South Pacific 2015 – Pitcairn Island

When I awoke on the morning that we arrived at Pitcairn Island I knew that we were going to have issues with getting ashore due to the sea state. It was not overly large, but I had heard that getting ashore in Bounty Bay by boat (in this case we would have had to use the island’s own longboats as the ship’s tenders are too large for Bounty Bay) is difficult at the best of times.

20150222-DSC0766020150222-DSC07663

As we awaited the Captain’s decision, I sat on my balcony, taking a few photos, marveling at how isolated and foreboding the place is. When the crew of the Bounty and the Polynesian companions found this place it must have looked pretty good as they were hunted and the location of the Islands was incorrectly recorded on the British Admiralty charts, the longitude was out by about 3 degrees.

 20150222-DSC0766520150222-DSC07677

20150222-DSC07682

Unfortunately the decision was made that it was too dangerous to both get ashore or bring the 56’ish people, who live on the island, onboard due to rough seas, so this would be the closest we would get to experiencing Pitcairn.

20150222-DSC0767220150222-DSC07680 20150222-DSC0768520150222-DSC07686

The change in plan meant that we would go around the island and once that was completed head towards our next port of call. As we moved around the island the sun started to shine, but the seas did not abate.

20150222-DSC0768720150222-DSC07689 20150222-DSC0769020150222-DSC07695 20150222-DSC0769620150222-DSC07698

20150222-DSC0770120150222-DSC0770420150222-DSC0770320150222-DSC07705 20150222-DSC0771220150222-DSC0771320150222-DSC0771620150222-DSC0771820150222-DSC0772820150222-DSC07721

Bounty Bay is the only place on the island where it is possible to safely get ashore. As the entrance to the bay is very tight, even relatively small seas make the entrance unsafe. Watching the waves breaking around the entrance for a short while confirmed that the Captain the Pitcairn Islanders were right, it was not safe to try to get the long boats in and out of the bay.20150222-DSC07730-Edit

Bounty Bay was named after the HMS Bounty which the mutineers burned and then it subsequently sunk in the bay once they had stripped the ship of everything useful. You can apparently still see the remains of the wreck in the bay.20150222-DSC07745

Our Cruise Director Willie Aames in formed us that he was on the bridge when the decision was made by the locals and they were disappointed as they don’t get many visitors. Hopefully I will get the chance to visit one day!20150222-DSC07738

20150222-DSC07736

The “Township” where the approximately 56 inhabitants live, including a prison that was built to house the 6 men who were convicted of sexual assault charges.

20150222-DSC0774820150222-DSC0775420150222-DSC0775520150222-DSC0775620150222-DSC07757

Apparently Fletcher Christian spent most days in a cave, called Fletcher Christian‘s Cave (very imaginative name), scanning the horizon for any potential “visitors”.

20150222-DSC07774-Edit

20150222-DSC0775220150222-DSC0775020150222-DSC0777520150222-DSC07777

Whilst we were standing off Bounty Bay the seas did not improve

20150222-DSC07780

20150222-DSC0777820150222-DSC07779

 We stayed around Pitcairn for a while before departing for our next port, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Let’s hope that the weather is favourable and we can get ashore there. Heaven help the Captain if we can’t, there were apparently a number of very unhappy people onboard who thought we should have been able to get ashore, apparently they know better than the locals and the Captain.

20150222-DSC07720


Discover more from Oz's Travels

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

4 thoughts on “South Pacific 2015 – Pitcairn Island

  • March 1, 2015 at 20:31
    Permalink

    So interesting mate. When am I gonna see some of the dining and wining???

    Reply
  • March 3, 2015 at 07:01
    Permalink

    Thank you very much for Bounty pictures and information. Fascinating and unusual. Great Work! Thanks

    Reply

Hiya, please leave comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)

Please subscribe if you would like updates

Discover more from Oz's Travels

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading