Pilots Prevail: September 2006

Delay Departure

Yes, we are delaying our departure again. The weather window to Fiji is not good. The forecast is 25-30kts winds and 5-6.5meter confused seas. We have had some reports of boats who have left Fiji have turned around and no boats are leaving Tonga. We will wait and watch the forecast for the next week and choose our window. Fiji on Friday will get hit with a nasty low and Tonga will be hit on Saturday with a different low. Lots of rain and wind.

Blue Lagoon

We stayed two nights in this Lagoon. Water color was incredible and the surf on the west reef was very good.

Ace Hardware

Ace is the place. Vava'u has a Ace Hardware. This hardware store has a great selection of stainless but nothing else. I will tell you I will never take Home Depot or Lowells for granted.

September 22,2006

Hello everyone,
We are coming up to another weekend and it will be our last in Tonga. Next week we will for sure be leaving for Fiji. The plan is to leave Wednesday or Thursday. Depending on the weather. Speaking of weather, we for the last three days have had rain and high winds. Two nights ago we were on a mooring ball in the town of Neiafu. Mike and I headed into town for some dinner, around ten pm a storm blew in and knocked the power out and the wind blew about 45kts. We waited for a while and decided to take a run for the boat. When we arrived to the dinghy dockwe were completely soaked.We noticed that our dinghy was almost filled with water. We had no bailing bucket so we decided to go for it. Sundance was about 500 yards from the dinghy dock. The ride was slow,wet and rough. The waves from the wind were coming over the bow of the dinghy and the wind was so strong in our faces. The wind also carried heavy raindrops which would sting. The ride was very long and slow. We made it to the boat drenched and and ready for dry clothes. That night the wind and rain blew all night. The VHF radio was on fire. Many boats were caught out in this weather and were dragging anchors. No losses but a couple of boats ran aground. Mooring balls are awesome.

The next day we headed out to try to find some surf. The wind was still strong but Vava'u has alot of islands with reefs that if you time it right with the wind and the tide you can find a good wave. Well yesterday no luck. We have met up with another boat Water Dragon. The couple thats live on the boat are from the west coast and have been cruising for the last five years. Gram and Tarren are our ages and Gram is also a surfer. We sailed yesterday all day looking for surf with no luck. We pulled into Blue lagoon yesterday afternoon. The water in the lagoon is this deep blue an amazing color. I will try to post some pictures later of this lagoon. We stayed last night in Blue Lagoon. Mike made his famous curry dish. Gram and Tarren came over for dinner and cards. We planned our attack for the next day and talked about cruising.

Well it is the next day and the wind is still blowing around 20kts and no surf. We are going to pull anchor and try to find a dive spot for this afternoon and then we will head into Neiafu for the night. Rumor has it some of our new friends who live in Vava'u are going to throw us a going away party on Monday. Darn another party.

Travel to Vava'u

Hello everyone. We are still in Vava'u and we have changed our plans again. We plan on leaving for Fiji next week. We have been really enjoying the Vava'u group of islands. The people are very friendly and we have made great friends. I am amazed by how many American citizens have picked up and moved to Vava'u. We have become friends with most of them. This group of islands is ready to explode with tourism. One of the big problems is air transportation. Tonga has only two airlines and the airport in Vava'u is not big enough for jet aircraft. The local airline flys a DC3 and twin otters just about everyday from Nuku'alofa. Everyone that I have talked to enjoys the flight on a DC3. Some of you know that this airplane has been flying for 65 years. Everytime the DC3 flys over I have to look with amazement, I feel like I have fallen back in time. Vava'u is a great place to travel to. Time to travel is about 2 to 3 days from the states with 6 stops,4 different aircraft. Patients is a must, nothing happens on time when you travel to Tonga. Today's rumor no fuel for the DC3 for the next few days. No airline service for the week. This is very normal and no one gets upset this is Tonga. The U.S. dollar is worth twice the Tongan dollar. Things are priced well and food is cheap. The Moorings has a fleet of boats for rent, mono hulls and catamarans. Vava'u is one of the last places you can swim with the Humpback whales. The Humpback whales come to have their babies and to mate. Several tour boats will take you out for the day and will allow for you to jump off the boat with a guide and swim within 2 feet of the whales. We plan on swimming with the whales next week before we leave. Mike and I have gotten into a real laid back life. Our days consist of at least one game of cribbage and a little work on the boat. Then we decide if we should go surf or dive. At night we go into town and have dinner or we will have dinner on the boat and play xbox. Life is very simple. I know for myself this is the most relaxed I have ever been. No phones, no mail, no bills only time to play and learn and meet new people. Cruising is a great life.

North East Shore

Outer Vava'u

Outer Vava'u has incredible cliffs and private beaches. Some of the beaches can only be accessed by boat. We plan on heading south at the end of the week.
My nose is healing very well the swelling has gone down and the cuts and bruises are gone. We have been ejoying the hospitality of Vava'u. I have tried to upload some incredible pictures of the coast line for two days. I will try later in the week and if unable everyone will have to wait until we get to Fiji. The internet is very slow . I do apoligize for my busted up nose on the front page for so long. Hopefully I can post these great pictures later.

September

Hello everyone hope everybody had a safe and fun Labor Day weekend. We have stayed in port for the last 5 days and we will head out later today to meet up with some friends and enjoy a spanish dinner at La Paella on Tapanas Island. Mike went surfing this morning with some locals. I was unable to go due to a fractured nose. I fell one evening in the dinghy and my nose and face made contact with the out board motor. I told Mike I was ready to go and I really wasn't. Mike gunned the outboard and I fell with my face and nose taking the fall. I ended up with a black eye and some lacerations on the top of my nose. Nose and left eye very swollen for three days. Today swelling down and black eye slowly going away. Photo was taken next day.