[password] TwinkY6433
[position] 20 16.37S 174 48.54W
[weather] WSW 9 knots, 1017 baro
[speed] Anchored off Nomuka Iki Island, Tonga
[heading]
[status] We had a lazy morning until the ?fun? started - a boat that dragged a few days ago and caused all sorts of trouble started motoring over towards us and moved in front of us. After failing to anchor once, they then came straight for us so close that I started the engine and motored forward so that they wouldn?t hit our stern. They then pulled up very close while we waves our hands around and politely asked what the f*$k they were doing. They then tried for a second time to anchor and refused to answer our radio calls to inform them were our anchor was (right were they were trying to anchor). They have now anchored with very little chain out and failed to even pull back and check their anchor was dug in correctly (something we always do). We considered moving but the wind has swung and we are no longer in their line of fire if/when they drag again. Another boat off our starboard stern didn?t feel so safe either and moved. I know the non-boaties amongst you will wonder why we are concerned. Just imagine you have a beautiful pristine car - either classic, European, or just very expensive. You park waaaay out at the outer reaches of the carpark, but find that some plonker insists on parking 6 inches away, in their rusty old pile of shite, which has big long doors, and has 17 kids on board who fling the door out with force before emerging ... that?s kinda the same, except if the wind suddenly blows, and these plonkers drain and either hit us, or drag our chain, we could end up on a reef. Some may be asking, ?well, why don?t you move??. Anchoring etiquette says last boat in must move, but these guys are arrogant f*&$wits who don?t think they ever drag - despite the fact that they did last week.
Sigh, sorry for the rant! Just so frustrating. We have a good spot and shouldn?t have to move. We have a very well dug in anchor and 80m of chain out, and are safe and secure. The only reason we haven?t moved is that the wind is due to change even more before it builds so hopefully they should be clear of any other boats when they drag (as they will no doubt do if it blows and they have so little chain out).
The guys off Kena will get this next bit - guess where they are from? Put it this way, we?ve been playing that song you gave us from Spitting Image all day now!!!
For the non-boaties - we had a great time ashore, walked over and around the island. There was a feast tonight with local food (jams, cassava, taro, pork, etc), and some not so local food (sweet and sour chicken(?!)). We?ll find out tomorrow if it lives up to the usual effects of ?village feasts? - the toilet paper is all stocked up and ready.
We were also thinking of snorkeling tomorrow, but apparently that?s not allowed on a Sunday for religious reasons (???!!!! Wtf?!). Maybe Monday we can do that.
Anyway, time to go and put another brew on - heaven forbid we do THAT on a Sunday!
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