SVMagenta Ship's Log

We Have Arrived in Tonga!

After a very rough passage from Niue we are now in the anchorage at Neiafu, Tonga, in the Vava'u group of islands.  We are very happy to be out of the big winds, and everything on the boat seems to be OK.  We have already met lots of new friends, been to a Tonga feast, attended a beautiful choir presentation at the local Catholic church, and spent an afternoon drinking kava at the local fire hall.

A Bad Weather Day

Our position is about 40 miles east of Vavu'a, Tonga. Unfortunately the wind is howling at 30 knots directly from the direction we want to go. And the waves are huge from that same direction. So we are 'hove to' until something gets better. That means we are sitting it out.

Having to Leave Niue

Unfortunately the weather has forced us to leave the island of Niue. We were actually tied to a mooring ball in Alofi Harbour for two nights with the dinghy in the water and ready to go ashore. But the wind and waves turned so they were forecast to come directly from the ocean into the harbour, making it a very uncomfortable and poitentially dangerous place to be. So with sadness and disappointment we have headed offshore again, sailing for Tonga and the port of Neiafu.

Half Way to Nuie

Today the sailing conditions are almost perfect. Wind from the east at 15-20 knots, and moderate seas. We are about half-way on the 500 mile passage from Suwarrow to Nuie.

On the Way to Nuie

We said our good-byes at Suwarrow yesterday, and are currently about 150 miles west of Suwarrow on a passage of 500 miles to Nuie. The wind is strong at 25 knots, and as a result the swells are fairly large at 10-12 feet. It's a little rough, but we are making good boat speed.

A Sad Farewell to Suwarrow

We had planned to stay at Suwarrow Atoll for a week, and ended up staying two weeks. It is definitely one of our favorite places in the South Pacific. With the rotation of boats in the anchorage, we probably met the cruisers from about 30 different boats during our time here. Every day was filled with activities and memories, and we have lots of beautiful pictures to post when we get internet access again. Our thanks to Park Rangers James and John for all they did to make Suwarrow such a special place.

When we head out again in a day or two, we plan to head for the Island Kingdom of Niue, one of the smallest self-governing countries in the world. It is about 500 miles to the southwest, and depending on wind and waves it should be a four day passage.