celebrating in Bora Bora, we headed back to the island of "Raiatea to
finally get my leaking stuffing box replaced in a boat yard & thus
enabling Veronica take a short sabbatical & meet her mother in Los
Angeles, who will be joining us in Bora Bora around the 30th.. So in
this brief absence, Simon a close friend from Venice CA is joining me
for a couple of weeks diving holiday...
Drama... Only about I hour out of Bora Bora, "Apple's" 75 turbo
charged diesel stopped charging the heavy battery banks... which
could & would have been a complete nightmare, but due to the fact that
we're already on route to the boat yard.. Was in fact a complete
blessing "time-wise".. As now I could simply add an additional item
to Simon's already long parts list.. Which included generator amongst
other major items!
So with Veronica safely aboard a plane & the yard already replacing
out the leaking stuffing box & had found that I had a faulty
regulator.. We're already on route to solving the electrical
enigma.... Thus I eagerly awaited Simon arrival the following day....
Ummmm?
Papeete... & Mr Scott's arrival...
Well, knowing that he was now in possession of over $4000 worth of new
spares yacht parts, combined with the fact that Tahitian customs are
as notorious as the Bangkok Hilton prison guards in Thailand....
Ummmmm!!!
I advised Simon to think "outside the box" when it comes to import
tax! .... Well any normal person "on arrival" would of hidden in the
737 rear toilet until all passengers had disembark, when whilst the
plane was being re-fueled... he should of slipped out the right hand
side emergency exit, (located over the planes wing), Then If all
clear, slowly slide down across the wing, before jumping the last 7
foot onto the tarmac runway beneath! then immediately hide under the
engine or hid behind one of it's wheels! If he was seen by any
unsuspecting mechanic... he should say " yes yes plane seems fine" &
quickly start examining the tires.. when all was clear, he could
quietly sneak into the planes cargo hold & carefully remove the my new
generator & additional parts... before making a quick dash across the
runway (carrying the generator),... before finally climbing the barb
wire fence...simple!!! oh... & phone me for a quick & easy pick-up.
simple "No customs" & No hassle...
UMmmmmm No!..That's not what Simon did!... He simply walked through
the "NOTHING" to declare, pushing a massive new shiny RED box with
CLEARLY marked letters HONDA GENERATOR & quickly found himself in his
own private office having a nice discussion about the laws..
Especially the bit about... "Nothing to declare" .. I think they
kindly offered him a "free accommodation" at their expense! In the
local detention centre.... "welcome to paradise'..
Ummm I was very fortunate to find this out about his adventures at
around 12-1 am when he was finally given his ONE phone call before
"incarceration" maybe be even chopping off his hand... not really
sure about this?,... . SO I immediately phoned the customs agent..&
firmly explained that although Simon was probably in the wrong &
acting totally alone... & that I completely understood that Simon
should await trail in papeete.. BUT Please Could I kindly have my
generator, at least till the case came to trail..? "No..... thats what
i wanted to say" ... No i search all night until exhausted, fatigue
was setting in... but i fought on.. & finally found Laurent my agent
broker , phone number.... who arranged for all the "Correct paperwork
regarding Importing parts for a "vessel in transit" which is IMPORT
TAX free.... to be sent directly to customs the "following
morning" ... So although Simon did miss his connection flight.... he
was released & was finally able to pick up the parts the following
afternoon with a full pardon!
Now we cruising back to Bora Bora... & I'm going to ask Simon the
write the next entry...
