Day 12 - Arrived in Tonga

Tuesday 12th May 2009 19:00

Position: 21deg 08min South, 175deg 10min West � anchored stern too in the small craft harbour in Nuku�alofa.
Well this is the longest that we have motored for in one continuous run � funny thing in total we have used more diesel than water on this trip � we are still on our first tank � 200Liters. To our delight a strong southerly wind sprung up during the night and we were able to increase our boat speed to nearly 8kts and caught up a lot of time. We decided in the face of the stiff southerly wind to make our entry on the west coast, through the Egeria channel. Our original plan was to have made the Piha channel on the east coast that is exposed to the prevailing South Easterly swell. A yacht Wandering Star I got stuck on the reef this afternoon. We were not in a position to help but one of the Super Cats (a 60 foot monster) has a lovely tender like a small tug and went to her aid � we went out to help her come into mooring.

Customs was interesting. We called the harbour master as instructed over a period of 2 hours but there was no answer � you are supposed to go the commercial harbour, but we went strait to the small craft harbour and anchored in the middle and reversed to the breakwater and tied stern too a bollard. � still have to use the dingy though.

I walked to the customs office and handed in our departure documentation that I received from NZ customs. They made some notes and informed me that the immigration and health departments were still on Pangamotu island clearing in the large number of yachts from the Island Cruising Association. We were to remain on the vessel with our quarantine flag raised. Well to our delight one and half hours later 4 inspectors arrived and we filled in lots of arrival forms and they departed with money ($25 for the immigration and $100 for the health clearance (actually they said it was $200 but Joy challenged them on that and they corrected the figure)). A contact we had from church � Vatuni � has delighted us by bringing the most enormous water melon we have ever seen and then took us for a ride around town and showed us the main street, where to get fuel, food etc. We bought our first coconuts ever and bananas and some fresh bread. Vatuni has also organized for me to meet the CEO of the local hospital tomorrow. Its good to have dry land under foot. We have looked back on the trip to realize that this has indeed been a very good trip and we can honestly say we have enjoyed it so far.

Skipper.