+1

0

Tuesday 2nd was another work day this time below the water. I used the dive gear as it was time to clean the barnacles off the hull. The hull wasn’t too bad, as Fabien and Nolwenn had previously done some cleaning.

Wednesday we moved around the corner to the next bay and spent a couple of days swiming and exploring. We went ashore where all the fishing boats were tied up, but nobody was around. The village was further along the road. We did however find a large spider and some pretty butterflies.

Friday and Saturday were supposed to be days with very little wind, so hauled anchor and did a bit more exploring. There are a lot of places that can only be accessed when the weather conditions are right. The first stop was supposed to be Mounu Island where we will meet up with Darren and Chrissy later this month, but we anchored around the corner of the next Island Avalau. We went to Mounu by dinghy and were greated by the two dogs from the resort. They escorted us as we had a look around the island.

Then after lunch, we cruised past several islands and bays. Some of them too hard for us to get to with Imagine, others too exposed to wind or swell conditions. After thirteen nautical miles we ended up South of Matamaka Island.

The anchorage wasn’t as protected as it looked. After a rolly night we hauled anchor and headed back to an island we couldn’t access yesterday because of the wind. Today we managed to anchor on a shelf 8m deep. Ten meters to the left it was 35m deep and twenty meters to the right it was 3m deep.

We took the dinghy ashore and walked the very short beach before snorkeling. The snorkeling was the best we have seen in Tonga. The water was crystal clear, there was new coral growth and lots of fish.

The anchorage was not suitable for an overnight stay so we have moved to a safer and sheltered spot for the night. We like playing cards while having our evening drinks. Sometimes it’s calm enough to play on deck.

0

0

It was 20kts south easterly wind, so there wasn’t much to do except take shelter. We were already in a very sheltered bay, only receiving 3kts of wind. B masked up the front deck and starboard side while I started painting. It took till 3:00pm, but all the deck has now been painted. There is only the trim around the toe rails to finish. That was enough for today.

+1

0

We had our morning swim, not to the pleasant sound of birds calling, but to the sound of gensets and engines running. Several of the boats started charging their batteries early.

Later in the morning we dropped the dinghy into the water and rowed around the edge of the bay. The thick undergrowth parted in places to display coloured clifs and caves. The clear water revealed there isn’t a lot of coral growing in this bay, we just saw a lot of electric blue and black starfish. Also we saw a pair of jeans lying on the rocks but it wasn’t alive, thanksfully neither holding a dead human body. If it’s yours, please send a request to our lost and found department and we will give you the exact location.

We spent the afternoon doing a little maintenance, cleaning stanchions and repairing cupboard doors. Once again the sunset lit up the the sky with an array of colours.

0

0

With litle wind predicted for the day we headed off to the outer edge of Vavau. The western side is rugged with no Reef protecting it. There was very little swell and no fish. We trolled along the coast for while then tried drifting and fishing, but didn’t even get a bite. Last we anchored in two different spots, but it seems like the fish know about Imagine and run away!

We were able to sail back inside the island when the wind came up. High winds are predicted for the next week so we returned to a bay we new had good shelter.

In the bay the water was like mirror reflecting the sky, as we swam in the clear water. The only sound was the birds calling to each other. I took the wind generator apart and fixed it. We had the bay to our selves all afternoon untill 4:00pm. Then they came six boats one after the other. They all lined up as if they were about to charge us.

0

0

Its been a while since we we have been on our own. The routine is still the same, a swim before breakfast, then a few maintenance jobs. This morning I fixed the outboard motor. We had it service just before leaving NZ and it’s been playing up ever since. This morning I stripped the carburetor and cleaned the sticking float valve. Hopefully that fixes the problem.

After lunch we went for a ride in the dinghy and a snorkel that was quite amazing: we have been snorkelling through thousands of little fish. Then late afternoon we had another snorkel catching with the camera a couple of multicolor fish first time we have seen those since in Tonga.

Time is flying and it was already 5pm , wine time, sitting on deck watching another beautiful sunset.

