The next morning was bright and clear. We decided to leave Oua and make our way out to the Eastern group of islands. As we were leaving the lagoon we changed our minds and decided to go North first and then East tomorrow. What happened next just makes you realise why we depend on our common sense, our Mark II Eyeball and Gut Feeling. After a quick look at the chart Plotter Duncan pointed out a small island that we were to pass on our Port Side. I was on Bombie Alert on the cabin top looking for any unchartered reef or “bombies” of coral that mushroom up and appear out of nowhere. Ahead I could see still water that just looked different from the rest. “ Are you sure?” I questioned. Well, it was like the comedy hour. We turned Catina around to go back to our original plan then after a quick discussion decided that it would be better to go North. For the next 10 minutes we changed course 4 times. Each time we went North I felt uneasy. Something just wasn’t right. So we would turn around again… This time I jumped down off the roof and had a look at the charts myself. A quick plot of our position onto the old fashioned paper charts soon revealed that we were heading for the wrong island and had come up a “dead end” in the maze of the reef! A simple error. Nothing to worry about. We quickly plotted our route and were soon on our way North to Ha’efeva, an flat island with a small village on it. It was a beautiful calm day and the water was glassy. We sat on the trampolines motoring with the autopilot doing all the work. Some of the little islands we passed that day were just like the “brochure” coconut fringed, white sandy beach island you would expect to see in the South Pacific. Just before sunset we rounded the point and anchored in the bay on the Western side of the island. There is a wonderful anchorage in a lagoon on the East but we wanted to get an early start in the morning so opted for the Western side which would be easier to navigate in poor light. Further to the West we could see sillouetted against an orange sky, two volcano mountains. One of them was smoking!
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| Darcy's 8th Birthday |
26th May and we were up bright and early. Today was Darcy’s 8th birthday. Happy Birthday little man! And as far as birthdays go I think this one would almost top them all!!! Pineapple icypoles before the sun came up, we had a present opening ceremony and up anchored for our adventurous day. It was like a floating Mc Donalds that morning: we dined on bacon & eggs, hash browns & juice, croissants & coffee then Duncan caught a Tuna. Another breathless day we motored over glossy deep water while the kids watched new DVD’s opened that morning. There was a feeling of happiness. It was lovely. By lunchtime we had arrived at Uonukuhihifo, two sandy islands joined together by a sandbar. We anchored in about 16m and it was so clear we could see the shells on the bottom! It was just getting better and better. One of those happy moments that lasted all day. We snorkeled together for the first time as a family over lovely coral reef. The children diving a few metres deep totally comfortable under the water. Later we took them for a spin in their Wipe Out behind the dinghy. They are such good friends and very close. They were having the time of their lives.
As more and more ICA boats came into the bay it was decided that a bonfire on the beach would be a great way to catch up and for Darcy, a wonderful way to finish his special day. We all took fish that we had caught that day and Sol Maria had a beautiful Coral Trout that they generously shared in the coals. A pot luck salad table completed the meal. That night was another of those memorable nights with new friends, good food and a starry sky above. Darcy made his own little fire and was busy lighting sticks and making “candles” out of empty coconut shells. We shared a chocolate cake with Kit Kat’s and all went home to bed happy and content that night.
Ueleva/Pangai Harbour
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| The Cats on the Beach, Ueleva Tonga |
The ICA rally was gathering for another Umu in Ueleva so after a few nights we sailed North to join them in the bay at Ueleva. We enjoyed our stay there swimming and playing off the beach. Together with Sol Maria we beached the cats one day to get some work done at the low tide. Every bloke in the bay came over to lend a hand or offer words of support as Duncan and Gavin completed their maintenance jobs. One of the great things about sailing in a rally is the network of friends. Expertise and tools were all shared and before long friendships formed that will bond us for life.
We completed our internal customs clearance in Pangai Harbour which was a delightful little town, and spent our last night in a cosy anchorage with Sol Maria, Recluse, Avant Garde II and Rotumanu. Sol Maria offered us the services of a very reliable European Auto Pilot, namely their Dutch friend Diede!! To accompany us on our passage to the Va’vau Group of islands a half day sail away.
It was an early start, up way before the sun and sailing North leaving the Haipai to the Va’vau Group of islands in Tonga. That day we enjoyed the breeze and choofed along doing 8 and 9 knots. It was a great sail and we all enjoyed it. There was an unofficial race between the island groups and this added to the fun on the day. There was a lot of friendly banter over the radio and the Cats (Sol Maria and us on Catina) sailed into Neiafu by lunchtime.
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