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Good News for Puddle Jumpers

By Andy Turpin | February 1, 2012 | Papeete, French Polynesia |
Making landfall in French Polynesia is potentially one of the most dramatic events in a cruiser’s life. But a typical 90-day visa only allows visitors to explore a small portion of the French territory’s five archipelagos.

latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

As every veteran cruiser knows, occasional changes to customs and immigrations regulations are common in many countries. Knowing this, it’s been great to have the yacht agents at CMA-CGM working with our Pacific Puddle Jump Rally to make entry into French Polynesia as headache-free as possible.

Agent Cindy Dittrich recently advised me of a change that could greatly benefit Americans. Unless they arrange for a Long Stay (6-month) visa prior to sailing, they can get a only a 90-day visa — no exceptions. But it used to be 90 days within a calendar year. Now, it’s 90 days within a six-month period. We believe this applies also to other nationalities who would normally get 90 days.

Traditions run deep in French Polynesia, such as enthusiasm for the national sport: outrigger canoe racing.

latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

While this won’t make any difference to those who are intent on pressing on to New Zealand or Australia in one season, it creates some new possibilities for those who might like to leave their boat for several months in Papeete’s Marina Taina, or hauled out at Raiatea. They could fly home for three months or more, and when they arrived back in the islands they’d get another 90 days.

One not-so-good bit of news is that authorities in the Tahitian capital, Papeete, are now enforcing (via spot checks) a long-standing regulation that all travelers must show proof of health insurance which reimburses for foreign medical expenditures. It will be up to each boat to determine a solution, such as purchasing a short-term policy from DAN (Diver’s Alert Network), which includes Medevac services for a nominal fee.

After weeks at sea, it’s a welcome change of pace to dock at yacht quay in the heart of the Papeete’s downtown business district.

latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Learn more about the Puddle Jump at the website. And if you happen to be in Seattle this weekend, catch one of our highly informative presentations at the massive Seattle Boat Show, both Saturday and Sunday, 2:15 p.m. at the Gold Stage. This year’s (free) Puddle Jump Send-off Parties will be:

  • Banderas Bay PPJ Send-off Party, February 29 — Vallarta YC, 3-6 p.m. (in Nuevo Vallarta’s Paradise Village Resort)
  • Panama PPJ Send-off Party, March 10 — Balboa YC, 12-4 p.m.

All registered ‘Jumpers’ are encouraged to attend.

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