TONGA!!!! We arrived Tongatapu - Nuku'alofa approximately 1500 hours. The run up from Minerva was nice - sailed for about a day and a half then motor sailed to ensure we arrived here in the daylight. It is picture postcard beautiful. We anchored at Pangiamotu in front of Big Mama's place. We had a swim, showers a meal at the table then a good night's sleep in a flat bed. Heaven.
Today we completed customs and immigration formalities. We motored over to the ferry dock and tied up at the cement pier. The customs office is strategically hidden in an unmarked building surrounded by containers. But we found it and it had a/c - wow! and it is warm so it was definitely appreciated. After filling out forms with the same information in at least 4 different places, we were good to go from customs. The customs guy called the health guys and the quarantine (biosecurity) guy and lo and behold, the first one was there waiting by the time we walked back to the boat and the Health guy was there within 5 minutes of the Quarantine guy leaving. Sorted.
We mistakenly thought we had to go back to the customs guy - so we did. He told us we have 3 month visas - this is contrary to everything we have heard, so need to check that out tomorrow. Dennis asked him about fuel, and he directed us to the 2 fuel suppliers. No joy on having 400 litres of diesel delivered to where we were tied up. Seems they have no empty drums in the country and don't know when they will and won't bring the truck to deliver any less than 1000 litres (yeah not so much lol). So we walked back to the boat and got a taxi to take Dennis to the gas station to fill up the jerry jugs. 20 gallons down - at least 80 more to go........... An ATM was found and Tongan money obtained. Dennis brought back a cold diet coke from the gas station - OMG ambrosia from the gods. By this time we were all hot and hungry. It seems we forgot to have breakfast - we did have coffee, so at least we were awake, hot and hungry. Back to Pangiamotu where we managed to get the anchor down on the second try.
Nachos for lunch!!! The dinghy is in the water, the newly obtained fuel in the tank - YAY time to play. Met the neighbors (who also loaned us Tongan money to get through check in) and went in to Big Mama's for a beer or two. Sadly I am not all the way into cruising mode, cuz I forgot my camera :(. Oh well guess we'll have to go back tomorrow.
So Big Mama's. Yes there is a big Mama and her husband Earl. really only pictures can tell the story. There's a wreck out front that is used as the sign for the place. Gita did a number on some of the buildings, but the beer is cold and there is shade. They have pigs - 3 adults and 5 babies. Imagine a big pig running down the beach to cool off in the water. Crazy! Earl will help us get more fuel later this week.
Tomorrow the plan is to get up and remove the rudder bearing in time to catch the ferry into town at 0900. We will then try to obtain sim cards, fresh food and info on replacing the rudder bearing (cross your fingers there). If all goes well we'll get the 1100 ferry back and then relax in the water in the afternoon. I'll let you know how that goes.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Monday, May 21, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
19 May 2018
another nice day. some sailing, some motorsailing. Will arrive Nuku' alofa tomorrow - using the engine to ensure that happens during daylight. Think the passage into the harbour is going to give us some new gray hairs. We are all looking forward to a new place.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Friday, May 18, 2018
Friday, definitely Friday 18 May
We left Minerva Reef today - approx 0830. Beautiful sunny day, nice breeze and guess what? We are actually sailing!!! Wow this is nice. We are still heeled over some, but its a nice smooth motion. We are really enjoying the quiet.
Minerva was an awesome break I am so glad we were able to stop. At low tide the boat was so still i would have sworn we were tied up at the marina. We had a good rest, got necessary chores done and enjoyed being still for a few days.
So yes it is Friday here and we will not lose a day on arrival in Tonga. Big shout out to Peter at Northland radio. I don't know what the set up is, but he has been on the radio at 6pm (NZ) every night taking our position, answering questions (like will we lose a day) and generally mother henning the boats that check in. It is good to know he is there for us - so send some positive vibes his way.
We are back to our routine of watches etc., and expect to arrive in Tonga Sunday afternoon. We can't check in until Monday, but we will anchor, fly our Q flag, reinflate the dinghy and make ourselves presentable for dealing with the Tongan customs and immigration officials. I am really looking forward to the fresh food market. WE plan to stay in Nuku ulofa for a little while, we want to see what sights there are as well as try to deal with the rudder bearing. Hopefully the internet will be good enough to post some pictures.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Minerva was an awesome break I am so glad we were able to stop. At low tide the boat was so still i would have sworn we were tied up at the marina. We had a good rest, got necessary chores done and enjoyed being still for a few days.
