Yesterday a sail boat which had left the anchorage the day before put a May Day distress call out on the radio about 1am and a lot of people were involved in an extensive search and rescue operation including planes from New Zealand. Unfortunately they have not been able to find the two men that were on the yacht just a lot of wreckage from the boat. The life preserving aids were found unused and the dinghy is still missing so the search is continuing today. It was not a World ARC boat.
It makes you painfully aware how vulnerable you are in rough weather and you do need to take sensible precautions like wearing life jackets at all times in bad weather. The yacht involved was a standard charter boat so not built for ocean cruising like Trompeta in which we place our trust.The weather forecast had predicted strong winds for Thursday and Friday so we chose to remain in the anchorage until the system passed over. Our plan is to leave on Monday when the weather will be back to normal trade winds of 15-20 knots which is ideal for sailing Trompeta.
Had a visit to the local market this morning to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for our journey to Fiji. Lots of nice fresh salad as well! Today the weather is changing and we have just had a sharp rain shower.
Yesterday it was Dmitry's birthday so we were invited to his party on Piligrim and Natalia had prepared lots of delicious salads including a Russian speciality called Olivia which is basically a potato salad with added bits and pieces. The evening started with Vodka shots (Peter had one but I declined!) and some marinated cucumber slices which had been steeping in a salt and garlic marinade so no vinegar and the end result was quite mild but apparently the thing to have after a shot of vodka! There were crews from Sapphire and Beatoo and the other Russian boat Royal Leopard too. At the end of the evening one of the Royal Leopard crew Eugene played his guitar and sang soft songs which were lovely.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
World ARC event
We had the prize giving dinner last night at the Mango Cafe in Vava'u for the last leg from Bora Bora to Suwarrow and Niue to Tonga. The evening started with a traditional Kava ritual which involved some local children and crews all sitting cross legged around a circle with the King at the end. The Governor was invited but as he had not arrived for the start then Paul from World ARC rally control took his place. The Kava was then mixed by a girl (who has to be a virgin) and then little cups are passed around to drink. It apparently makes your tongue go numb but as we already had drinks in our hands we were not passed the cups to drink! After the Kava reception we then took our places for a traditional buffet of raw fish marinated in coconut milk and cooked chicken and pork with taro and some salad followed by ice cream and cake.
The Governor did arrive later and took his place in time to assist Paul with the prize giving. We had been invited to join the top table so were treated to wine courtesy of the World ARC as well as our buffet dinner. So onto the prize giving and guess what? Trompeta was awarded first place for our group for the last passage!! Peter was so amazed he dropped his spoon back into his ice cream!
Tonight we have a BBQ at the Aquarium Cafe.
We have had some t shirts printed by Tropical Tease and have some cute Trompeta logos now. It was time Peter had some more shirts as his old ones are getting very worn now.
Looking to stay here for a few days before setting off again for Fiji.
The Governor did arrive later and took his place in time to assist Paul with the prize giving. We had been invited to join the top table so were treated to wine courtesy of the World ARC as well as our buffet dinner. So onto the prize giving and guess what? Trompeta was awarded first place for our group for the last passage!! Peter was so amazed he dropped his spoon back into his ice cream!
Tonight we have a BBQ at the Aquarium Cafe.
We have had some t shirts printed by Tropical Tease and have some cute Trompeta logos now. It was time Peter had some more shirts as his old ones are getting very worn now.
Looking to stay here for a few days before setting off again for Fiji.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tonga now!
Later than envisaged we are now on a mooring buoy in Tonga in the Vava'u group of islands off the main town of Neiafu where funnily enough there is a Moorings charter base just up the road from our World ARC office!
We left Bora Bora on 16 May for our passage to Tonga via Suwarrow then Niue. The first leg of the passage was around 700 miles to Suwarrow and not much wind so a lot of motoring. When we arrived in Suwarrow the weather advice was that a depression was forming and a weather system delayed our departure by two days. The anchorage is deserted as no one lives on the island and it is a National Park but the wardens do not arrive until 1 June so it was very quiet and unspoilt. The sea was flat calm when we arrived but the anchorage did get really swelly and the boat was like a bucking bronco so much so that we decided to re anchor away from the shore. It was a tricky operation lifting the anchor as it was stuck around several coral heads so took us about an hour to free ourselves!! Just before Peter was threatening to cut the anchor chain with bolt croppers! Anyway after re anchoring in the dark in very deep water we had a bumpy night with not much sleep. The next day we moved and anchored again this time in shallower water so when we came to leave there was not so much chain to get up. Even so we still had a struggle to free the anchor which came up with a lump of coral attached ...ooh not good.
