[password] TwinkY6433
[position] 18 41.907S 173 55.753W
[weather] ESE 6 knots, 1015 baro
[speed] Anchored at Kenutu Island, Vava?u, Tonga.
[heading]
[status] On Monday morning we headed out to Kenutu. Last year some friends got their boat stuck in a bommie in the zig zag channel for an hour, so we were a bit nervous about going through it. We?ve got big tides at the moment, which was good, but the tide was high at 9.30am, which meant the light wouldn?t be very good. Using our favourite Ovital app, and Steve?s keen eyes, we cautiously made our way through. We followed friends Caprice on a shallow draft cat, and they reported nothing too shallow. We made it through and then headed to the shallow entrance to the anchorage. I got slightly off course, and we had only 1.7m under us at one point, but we made it into the 8m anchorage and settled down.

After a late breakfast, we went ashore to see if there were any shells of interest on the beach. Our friends off Caprice seemed to be collecting something, but when we go there, it was actually small cockles. There was talk of paella, as they had some squid and mahi-mahi they had caught, so we set about collecting these little cockles about the size of your thumb nail. They were small but had tons of flavour and Steve cooked an awesome paella for a late lunch and the home brew washed it down. The late lunch turned into afternoon nibbles, and then a spaghetti vongole (spaghetti, the rest of the clams, butter, garlic and herbs). Another spectacularly delicious meal!

After a late night, it was a very quiet Tuesday. We did a few boats jobs, had some mahi-mahi for lunch (courtesy of Caprice again) and then had sundowners and a bonfire on the beach.

Today we have to head back to Neiafu. There?s a final get together at Mango?s Cafe tonight to make the offical end of this rally, and then Friday we?ll clear customs. It?s been nice in Tonga, but we?re ready to move on to Fiji.

[END]