Well Tonga was lovely except that for the 14 days we were there ,we had clear sky's and sunshine for 2.5 days and no rain for 2 more - so 10 days of rain made it seem like long wet cruise in the west of Ireland , except the sea temperature was 26.7 degrees, and we never wore heavy oilskins.
The locals were very welcoming - they put a lot of effort in making us welcome - probably the best WARC reception yet.even if all the drink ran out, and a few fun runs ashore - one local publican in particular - Lawrence from the Bounty Bar ( sometimes called "the Mars Bar" could not have done more for the fleet - K8 in particular, everything from organising a private Tongan Feast ( so so food , nice dancing ) to providing us with his own stock of mince meat . The parties continued as ever with including many attempts by the Irish Cultural Attaché to introduce the Tongan restaurants to Irish Coffee - very amusing ( and great to find Jemison's Whiskey ),however a misunderstanding over a missing coffee pot of exquisite design was soon resolved.
Local Mass on Sunday was very different - singing was amazing, beautiful harmonies for the male and females present,plenty of family groups, no hymn books - and then we were told that the regular choir were not present as they were in Australia welcoming the Pope. How nice to have a Sunday were everything is shut.
The locals have an 0830 radio net on channel 26 where they welcome new boats,tell you what is going on and most importantly give you the weather. We also said our goodbyes as we left, to which Laurance of the Bounty Bar replied
"GOODBYE K8, SAFE JOURNEY YOU ARE THE PARTY BOAT OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC,
PLEASE RETURN SOON."
Tonga is worth a further visit, especially when the whales are passing from July onwards, as it is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with them.
For now there is just the 3 of us on board ( Adrian & Jens having a much needed holiday in New Zealand, Mandy & Chris having returned to the UK, Erin & Andy to Australia)and we are trucking along to Fiji, in company with Storyteller and Southern Princess, nice trade winds sailing - and rain jackets firmly back in their lockers - some tricky Nav to avoid the unmarked atolls and reefs - so we are all going well south around the islands and will head up in about 100 miles time - given political unrest and the fact that it reads like a dive, we are avoiding Suva , and will be checking in at Lautoka ( Fijian Customs are the strangest yet in terms of requirements for advance notice of arriving in their country - forms that must be posted a min of 48 hours in advance of arrival - and huge fines if you don?t comply )- no return by sea for sailors within 9 months of your visit to Fiji ( local tourist board must love them )and then heading on to Musket Cove
Rosie doing a great job on low fat food - ( all 3 of us want to loose weight ) and we are reading continuously like a 6th form book club ( we do have the New James Bond Book on board :-) )
We continue to be depressed by the Rugby - both Ireland and England loosing in their southern hemisphere tour .. Although a fun night was had ashore in Tonga watching the England Vs All Blacks.- That coupled with reading the results of the IRC Nationals ( class 1 - won by an Irish boat), not to mention the housing market in the Uk- make us glad we are in the South Pacific not UK.
We have easterly trade winds of 15/20 knots and are promised sunshine tomorrow (Tuesday)