[password] zmu3791nzl9424
[position] 21 07.508S 175 09.778W
[status] Life on board Malakite is becoming normal routine after being on board for 6 days. Anj and I arrived last Friday from Auckland to meet the boys who arrived into Nuku'alofa and did all there clearance on Thursday 23rd. Rod left us on Saturday night and Karl and Anj are on board with us until next Tuesday. The weather started off a bit grey and very windy but it is warm. I am writing this at 6.30pm local time and it is still 27.7 deg. We have visited an island called Atata which has a resort on it that we looked around and decided not a good holiday destination, as well as a good walk along a lovely beach. The produce markets are really great in town with everything you need. Every time we bought some items the seller gave us a lettuce for 'free' hence we have lettuce coming out our ears!! Yesterday we found out from a neighbouring boat about a good dentist in town. As Glen had lost a crown on his way up here he took the crown top with him and visited the dentist. Toda
y he had the crown attached at a very good price and an invitation to a traditional Tongan feast with the dentist and her Husband, although lovely idea we declined. We have also today done our inter island clearance. This is something required when moving from one island group to another. Trying to find the right people for this is very difficult as there is very little signage on buildings, patience is KEY. So we are leaving Nuku'alofa tomorrow and heading to the Haapai group of islands, which are beautiful. Due to our mainsail having a tear in it we will be motoring or motorsailing with our genoa everywhere until we reach Vavau early July, and hopefully a repair can be done. All good on board

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