Sailing Directions French Polynesia: Pacific pilot

FRENCH POLYNESIA - PACIFIC PILOT. The islands described within this sector are the territories of French Polynesia and Pitcairn Island. French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France, extends between 7°S and 28°S, and 134°W and 155°W. The territory covers four chains of archipelagoes, with a collective land area of 1,522 square miles. Papeete, on the island of Tahiti, is the administrative capital controlled by a governor of four archipelagoes, as follows: 1. Iles Marquises (Marquises Island) (9°00'S- 140°00'W). 2. Iles Tuamotu (18°00'S-41°00'W). 3. Iles de la Societe (Society Islands) (17°00'S- 150°00'W). 4. Iles Tubuai (23°00'S-150°00'W). Most E and W trans-Pacific routes traverse the extensive area covered by this publication. These routes pass through or close to Papeete and are focal points for the South Pacific Ocean. Most islands are located in the trade wind belts and within the limits of the Equatorial Currents. Favorable conditions are met by westbound vessels, except when a route follows in the Equatorial Countercurrent belt......