So yes it is Friday here and we will not lose a day on arrival in Tonga. Big shout out to Peter at Northland radio. I don't know what the set up is, but he has been on the radio at 6pm (NZ) every night taking our position, answering questions (like will we lose a day) and generally mother henning the boats that check in. It is good to know he is there for us - so send some positive vibes his way.
We are back to our routine of watches etc., and expect to arrive in Tonga Sunday afternoon. We can't check in until Monday, but we will anchor, fly our Q flag, reinflate the dinghy and make ourselves presentable for dealing with the Tongan customs and immigration officials. I am really looking forward to the fresh food market. WE plan to stay in Nuku ulofa for a little while, we want to see what sights there are as well as try to deal with the rudder bearing. Hopefully the internet will be good enough to post some pictures.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Thursday or is it wednesday??
17 May New Zealand time
It has been a really nice break - even if it has been a working one. MInerva is totally awesome and it has been heavenly to be still and sleeping like normal people.
So what have we done the last 2 days? The Forward head was rebuilt by Paul. KUdos to him for not jumping ship that was an all day nasty project. Dennis fixed/replaced a couple of fans investigated the rudder leak. seems the bearing on the rudder is loose - nothing to be done about it until Tonga - it is in no danger of falling off or not working. He also adjusted the packing gland around it. We'll see how she goes once we are back underway. Its not leaking much at the moment. Paul wanted to switch cabins (meaning a total resort of the food etc) which I did whilst he was slaving on the forward head.
Today was a little more laidback. Dennis added waypoints for Tonga into the navigation system (trust me not as straight forward as it sounds), topped up the engine oil and coolant. YIkes we motored more to get here than we did to get to NZ from HI. Crappy weather routing. so we also put all the diesel from the jerry jugs in the tanks. I cleaned and vacuumed the interior and the cockpit and made food (I am always making food). and we made water - the watermaker loves this clear water. THe filter I changed that only had about 5 hours on it from Russell was disgusting - in fact the water maker wouldn't work it was so yucky. Yep just boat maintenance in paradise - hahahaha. We all got a swim in today - the water really cleared up - you can see all the way to the bottom - 45 feet.
Toast and Dean sent some weather info which pretty much supports what Dennis is seeing on the gribs. We will leave tomorrow morning for Tonga (nukalofa sp??), hope to be there Sunday. ONce there I will figure out what the time difference is. I think we lost a day there somewhere - so its really yesterday and one hour ahead. Does my head in. We hope this next leg will be a little friendlier, but as always will batten down the hatches just in case. LOL.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
It has been a really nice break - even if it has been a working one. MInerva is totally awesome and it has been heavenly to be still and sleeping like normal people.
So what have we done the last 2 days? The Forward head was rebuilt by Paul. KUdos to him for not jumping ship that was an all day nasty project. Dennis fixed/replaced a couple of fans investigated the rudder leak. seems the bearing on the rudder is loose - nothing to be done about it until Tonga - it is in no danger of falling off or not working. He also adjusted the packing gland around it. We'll see how she goes once we are back underway. Its not leaking much at the moment. Paul wanted to switch cabins (meaning a total resort of the food etc) which I did whilst he was slaving on the forward head.
Today was a little more laidback. Dennis added waypoints for Tonga into the navigation system (trust me not as straight forward as it sounds), topped up the engine oil and coolant. YIkes we motored more to get here than we did to get to NZ from HI. Crappy weather routing. so we also put all the diesel from the jerry jugs in the tanks. I cleaned and vacuumed the interior and the cockpit and made food (I am always making food). and we made water - the watermaker loves this clear water. THe filter I changed that only had about 5 hours on it from Russell was disgusting - in fact the water maker wouldn't work it was so yucky. Yep just boat maintenance in paradise - hahahaha. We all got a swim in today - the water really cleared up - you can see all the way to the bottom - 45 feet.