After Suwarrow we sailed or rather motor sailed to Niue. Niue is lovely and rugged it is a independent New Zealand territory. The island is small enough to tour around in one day. We hired a car with Dmitry and Natalia from Piligrim the Russian boat and spent. Good day visiting all the limestone caves and chasms. The Niue yacht club advertises itself as the smallest yacht club in the world. The Commodore Keith is chatty and friendly. The only drawback visiting Niue is the rolly anchorage and the electric dinghy hoist! So we just stayed two nights in Niue and left for Tonga on Sunday lunchtime. A fantastic good sail to Tonga which is around 240 miles and we managed to sail all the way with no motor.
So now we are in Tonga for a period of free cruising until we meet up with the rally in Fiji on 3 July.
We did lose a day sailing to Tonga as we crossed the date line. Tonga is 13 hours ahead of UTC. So now we have the Skippers briefing at 5pm tonight for Fiji. Tomorrow is the Prizegiving for the last leg and group rendezvous.
Anyway off to the ATM to get sone Tongan dollars so we can go shopping!!
We left Bora Bora on 16 May for our passage to Tonga via Suwarrow then Niue. The first leg of the passage was around 700 miles to Suwarrow and not much wind so a lot of motoring. When we arrived in Suwarrow the weather advice was that a depression was forming and a weather system delayed our departure by two days. The anchorage is deserted as no one lives on the island and it is a National Park but the wardens do not arrive until 1 June so it was very quiet and unspoilt. The sea was flat calm when we arrived but the anchorage did get really swelly and the boat was like a bucking bronco so much so that we decided to re anchor away from the shore. It was a tricky operation lifting the anchor as it was stuck around several coral heads so took us about an hour to free ourselves!! Just before Peter was threatening to cut the anchor chain with bolt croppers! Anyway after re anchoring in the dark in very deep water we had a bumpy night with not much sleep. The next day we moved and anchored again this time in shallower water so when we came to leave there was not so much chain to get up. Even so we still had a struggle to free the anchor which came up with a lump of coral attached ...ooh not good.
After Suwarrow we sailed or rather motor sailed to Niue. Niue is lovely and rugged it is a independent New Zealand territory. The island is small enough to tour around in one day. We hired a car with Dmitry and Natalia from Piligrim the Russian boat and spent. Good day visiting all the limestone caves and chasms. The Niue yacht club advertises itself as the smallest yacht club in the world. The Commodore Keith is chatty and friendly. The only drawback visiting Niue is the rolly anchorage and the electric dinghy hoist! So we just stayed two nights in Niue and left for Tonga on Sunday lunchtime. A fantastic good sail to Tonga which is around 240 miles and we managed to sail all the way with no motor.
So now we are in Tonga for a period of free cruising until we meet up with the rally in Fiji on 3 July.
We did lose a day sailing to Tonga as we crossed the date line. Tonga is 13 hours ahead of UTC. So now we have the Skippers briefing at 5pm tonight for Fiji. Tomorrow is the Prizegiving for the last leg and group rendezvous.
Anyway off to the ATM to get sone Tongan dollars so we can go shopping!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Bora Bora
It is departure day from Bora Bora. We set off on the next leg to Tonga via Suwarrow and Niue and expect to arrive in Tonga the end of May. Bora Bora is lovely and it would be so good to spend more time here but the trip goes on! We did get to see the island by doing a tour around the coast road on bicycles on Monday morning which was great fun and only one steep hill when everyone got off to push their bike up to the top before freewheeling down the other side.
Monday afternoon saw the dinghy race where there are no rules so there are all sorts of silliness and people swimming in the water hanging onto dinghies to hold them back and missiles and water pistols being fired! Pictures are on the World Cruising website.
Yesterday we had the Skippers briefing for the passage and this was quite detailed and included information about the stop overs at Suwarrow and Niue.
So final trip to the supermarket to get stocked up on baguettes this morning then make the dinghy secure by deflating and rolling away on deck then we are ready to leave.
