Tahiti Cruising Conditions
General conditions
The climate in French Polynesia is sunny and pleasant. Roughly speaking, there are two seasons: from September till May the climate is warmer and humid, while April till August is cooler and drier.
Most of the rain falls during the warmer season, but there are also many sunny days during these months, with refreshing trade winds.
The water temperature averages 79°F (26°C) in the winter and 84°F (29°C) in the summer with less than a degree of variation from the surface down to 165 feet (50 metres).
Weather summary
The rainy season is wet and hot (85°F to 95°F / 29°C to 35°C) and runs from November to April. The dry season is cooler (78 - 85°F or 25 - 29°C) and windier running from May to September.
These are probably the best months to come sailing. The Leeward Islands enjoy a prevailing wind easterly wind of 15 or 20 knots, increasing to 25 knots, with the sea becoming choppy with swells of 3 to 5 ft (0.9 to 1.5 m).
Historical weather (averages by month):
Month | °F Avg | °C Avg | Avg Precip (in) | Avg Precip (mm) | Avg Water Temp (°F) | Avg Water Temp (°C) | Avg |
January | 83 | 28 | 15 | 381 | 83 | 28 | NE 15-20 |
February | 80 | 27 | 9 | 228 | 82 | 28 | E 15-20 |
March | 80 | 27 | 8 | 203 | 82 | 28 | E 15-20 |
April | 80 | 27 | 5 | 127 | 82 | 28 | E 15-20 |
May | 78 | 26 | 5 | 127 | 80 | 27 | SE 15-20 |
June | 76 | 24 | 3 | 76 | 81 | 27 | SE 15-20 |
July | 75 | 24 | 3 | 76 | 78 | 26 | SE 15-20 |
August | 75 | 24 | 2 | 51 | 76 | 24 | SE 15-20 |
September | 75 | 24 | 2 | 51 | 77 | 25 | SE 15-20 |
October | 76 | 24 | 3 | 76 | 79 | 26 | SE 15-20 |
November | 78 | 26 | 6 | 152 | 80 | 27 | NE 15-20 |
December | 80 | 27 | 9 | 228 | 81 | 27 | NE 15-20 |
Weather forecasts
Radio: Radio Polynésie (RFO) on 94 FM, at 5.55 a.m., 6.50 a.m., 7.50 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 5.50 p.m.
VHF 10: the base takes a report each day from the Météo-France website with a chart indicating all centres of pressure.
VHF 26: “Mahina Radio” 11.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 8.40 p.m., 9.00 p.m. (English on request only). Mahina radio is on Channel 27 in Windward Island.
By phone directly to Météo France, tel: 36 70 08
The Moorings base, tel: 600 485
Swell
Usually coming from the south-west, occasionally with rough seas due to crossed swell when southerly and easterly winds are blowing.
Tides
Around 20 to 30 cm (approx. 1 foot).
In the Leeward Islands low tide is around 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., high tide around noon and midnight.
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