French Navy Bougainville Visits Pitcairn

The French Navy ship BSAOM Bougainville arrived on the morning of Monday, August 18th, for a four-day stay. It was the ship’s first visit to Pitcairn, and the community gave them a warm welcome.

Day 1 – Arrival and Welcome Dinner

The crew came ashore using their own transport boat and were greeted in Adamstown. They visited the museum and browsed local markets, picking up T-shirts, honey, and curios.

Later that afternoon, Commandant Leman and crew brought ashore food for a shared BBQ. Rasau, our island policeman, manned the grill. It was a good evening full of friendly chatter and new faces. Around sunset, the crew returned to their boat just as the skies opened up. Despite the rain and choppy sea, they made it safely back on board.

Day 2 – Exploring the Island

The next morning, the crew came back ashore for more island adventures. Some walked the tracks while others took quad bike tours, visiting Miss T the tortoise and soaking up the views at St. Paul’s.

Lunch was hosted at Torika and Randy’s home, followed by a trip to Brenda and Mike’s to buy honey. In the afternoon, the crew set up a small stall selling T-shirts and caps before heading back to the ship.

Day 3 – Helping Hands and Island Tours

On Wednesday, some of the crew volunteered to help clean and reorganize the warehouse—a big help to the community.

Later, they split into two groups. One walked the Eco Trail and visited Christian’s Cave; the other rode to Tedside where they fed Miss T again and collected fruit along the way—grapefruits, mandarins, limes, and more—to take back aboard.

Day 4 – Farewell Lunch and Music

Thursday was their final day. The morning was spent down at Bounty Bay setting up for the farewell lunch. Some crew shopped at the store, picking up canned goods and soft drinks. Others helped with setting up tents and tables.

The farewell began with speeches from Mayor Simon Young and Commandant Leman, followed by a blessing from Pastor Bruce. Lunch was shared under the sun, and afterward, the community sang In the Sweet By and By and Goodbye God Bless You One and All. The Bougainville’s Tahitian crew then returned the gesture with ukulele and song.

By 2pm, it was time for goodbyes. The trip was short but also sweet!