0

0

It wasn’t a special day because we dropped Nolwenn and Fabien ashore at Neiafu for the last time. They were leaving us to go on another boat to Fiji. it was special because Bérengère (B) was getting another year older (only 28 though).

Being for the day in the big city we took the laundry to “Bubbles” the only one laundromat and went to the market for fresh fruit and veggies. Hannah (a young lady at the market) gave B her first gift, a little watermelon. After that I took B to Mangos restaurant for a birthday lunch. we also got takeaways ( paella) so we didnt have to cook dinner.

The laundry was done by 3pm so we headed out of town and found a sheltered anchorage. With the sun beating all day it was nice to have time for a swim before having drinks and dinner on deck and watch the sun go down.

0

0

We had just finished breakfast when we had a visit from Lofa the Fisherman Representative collecting $20 for anchoring here.He mentioned that we could swim and walk on the island but it is a no fishing aerea, However B noticed that he had some fish in his boat so she asked if we could buy one. That was a quick catch …Mackerel for dinner.

I fileted the Mackerel while B did some cleaning. Nolwenn and Fabien did more snorkeling. The rest of the morning was a lazy time. After lunch we took the dinghy all the way around the island, stopping a couple of times to snorlke. Then we walked along its beaches for a while. Returning to Imagine in time for drinks on deck and watch the sun go down.

0

0

After our morning swim and breakfast we followed all the other boaties in their dinghies heading to shore. It was a 9:00 am yoga class. A lady from one of the boats is a yoga teacher and offered a free class to everyone.

On the beach was a reminder of the storms that go through Tonga. It was someone’s pride and joy not so long ago, a 26ft yacht.

After the yoga class we all dispersed, most leaving the bay. We also hauled anchor to look for another anchorage. Not fare away we found Nuku island. A postcard setting with great snorkeling and a white sandy beach.

+1

0

Yesterday (Sunday) we did a little snorkeling and then went shore where we met Colio who lived on the island with his family. After a short walk around we returned to Imagine to relax for the afternoon. B continued with her crochet, finishing making herself a little handbag.

This morning was work time. Nolwenn and Fabien started cleaning the barnacles off the hull. B cleaned the stanchions and I did a few other jobs. We had seen Norla and Sansabar (two boats we had met in Nukualofa) had anchored at a neighboring island, so we hauled anchor and went to join them. This evening the crew from both boats joined us on Imagine. Samuel from Norla brought his guitar and played a series of his own songs while we sat around with drinks and nibbles. Then we all chatted and exchanged stories.

Samuel and Emma have a sailing blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9o2Ge-eCVUp1ZrwlKhpOHw please check it out and subscribe. They are trying to get 1000 subscribers.

+1

0

During our circumnavigation of Euakafa Island on Thursday, we came across a beach full of clam shells. So Friday morning we went back there to have a better look. B made a sculpture out of some of them.

When we left Imagine the bow was in 35m of water and at the stern it was only 4m deep. When we got back I was aware that the wind and tide had changed and now Imagine was facing the other way, with the depth sounder saying we are now in 40m of water. As lunch was being prepared, I was sitting in the cockpit when Imagine turned away from the wind. I knew immediately that the anchor had let go. There was no way the anchor was going dig in again as we drifted further off the steep ledge. We started the motor, hauled up the anchor and headed for Neiafu.

Our crew were leaving us Saturday so we decided to spend the night there so they could leave in the morning and so we could get to the fresh fruit and veggie market early.

This morning it was a goodbye to Fabien and Nolwenn as they thought they found a boat to take them to Fiji. B and I went to the market took the laundry to be done and walked to the petrol station on the edge of town to fill our jerrycans. We will fill them every time we go ashore to keep our fuel tanks topped up.

As we got back to the dinghy we met Fabien and Nolwenn. The boat that will take them to Fiji can’t take them onboard untill the 27th. So they are back onboard for another 5 days.

We have found a place to hide from the southerly winds for the next few days. Lape island is well sheltered and has some reefs for us to explore in the next few days.