There is only one way into Bora Bora through a pass in the coral so all boats enter and leave using the same channel. Just hope it is not too busy with boats coming into the lagoon when the time comes for us all to leave at 12 noon local time (10pm UTC).
Monday afternoon saw the dinghy race where there are no rules so there are all sorts of silliness and people swimming in the water hanging onto dinghies to hold them back and missiles and water pistols being fired! Pictures are on the World Cruising website.
Yesterday we had the Skippers briefing for the passage and this was quite detailed and included information about the stop overs at Suwarrow and Niue.
So final trip to the supermarket to get stocked up on baguettes this morning then make the dinghy secure by deflating and rolling away on deck then we are ready to leave.
There is only one way into Bora Bora through a pass in the coral so all boats enter and leave using the same channel. Just hope it is not too busy with boats coming into the lagoon when the time comes for us all to leave at 12 noon local time (10pm UTC).
Monday, May 14, 2012
Bora Bora
We are now at anchor in the lagoon of Bora Bora ( or Pora Pora as it is known locally as there is no B in the Polynesian language). Bora Bora is the 'jewel of the Pacific' as it so pretty! We are surrounded by a high mountain and lush green vegetation. The World ARC fleet are guests of the Bora Bora Yacht Club at the Mai Kai Marina. Marina is rather a posh word for the facilities which are several mooring buoys and a small dock big enough for only 3 boats! There is a bar ( essential) and a restaurant plus showers and garbage disposal.
The sail from Raiatea was fast and smooth with strong winds gusting 30 knots so we had a fully reefed main and jib. We actually lifted anchor at around 6.30am after a very windy night with Peter up and down all night to check our bearings and make sure we were not dragging as the boat was sitting in 33 metres of water with 96 metres of chain out( you would normally have 4/5 times the depth out in anchor chain) but as we only have 100 metres of chain it would have meant fastening some warp onto the end of the chain. We took the view as we were only staying 1 night we would risk it and we were indeed OK unlike the catamaran in front of us which dragged anchor and slid past us!!
Raiatea was pretty and a welcome sight after our passage from Tahiti which was very uncomfortable with rolling seas from all directions. Peter's words were ' it was a bit boisterous'!
So now we are in Bora Bora and we waved the first group of boats off at 12 noon local time to start the leg to Tonga via Suwarrow and Nuie. Our group leaves on Wednesday so we have some time to enjoy the island before we have to leave. Last night we had a nice dinner at St James restaurant with Jonathan and Heather( Matilda) David and Caroline ( Peat Smoke) and Phil and Andrea ( Anastasia) and some of us were suffering a bit this morning after a bit too much vino!! Anastasia and Matilda left today with group 1 and we waved them off and took pictures of the Parasailors flying brightly. We cannot wait to get our new Parasailor in Australia!
Tomorrow we are hiring bicycles to tour around the island which is not very big and should take around 3 hours to circumnavigate. It is mostly flat with just one hill so should not be too strenuous for us!
The sail from Raiatea was fast and smooth with strong winds gusting 30 knots so we had a fully reefed main and jib. We actually lifted anchor at around 6.30am after a very windy night with Peter up and down all night to check our bearings and make sure we were not dragging as the boat was sitting in 33 metres of water with 96 metres of chain out( you would normally have 4/5 times the depth out in anchor chain) but as we only have 100 metres of chain it would have meant fastening some warp onto the end of the chain. We took the view as we were only staying 1 night we would risk it and we were indeed OK unlike the catamaran in front of us which dragged anchor and slid past us!!
Raiatea was pretty and a welcome sight after our passage from Tahiti which was very uncomfortable with rolling seas from all directions. Peter's words were ' it was a bit boisterous'!
So now we are in Bora Bora and we waved the first group of boats off at 12 noon local time to start the leg to Tonga via Suwarrow and Nuie. Our group leaves on Wednesday so we have some time to enjoy the island before we have to leave. Last night we had a nice dinner at St James restaurant with Jonathan and Heather( Matilda) David and Caroline ( Peat Smoke) and Phil and Andrea ( Anastasia) and some of us were suffering a bit this morning after a bit too much vino!! Anastasia and Matilda left today with group 1 and we waved them off and took pictures of the Parasailors flying brightly. We cannot wait to get our new Parasailor in Australia!
