Tahiti in the early 60's

[Alan Briggs]

Remember Quinns well opposite the wharf, very basic layout but great atmosphere, the unisex toilets were something new at that time.

[Ken Atkinson]

If you like onion beer, I remember tasting it (once) standing at a street kiosk in the sunshine of Batumi in Black Sea Georgia. Bottles of sparkling wine were preferred.

[Bruce Morris]

My experience of calling at Papeete on the gas tanker HUMBOLDT/GYFR as R/O on 5th August 1968 while on passage from the Panama Canal to Port Kembla NSW was very different to the lurid tales told by others!

We arrived at dawn to take bunkers and stores - a couple of hours at most.

However, the wonderful Captain Woolcott decided to collude with the Chief Engineer Mitchell over some fictitious engine repairs so that we could spend the day in the beautiful surroundings.

Thus we filled a lifeboat with sandwiches and crates of cold beers and half the Officers and Crew set off around the then totally unspoilt bay to relax, have fun and swim.

Back to the ship at lunchtime to refill the boat with (mainly liquid) provisions for the other half of the complement to have its turn.

As R/O with no duties in port - I enjoyed both sessions to the full!

As sunset approached, the Harbour Master was jumping up and down with typical Gallic gestures for us to leave.

Thus it was that we were still hoisting the lifeboat back aboard as the lines were casting off.

No visit to Quinns Bar or onion beer but one of the most memorable days of my time in the MN.

Enhanced by the sunset turning the sea and sky into one glorious golden colour with the island of Moorea and its jagged peaks perfectly silhouetted in black.

Nearly 60 years later I can still recall every detail!

2022-02-27_52.JPGGYFR Tahiti QTO 03.jpg

[Bill Wardale]

I was on the Northern Star and the Southern Cross in the early sixties and I would like to see pictures of Tahiti from that era. I remember a great bar Quinns or was it Quims. Be nice to hear from someone who was there.
All the best, Lewis.

I was in Tahiti while they were filming Mutiny on the Bounty,i was chatting for a while with Marlon Brando and no idea who he was,i visited four times in all and fell in love with the place,The Liverpool of the South Pacific but with Palm Trees.

[Alan Briggs]

Come to think of it there was another bar in Tahiti, Lafayettes about ten minutes ride from the wharf if you think Quinns was rough this was something else, only drink bottled beer the spirits were rocket fuel.

[Dave Carpenter]

Hi i was there in 1960 on the Cape Ortegal after running aground at Makatea Island,the Bounty was ther at that time for filming Mutinty on the Bounty,Loved Quins bar run by Eddie Lund,bandleader of the band there.He had been deported a couple of times but just returned when things quietened down.Hinano onion beer was favorite,loved it,happy days and a great time was had by all,No one wanted to leave the island.
any others from the Ortegal out there
best wishes,
Dave (felix)

Hi Dave
The Cape Ortegal was one of the many ships that i worked on when i was an apprentice with The London Graving Dock Co in the 1950's. I then went to sea with the NZSC.
Dave Carpenter