FROM TONGA TO FIJI

Still in the Ha'apai in Tonga. Behind Uiha Island we road out the strong winds of the next days. From there we went to Paradise Island. No, it's not the real name. It's our name for a small island where we had the feeling of being in paradise – many years ago. It's small enough that one can walk around it. It's big enough to give protection. Apart from the south-easter, then we sailed to Tofango again. And that became our circle of sea-steading for the next months. Tofango for the SE, Uiha for the E and N, and Paradise for all the other wind directions. There are no people on Tofanga and Paradise. Uiha has two big villages and a large school.
We cleared out from Pangai in the Ha'apai and left Tonga via Kao Island. It is an impressive cone shaped high vulcanic mountain. Our good fortune for the day was an equally impressive yellow fin tuna. We arrived in FIJI five days later. If we were sailors chasing the wind, it could have been a four day trip.
Savusavu on the northern big island of Vanua Levu in Fiji, is an excellent place to catch up with internet and other commodities like shops, markets and people. Out at the point we spent a few days before drifting to Bakabaka. What a lovely place that was. We walked on somebody's dream island and took a dinghy ride to the salt lake but turned around at the white waters under the bridge.
When there was wind again we sailed to Somosomo at Taveuni. An interessting busride with beautiful views around the northern point took us to the nature park at the otherside of the island. There after we sailed to Kioa Island. Deep water with solid mangrove walls and coral. Our sail to Catharina Bay at Rambi Island was adrenaline pumping. Hard to windward, with the poorest of light, hugging the reefs and stampeding through the gap. We arrived still on our portside ear and are since in contrast, on flat calm water in a windless bay, repairing the engine and meeting the people. Beautiful outrigger canoes colour the big bay.

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Tongan Ha 'apai Islands Sailing

http://youtu.be/_vpaC7W8Mmc

We sailed with calm and good weather from Tongatapu to Kelefesia in the Ha'apai. That means I don't get sick - wonderful! And we had  almost a week of lovely weather and good time there. The beach was littered with coral. It must have been from a bad storm that had battered the island which has done the damage.  But was the coral (in sea) ever so beautiful - fascinating beautiful. It was the first time for me to see the big fans with lace fringes. Unfortunately we don't have an underwater camera yet. Our next stop was Fonoifua where last year they had only one visiting boat and this year we're the first. We had a good time and the children enjoyed the entertainment by the visitors. The highway footpath which winds in the middle through the village will bring you to all the things in the short video. Enjoy.
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From Fonoifua it was on to Limu which is situated on the outer reef. The beach is covered completely with tracks. Tracks of crabs and snakes. In thirty meters distance three snake tracks.....! The weather turned rough during the night and we left in a hurry to a more protected anchorage. Skipper got soaken wet from a formiddable rainstorm while we sailed. I was allowed to keep dry inside... - isn't he kind? 

Whale POO

The gale was whipping the waters white with foam when we went anchor up midday in New Zealand. The neighbour yachties were all 

on their boats, watching.  We motored out of the port of Opua and then rolled out half of the furling genoa. The gale subsided slowly 

but surely.  Apart from the tall ship Tucker Tomson who had a youth school class on board, we were the only boat out there. Just 

before dark, the yacht Mizar which was going the same direction, passed us. The voyage was good. There was a big high spreading all 

over our sailing grounds and we had light, little or no wind for days. We enjoyed it. An unexpected storm got us in a tight knot, but it 

blew over quick enough. Light winds again but all from a good direction. Then a low popped up, just on top of us. We were two days from reaching our destination. But the low was apparently going to interfere with head winds the last part of our trip. So we decided to sail with the low, round the bottom and up the west side of it, where the winds would be the good direction. 

Unfortunately for us, the low stalled and grew and grew and went a different direction. It pulled us into its hell hole and gave us the ride of our lives. 

Needless to say, my prayer-line to heaven was non-stop open and we received blessings untold. We arrived in Tonga 17 days after leaving New Zealand all in one piece. Just the nameflap on starboard side got a torn in one corner.