FRENCH POLYNESIA – HOPE AND FEAR!
The South Pacific Ocean consists of thousands of islands and atolls that were discovered and populated back in the day by the Polynesians. Those brave explorers challenged the deep blue waters of the Pacific with their small two hulled canoes navigating by the stars, the currents and winds to take them to new lands. My destination on this boat trip was French Polynesia; in particular the remote Tuamotus archipelago, composed of 78 atolls and hundreds of small islands or “Motus” as the locals call them. Most of these islands are deserted and completely virgin territory but I knew there was potential for waves in this region. Our plan was to explore the Motus, then continue on to Moorea and finally, if luck was on our side, sail the gnarliest wave on the planet ‘Teahupoo’ in Tahiti at the end of our journey.
STORY KAULI SEADI // PHOTOS MARIA FERNANDA SOUZA, MARKUS BECKERS & MATHIEU FOULIARD
(This feature originally appeared in the November December 2014 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)