Tonga Trip

News from Heather and Hugh Reynolds who sailed from Omokoroa and are now in Tonga waters
31 May 2010 - Hello from Neiafu, Vaavu, Tonga
Going back to our arrival in Tonga, We appreciate making landfall in Tongatapu. Although not the most exotic looking of the Tonga group, Nukualofa is a must for landfall celebrations, crew entry and exit, replenishment of stores and diesel, internet and washing clothes. Also opportunity to get your head around life in Tonga.
For a few the passage took 8 days as for Pau Hana, but most of the ICA fleet anywhere between 10 days and two or more weeks if they stopped over at Minerva reef. The direct route that Pau Hana sailed provided the most favourable winds and enables time for our son Campbell to have a quick look about and be home for his marriage ceremony to our lovely Rikkie-Lee our new daughter-in-lay the next day.
We ventured north to the Haapai group renowned for it's classic coral reefs, sandy beach islands with swaying palms in the gentle SE trades, the villagers are always thrilled to welcome sailors and shower us with fresh coconut, yam, taro, papaya, lime, breadfruit. We create great dishes in our tiny galley combining the local food with all sorts! The fishing has been great until a shark took the catch and our steel trace.
Our day to day lifestyle is really hectic, up with a swim, a few jobs, may be not!! But more likely sand, snorkelling sleep, swim, swim and swim, soirees ashore and sheelseeking.
There's always a conundrum on someone's yacht that idle hands are only too keen to offer assistance.
Captain Hugh has his hobby horse that he is always keen to discuss over a beer. That being the amount of diesel usage yachts consume to generate power for all the added extras so unnecessary for a yacht but which most people seem to think they can't do without.
On the way up the veracious question of aid was discussed. Captain Hugh concluded it should be mutually beneficial and therefore the purchase and consumption of local beer would meet this bill. How one can be fooled. The local MAKA beer is brewed and bottled in NZ!
OK that's it for now. Off for a swim or food.

10June 2010 – Hi there.
I came across the following extract from the Captain's log - “with the appropriate instruction and practice it is surprising how much one can sleep. Given time this also develops a healthy appetite and thirst and so a habit is established. Is this the onset of a strange and rare tropical complaint?"
Back to reality, from memory is 2008 the weather in Tonga was indifferent. Accelerated trade winds accompanied overcast conditions. What a contract we have experienced this time and how this has influenced our impression. For the past three weeks the words of a marketing guru would have failed. Clear blue skies, moderate to light trade winds, spectacular sunsets, star studded skies and crystal clear waters. How soporific. This has allowed us to explore many different anchorages and snorkel more coral reefs. Tonga 2010 has surpassed our expectations.
We finally made our delivery for residents here in Vavau. What a delight to meet Elke and Werner who live in their slice of island paradise on 8 acres facing west, watching most beautiful evening skies and living the simplest of lifestyles. They are in the process of building a more substantial home, but still the most basic. Oh how we humans do have a tendency to add unnecessary clutter to our lives!!!!
Live on board Pau Hana is in an easy rhythm, lots of games, socialising, sleeps, waving of fans and odd jobs when it's cooler which isn't often!!!

Until next time.
The Cabin Boy Hugh and Mermaid Heather.