Tomorrow we are hiring bicycles to tour around the island which is not very big and should take around 3 hours to circumnavigate. It is mostly flat with just one hill so should not be too strenuous for us!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Moorea
Last Saturday we took the ferry across to Moorea a sister island to Tahiti and had a pleasant day with David & Caroline in their hire car. We drove around the islnad which is very lush and green and less developed than Tahiti. There was a lovely Pearl Lodge Resort where we stopped for lunch which was excellent.After lunch we found a beach and had a swim in crystal clear water.
We took the last ferry back at 4.45pm so were back in the hotel for 6pm.
We took the last ferry back at 4.45pm so were back in the hotel for 6pm.
Tahiti
So we left Marina Taina on Peter's birthday 2 May to motor to the boat yard where we were due to be hauled out of the water at 10.30am. The lift out was good no hitches at all. We had both gone with Peat Smoke to assist David & Caroline when their boat was lifted on Monday so we knew what to expect!
The skeg was examined and the old firbre glass ground off to look underneath at the rudder - all appeared to be in order so that was a relief. The skeg was reglassed over and painted. Whilst we were in the yard Peter arranged to have the prop anode and the fridge anode replaced as they were both looking worn.
Whilst in the boat yard we stayed at the Hotel Tahiti Nui which was lovely in a junior suite so we had a kitchen and lounge area to relax in. The only meal we ate in the Hotel restaurant was dinner on 2 May for Peter's birthday and we were joined by David & Caroline who were also staying in the hotel and the crew from Brizo Lew & Corinne and their two girls Kathryn & Audrey. Caroline had bought flashing garlands and helium balloons for the table which the girls thoroughly enjoyed.
Anyway as we were due to be dropped back in the water Monday at 7am we decided to check out of the hotel on Sunday and spend the last night on the boat in the yard. David & Caroline also made this decision as Peat Smoke was to be dropped in straight after Trompeta. So we had a very enjoyable BBQ on board Trompeta with food courtesy of Caroline and a very enjoyable time was had by all.
Monday morning and it transpired that the boat yard had not yet sourced a anode for the prop!! Still one did evebtuaklly turn up about 9.30am so we were actually back in the water by 10am. We motored back to Marina Taina so we could fill up with fuel first then docked so we could clean the boat and provision. My fridge and freezer are both back on so last night had a run to Carrefour to get frozen and dairy and we will go back again today to get the fruit and veg and other things we forgot! It is a public holiday today here in Tahiti so the supermarket closes at 12.30pm.
All being well we will leave the Marina Wednesday and head over to Raiatea on our way to Bora Bora for the start of the next leg to Suwarrow then Nuie then Tonga. The fleet is divided into two groups and we are in the second group so will leave Bora Bora on 16 May.
The skeg was examined and the old firbre glass ground off to look underneath at the rudder - all appeared to be in order so that was a relief. The skeg was reglassed over and painted. Whilst we were in the yard Peter arranged to have the prop anode and the fridge anode replaced as they were both looking worn.
Whilst in the boat yard we stayed at the Hotel Tahiti Nui which was lovely in a junior suite so we had a kitchen and lounge area to relax in. The only meal we ate in the Hotel restaurant was dinner on 2 May for Peter's birthday and we were joined by David & Caroline who were also staying in the hotel and the crew from Brizo Lew & Corinne and their two girls Kathryn & Audrey. Caroline had bought flashing garlands and helium balloons for the table which the girls thoroughly enjoyed.
Anyway as we were due to be dropped back in the water Monday at 7am we decided to check out of the hotel on Sunday and spend the last night on the boat in the yard. David & Caroline also made this decision as Peat Smoke was to be dropped in straight after Trompeta. So we had a very enjoyable BBQ on board Trompeta with food courtesy of Caroline and a very enjoyable time was had by all.
Monday morning and it transpired that the boat yard had not yet sourced a anode for the prop!! Still one did evebtuaklly turn up about 9.30am so we were actually back in the water by 10am. We motored back to Marina Taina so we could fill up with fuel first then docked so we could clean the boat and provision. My fridge and freezer are both back on so last night had a run to Carrefour to get frozen and dairy and we will go back again today to get the fruit and veg and other things we forgot! It is a public holiday today here in Tahiti so the supermarket closes at 12.30pm.
All being well we will leave the Marina Wednesday and head over to Raiatea on our way to Bora Bora for the start of the next leg to Suwarrow then Nuie then Tonga. The fleet is divided into two groups and we are in the second group so will leave Bora Bora on 16 May.
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