, she changes of continent going from Western India to Pacific (Sydney, Wellington, Tahiti, San Francisco) Used as troopship between 1914 and 1919, she is refurbished to go back on the line. On 17 August 1930, she sinks 480 miles south-west of Rarotonga. She is replaced by MONOWAI, ex-RAZMAK of London-Bombay line, bought to P&O. 2 years later, MONOWAI is transferred on inter-colonial service Wellington/Auckland/Sydney. Mobilised during the war, MONOWAI comes back to Sydney and serves Tasmania until 1960.

SAGITTAIRE is a Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (WASHINGTON) passenger- cargo swapped by Messageries Maritimes in 1938/39. Laid up October 1942, then requisitioned by the Free French Government, she goes back in service in March 46 to Nouméa. On 6 May 46, her arrival at Papeete marks the return of Pacific Battalion of the Free French Forces, including 300 Tahitian volunteers.

OISEAU DES ILES II, takes Papeete as home port, in 1956. Built at La Pallice for the Compagnie Française des Phosphates de L'Océanie, this motor vessel of 500 tons, will be later used in links to Mururoa nuclear test site.

The shooner OROHENA (on the slip-way) allows to French Oceanic Settlements to link Tahiti and the islands from 47 to 53. MOANA of Commerciale de L'Oceanie was used as a inter island trader for the Tuamotu group.

In 1919, EL KANTARA placed on the line Dunkirk-Tahiti-New Caledonia via Panama, is the first ship of Messageries Maritimes to pass the Panama Canal by carrying back the 540 Pacific soldiers from the front on their islands and in May 1923, she regularly ensures the Metropolis-Noumea line via the West Indies and the Panama Canal. The liner was scrapped in Dunkirk in December 1926.

In 1972, during her round the world cruise, FRANCE calls in Tahiti

Among the frequent visitors, a former Russian liner, ALEXANDR PUSHKIN, built in East Germany in 1964. Transformed in 74 in single class liner for 750 passengers, transferred from Baltic Shipping Co to Far East Shipping Co, she will change of name, beginning ALEXANDR then MARCO POLO

ISLAND PRINCESS is a cruise ship launched in 71 with 767 passengers and 317 crew, used between New York and Hamilton, Bermuda then chartered by PRINCESS CRUISES

In 1968, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises transforms in cruise sail ship OISEAU DES ILES issued in 1927 of Dubigeon yards in Nantes and used by Compagnie Française des Phosphates de l'Océanie from Papeete. Became FLYING CLOUD, this beautiful bird 48.98 m long is finally scrapped in 2009.

End 1986, Le Havre yards launch WIND STAR, a motor sail yacht for 148 passengers, followed by Wind Song in 1987 then Wind Spirit in 1988 ; a new type of vessel with Computer Assisted sails.

WIND SONG, victim of a fire off Tahaa island (Leeward Islands; French îles Sous-le-Vent) on 3 December 2002. Finally, Polynesian authorities order the scuttling off Tahiti at 4:30 pm on 24 January 2003, the ship being a danger for the port traffic .

In 1998, PAUL GAUGUIN, operating for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, enters in Papeete roadstead inaugurating a new ere of the cruises in Tahiti. During ten years in Polynesia, Paul Gauguin performed 400 cruises, with more than 120 000 passengers.
Refurbished in 2005, best cruise ship in 2004 for a US magazine, her small draft allows Paul Gauguin to sail near the coasts and to anchor in the most beautiful Polynesian lagoons.

HAWAIKI NUI, built in 1980 by la Rochelle yards under the name of LANGLADE, provided the service of the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon from Canada. In 1989, she was renamed NORTHERN CRUISER (Pavilion of the Bahamas). In 1999, she was acquired by STIM (Société of Maritime Inter-Insular Transport) Renamed HAWAIKI NUI, she assures two weekly rotations between Tahiti and the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora-Bora) for the Polynesian Navigation Society

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Welcome to New Kythera, that is, Tahiti. Since the arrival of European sailors in the 17th and 18th centuries, Tahiti is a dream destination. Tahiti is the most visited island by the tourists. The development of cruises helped to strengthen the tourist attraction of Tahiti. The cruise liners of are not the first boats to make a call in French Polynesia where Tahiti, the most important island, does part of the Windward Islands in the Society Islands archipelago. The 14 Society islands are divided into two groups: the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands.. .

