A week ago I arrived in Papeete, capital of Tahiti, one of THE tropical paradises if the world. And ever since it has been one damned tropical paradise after another.

First there was the joy of reuniting with Sally and Nick and meeting Tony once more. They were hard at work following refit. And then there was the different kind of joy taking in the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of another part of the world.

On Sunday we boarded. The Soren introduction revealed a lively bunch with a sense of humour. It also revealed more than one third of my shipmates were repeat customers. Obviously the rest of us had made a good choice.

Mid-afternoon our adventure began. We motored away from the wharf and out through the gap in the reef into the blue Pacific. Moorea lay 20 miles ahead and it as a little rolly-polly in a confused sea between the islands.

Together with Mike and Gil from Minnesota and Kiwi Bob, I circumnavigated the island by road. The view from Le Belvedere was spectacular looking down on Baie de Cook and its near twin Opunohu just to the west.

At nightfall we said farewell to Moorea and Huahine lay 90 miles to the north west. There was a brisk south easter and a quartering sea. With a clean bottom Soren sprang to life under upper and lower topsails, main, both jibs and her new course. It was hard to go off watch at 2000.

We wore ship and rolled around the northern end of the island and anchored inside the reef. Officialdom insisted we move a little further out of town. By virtue of a set Soren lay parallel to the shore despite a strong and refreshing breeze coming off the side of the island. Tony tells me it developed into a short 40+ knot blast with a 50 knot gust in the early hours of the morning. Having spent an enjoyable evening in Edna´s bar I slept through it all.

Next day it was June´s 60^th and we celebrated in style on board. The theme was "islands" and the dress was fancy. PC Dave’s Mademoiselle Fifi was stunning and there were the inevitable buccaneers. One VC declared a shrink would have a field day as most of the blokes were dressed as women.

Next day we tied up at the now vacant wharf. It made life easier for the daytrippers. A morning group found a great snorkelling spot and more of us went out in the afternoon. PC Nick and VC Anton spied a couple of small sharks. The evening was lively for some.

Captain Tony took most of us to Marae Taputapuatea in the morning; a spiritual place of significance in Polynesian folk lore. It is reputed to be the point of embarkation for the great Polynesian navigators. And a place of human sacrifice and fire walking; there were no volunteers.

We motored to Taha’a Apu Bay. Another beautiful anchorage on another tropical paradise. The tarzan rope came out and the spirited water follies began, complete with egg fight.

And here endeth the first week. Rolling down the south east trades in brilliant sunshine and good company. And the aroma from the galley promised another cullinary delight....