Toast and Dean sent some weather info which pretty much supports what Dennis is seeing on the gribs. We will leave tomorrow morning for Tonga (nukalofa sp??), hope to be there Sunday. ONce there I will figure out what the time difference is. I think we lost a day there somewhere - so its really yesterday and one hour ahead. Does my head in. We hope this next leg will be a little friendlier, but as always will batten down the hatches just in case. LOL.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
YAY! Minerva
15 May - 1600 hours - made it to N Minerva reef. What a crazy crossing so far. All upwind (close hauled) and motor sailing the whole way. Pretty much a first there. Oh well. We are here and after 3 attempts finally got the anchor to stick. Frustrating, but again we are here, we are stopped it is flat and quiet with a nice cool breeze coming thru the boat. AHHHHHH. the beer was good and so was the gin and tonic. Fajitas for dinner. Showers. Life is good.
So here we are anchored in the middle of the ocean. How cool is that? I will post pictures (eventually). There are 4 other boats here, at least 2 are leaving tomorrow. We plan to be here until Saturday and then only 250 miles to Tonga. It is warm here too. Of course we have one or two chores to do while we are here - forward toilet needs a new flapper valve and seat and the rudder is leaking - those are the main two. after that its just a lot of tidying up after 8 days of being at a 20 degree heel. Oh and we will all sleep in our own beds in the normal orientation. HAHA we have been taking turns sleeping on the settee and the floor in the main salon - I am short enough to be able to sleep sideways on our bed, but even my feet hang over the edge! Really it is the simple things....
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
So here we are anchored in the middle of the ocean. How cool is that? I will post pictures (eventually). There are 4 other boats here, at least 2 are leaving tomorrow. We plan to be here until Saturday and then only 250 miles to Tonga. It is warm here too. Of course we have one or two chores to do while we are here - forward toilet needs a new flapper valve and seat and the rudder is leaking - those are the main two. after that its just a lot of tidying up after 8 days of being at a 20 degree heel. Oh and we will all sleep in our own beds in the normal orientation. HAHA we have been taking turns sleeping on the settee and the floor in the main salon - I am short enough to be able to sleep sideways on our bed, but even my feet hang over the edge! Really it is the simple things....
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Monday, May 14, 2018
14 May
day 7 - definitely warming up. too hot to sit in the sun in the cockpit and still taking waves, so can't take down the rain flys. Nice problem to have. Still here, still bouncing along. We should be at Minerva reef north sometime tomorrow - its 80 miles as the crow flies. We still have to get some easting in - our plan is that south Minerva will be blocking some of the wave action and we will be able to head east more comfortably. Right now we are going as east as we can without a full on tack. So still close hauled.
Uneventful day. All well on board - looking forward to being flat and still for a few days.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Uneventful day. All well on board - looking forward to being flat and still for a few days.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Sunday 13 May
Well Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day. Uneventful and more of the same here. motorsailing, winds still from the north, bouncing along. Highlight of my Mother's day was having a shower. Or at least getting clean using running water haha. No hot water, but felt good. Did my 10-2 watch in shorts and a tee shirt - nice and warm. still have the enclosures up as still getting some pretty good wave action. Really nice to be dry. Trust me its the small things.
Its 5pm and overcast at the moment. time for me to start thinking about what to make with the defrosted chicken - I am thinking curry. pretty much our routine. light breakfast, snacks for lunch then dinner. Dennis does the checkin on the SSB at 6pm so we eat just after that. Our routine has been to turn off the engine for the checkin so Dennis can hear and then eat with it off and enjoy the quiet.
no other traffic seen - just us out in the middle of the great blue sea. Looking forward to Minerva, but not the day of heading east to get there. that will be a whole lot of not fun, but maybe not. Murphy's law says that the day we head east will be the day the east wind comes and we'll have more bashing.
Everyone seems to have overcome any seasickness and all is well.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Its 5pm and overcast at the moment. time for me to start thinking about what to make with the defrosted chicken - I am thinking curry. pretty much our routine. light breakfast, snacks for lunch then dinner. Dennis does the checkin on the SSB at 6pm so we eat just after that. Our routine has been to turn off the engine for the checkin so Dennis can hear and then eat with it off and enjoy the quiet.
no other traffic seen - just us out in the middle of the great blue sea. Looking forward to Minerva, but not the day of heading east to get there. that will be a whole lot of not fun, but maybe not. Murphy's law says that the day we head east will be the day the east wind comes and we'll have more bashing.
Everyone seems to have overcome any seasickness and all is well.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)