James Cook, in 1769, explores the islands surrounding Tahiti and named the set " Archipelago of Society islands" after the Royal Society in London which financed the expedition. James Cook in 1769 explores the archipelago of Society islands then discovers Rurutu. He comes back in 1773, 1774 et 1777. Tuamotu : the last atoll discovered is Ahe, on 6 September 1839 by Charles Wilkes.During the call in Tahiti of the HMB Endeavour in 1769, Tupaia joins to the expedition and act as a pilot before dying at the end of 1770.



On 24 January 1521, the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan discovers Puka Puka in Tuamotu. In 1616,

In 1595, the Spanishs Álvaro de Mendaña and Pedro Fernández de Quirós discover the Marquesas Islands. On 4 February 1606, Quirós discovers the Acteon group, then the Hao on 10 February 1606.

Seen by Quirós in 1606, the island is really visited by Samuel Wallis who calls there on 19 June 1767, and named it “Island of King George”.
	Dutch Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten are in Takaroa, Takapoto, Ahe and Rangiroa. Then no more contact with Europeans during one century. On 5 June 1606, John Byron is at Napuka and Tepoto.
On 2 June 1722, Jakob Roggeveen discovers Makatea and, on 6 June 1722, Bora Bora. Charles de Brosses names Polynésia Austral Land islands in 1756.



Bougainville approaches it a few months later, first of all gives it the name of “Nouvelle-Cythère” (New Kythira). The admiral Abel Aubert Dupetit-Thouars will oblige the queen Pomaré IV to sign a protectorate treaty with France in 1842.

Raevski islands, at the centre of Tuamotu, were discovered on 15 July 1820 by Bellingshausen, German explorer serving Russia, who give them this name of Raevski in memory of Russian general Nicolaï Raevski
	The British sailor James Wilson discovers Gambier Islands. Navigating with his crew and some missionaries of LMS en route to Tahiti, she gives to the archipelago the name of admiral Gambier supporting the mission activities. He names also the culminating point of islands as his ship: DUFF. Rapa is found by George Vancouver on 22 December 1791, the island being named at this moment Oparo.

A call in Tahiti on 26 October 1788 will become famous: BLIGH comes to take away seedlings of breadfruit tree, dedicated to nourish the slaves in Caribbean plantations. Bounty arrives at the bad season to collect breadfruit trees and Bligh must patient six months to load his precious cargo.


Tahiti and Polynsesia have inspired many painters. Constance Frederica Gordon Cumming accompanies her brother Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon and Lady Gordon, appointed first governor of Fiji on spring 1875. She used to cruise east of Samoa to the Tonga, Tahiti, the Marquesas and other islands of the Pacific where she has painted many watercolors.

Louis Isidore Duperrey leaves Toulon on August 11 1822 after stopover in the Fallkland calls in Tahiti where missionaries English are installed. After a world tour rich in observations and scientific experiments, La Coquille arrives in Marseille on 24 April 1825. The ship was taken over by the second Jules Dumont d'Urville, who renames her Astrolabe.


