Did We Label That Photo “Cook’s Bay” Incorrectly?

Every so often, a reader will call in to correct us on something that we’ve printed in the monthly Latitude, or published online. Last week, Dave Cohan of Tahu Le’a in Redwood City wrote to tell us we had mislabeled a photograph in the January issue. The image accompanied the story “Ready to Jump the Puddle?” — “Along the West Coast of the Americas from California to Panama, it’s that time of year again when sailors of all stripes are getting revved up with excitement in anticipation of making the famous Pacific Puddle Jump passage to French Polynesia — a nonstop bluewater voyage of 3,000 to 4,000 miles, depending on your point of departure.” Read the story here.

Here’s what Dave has to say:

“Recently, I’m probably not among the first several dozen to write to point out that the picture on page 45 of your January issue labeled ‘Cook’s Bay’ on Mo’orea is actually Opunohu Bay — in our opinion and that of many others, the more beautiful and, to date, less developed, of the two deep bays on Mo’orea.

“The first picture [below] shows our favorite anchorage in our Pacific circumnavigation, just behind the reef near the entrance to Opunohu Bay. The reef provided good protection, the trade winds kept away the bugs, and the snorkeling was great, as long as you didn’t mind a few sharks. The beauty of Opunohu Bay in one direction, the open Pacific in the other — and a spot from which we saw the Green Flash at least twice.”

“In the same issue, Reid Glacier in Reid Inlet within Glacier Bay is shown in the spread on pages 70-71. We have no quibble with the facts here, just a bit wistfully note that in 1989 when we were there on Synergy (second picture), it definitely still was a tidewater glacier. There were a smattering of bergy bits and a few larger chunks both floating around and marooned on shore at low tide. Reid Inlet was also among our favorite anchorages, although a bit harder to see the Green Flash.”

“I could say this is another sign of global warming, but that wouldn’t be entirely correct. Not that I don’t believe warming is happening, I absolutely do, but the glaciers in Glacier Bay have been retreating for well over 100 years. When John Muir visited, and wrote about, Glacier Bay a bit over a century ago, both of the current arms of the bay were still filled with glacial ice.

“Thanks again for the reminders of some very special places, both still well worth visiting any way you can.”

Having not been to Mo’orea, we checked Google Images for comparisons of what we labeled Cook’s Bay, and Opunohu Bay. We can certainly see Dave’s argument, though we might have to do a staff excursion to the area to see for ourselves.

What do you think? Is our photo of Cook’s Bay or Opunohu Bay?