TROPIC BIRD, a 368-ton three masted schooner, operated in 1893 a regularly service between San Francisco and Tahiti via Taiohae in the Marquesas Islands. The voyage lasted 28-34 days and involved a 10-day stopover at each port of call. The schooner PAPEETE built in 1892 is used by the French Navy until 1901, when she is sold to local ship-owners. She comes back in the Navy in 1931, named ZÉLÉE.
		In 1947, the raft " KON TIKI " stranded on the Raroia coral reef after drifting along 9000 kilometres through the Pacific ocean. The intention of Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian designer of the trip, was to prove that, contrary to all the allowed theories, the settlement of the Polynesian islands had been carried out also, at least partly, starting from South America.
	Alain Gerbault buys in England in 1921 an old sailing ship, Firecrest, built in 1892. From 1923, after a long crossing of the Atlantic, he rounds the world tour rejoining Le Havre in 1929 after several stopovers of which Tahiti. He returns there in 1932 and is buried in Bora-Bora. Team-member of Eric Tabarly who disputes the Sydney-Hobart race, Alain Colas embarks on board Pen Duick III then Pen Duick IV at the time of the 1968-1969 races. His base camp is Tahiti. Winner of the single-handed English Transatlantic race in 72 with Pen Duick IV. With this trimaran renamed “Manureva” (the bird of the voyage in Tahitian), he beats of 32 days the record of the single-handed round the world tour held by sir Francis Chichester, on a monohull. In 1978, Alain Colas disappears at sea on board Manureva, during the first Route du Rhum.
	TAHITI is the name of a 1904 liner built at Glasgow as PORT DIXON for Elder, Dempster & Co. Bought by Union S.S. Co of New Zealand, she changes of continent going from Western India to Pacific (Sydney, Wellington, Tahiti, San Francisco) Used as troopship between 1914 and 1919, she is refurbished to go back on the line. On 17 August 1930, she sinks 480 miles south-west of Rarotonga. She is replaced by MONOWAI, ex-RAZMAK of London-Bombay line, bought to P&O. 2 years later, MONOWAI is transferred on inter-colonial service Wellington/Auckland/Sydney. Mobilised during the war, MONOWAI comes back to Sydney and serves Tasmania until 1960.
SAGITTAIRE is a Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (WASHINGTON) passenger- cargo swapped by Messageries Maritimes in 1938/39. Laid up October 1942, then requisitioned by the Free French Government, she goes back in service in March 46 to Nouméa. On 6 May 46, her arrival at Papeete marks the return of Pacific Battalion of the Free French Forces, including 300 Tahitian volunteers.
		OISEAU DES ILES II, takes Papeete as home port, in 1956. Built at La Pallice for the Compagnie Française des Phosphates de L'Océanie, this motor vessel of 500 tons, will be later used in links to Mururoa nuclear test site.

The shooner OROHENA (on the slip-way) allows to French Oceanic Settlements to link Tahiti and the islands from 47 to 53. MOANA of Commerciale de L'Oceanie was used as a inter island trader for the Tuamotu group.

In 1919, EL KANTARA placed on the line Dunkirk-Tahiti-New Caledonia via Panama, is the first ship of Messageries Maritimes to pass the Panama Canal by carrying back the 540 Pacific soldiers from the front on their islands and in May 1923, she regularly ensures the Metropolis-Noumea line via the West Indies and the Panama Canal. The liner was scrapped in Dunkirk in December 1926.

In 1972, during her round the world cruise, FRANCE calls in Tahiti
		Among the frequent visitors, a former Russian liner, ALEXANDR PUSHKIN, built in East Germany in 1964. Transformed in 74 in single class liner for 750 passengers, transferred from Baltic Shipping Co to Far East Shipping Co, she will change of name, beginning ALEXANDR then MARCO POLO
	ISLAND PRINCESS is a cruise ship launched in 71 with 767 passengers and 317 crew, used between New York and Hamilton, Bermuda then chartered by PRINCESS CRUISES
		In 1968, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises transforms in cruise sail ship OISEAU DES ILES issued in 1927 of Dubigeon yards in Nantes and used by Compagnie Française des Phosphates de l'Océanie from Papeete. Became FLYING CLOUD, this beautiful bird 48.98 m long is finally scrapped in 2009.
End 1986, Le Havre yards launch WIND STAR, a motor sail yacht for 148 passengers, followed by Wind Song in 1987 then Wind Spirit in 1988 ; a new type of vessel with Computer Assisted sails.
	WIND SONG, victim of a fire off Tahaa island (Leeward Islands; French îles Sous-le-Vent) on 3 December 2002. Finally, Polynesian authorities order the scuttling off Tahiti at 4:30 pm on 24 January 2003, the ship being a danger for the port traffic .

In 1998, PAUL GAUGUIN, operating for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, enters in Papeete roadstead inaugurating a new ere of the cruises in Tahiti. During ten years in Polynesia, Paul Gauguin performed 400 cruises, with more than 120 000 passengers. Refurbished in 2005, best cruise ship in 2004 for a US magazine, her small draft allows Paul Gauguin to sail near the coasts and to anchor in the most beautiful Polynesian lagoons.

HAWAIKI NUI, built in 1980 by la Rochelle yards under the name of LANGLADE, provided the service of the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon from Canada. In 1989, she was renamed NORTHERN CRUISER (Pavilion of the Bahamas). In 1999, she was acquired by STIM (Société of Maritime Inter-Insular Transport) Renamed HAWAIKI NUI, she assures two weekly rotations between Tahiti and the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora-Bora) for the Polynesian Navigation Society