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[status] Anchored at the southern end of Pangimotu Island, in a little lagoon, surrounded by Afo Island and Tapana Island. Okay so today’s update is a tad bit different to normal…. yesterday we finally downloaded all of your YIT comments via a café wifi, and this morning Sasha (yes I am referring to myself in 3rd person to keep things easy to read – well it’s an attempt to keep things easy to read and understand) read every single comment for the first time since we left NZ. WOW!! We cannot get over how many of your are following our adventure, it’s really cool to hear from you and get your reactions and comments. The below is an attempt to respond;
BARBARA (aka Mum Watson) – So glad to hear the Olive harvest went well, we are still using the beautiful olive oil that Tina and Ross gave us, it really is fantastic oil!
CRAIG & SONJA – There’s no swell in Vava’u’s protected harbours, but we will be off to Fiji within the next two weeks, so let’s hope there is no more big WA swells to affect our 2nd passage: Vava’u to Fiji, as it will be the first passage that Mike and I do alone, with no additional crew.
BIPPY (aka Carl) – it IS crazy that we sailed to Tonga, Sasha can hardly believe it herself. Glad you are enjoying our blog, also Pappy tells me you have started the new job now, we hope it’s going well?
JILL & LONG JOHN SILVER (aka Clive) - HULLO!!!!!! How come you had had a few rough days in the waterways? Was it just cold or was there a storm too? No sign of Capt’n Jack Sparrow yet, but I have no doubt he’ll make an appearance sooner or later!! You guys need to get Panache Cat ready to rumble for next season and COME WITH US!!! Jill I am sure we can organise some nice young men for your crew – wink wink!
RICHARD – How’s NZ life treating you? Must be a touch bit slow after the Big Apple eh? Yip, I/Sasha do write in 3rd person, a touch odd – I’ll grant you that, but it’s just to try and keep our blog easy to read. We are glad you are inspired by our adventures, it really is the best thing I have ever done!
SIPPY (aka Katya) – Thanks for all your comments, you guys are really following us on our adventures eh!? Are you reading the blog to Connor?? Does he know what his Auntie Sippy is up to? We didn’t even know the earthquake had happened, which was a tad scary since they are often followed by tsunami. We only found out about it cause Mappy emailed us. How did your Melbourne presentation go? Thanks for the “Wahoooo Congrats” comment, we we’re glad to finally make it to Tonga too.
GREG M - So glad you are enjoying our adventures, we heard the weather in NZ turned really bad just after we left Opua. But don’t think we are sitting up here working on our tans, we are suffering our 5th day of tropical downpours – no sun for 5 days in a row!! It’s wet here too, and also not in a good way.
KEV, TRACE, and ya beautiful GIRLS – So glad you guys are enjoying our blog, we wish we had downloaded Google Earth before we had left (Cruisers Pete and Wanda did tell us too! Doh!) as we would like to be zooming into where we are too, and doing some kite / surf research. But there is always lots to explore, and that’s keeping us busy. Oh, and yeah, we do turn our other engine on if/when we get to far behind. It’s just a tad more difficult refueling up here, so the less we use the less we have to refuel. And also have no fear, there is always a Steiny near. Ha!
PAPPY and MAPPY – Uoleva is definitely a archetypical tropical island, except for the RUBBISH on the sea facing side. It is a real shame that there is no real rubbish system up here, Tonga does desperately need to rectify that, as it’s only going to get worse, and it’s such a shame to ruin such a beautiful place. The sun rises at about 6:30am, and sets at about 5:30pm – that’s if it ever comes out again. RAIN RAIN RAIN! And yes, that 2015 in our YIT description is an error, it should say 2016, I’ll update it when I get access to the internet again. Minerva definitely is a very special place, and I feel so lucky to have been able to visit, especially since so few humans get to experience it – just awesome. And yes MAPPY, if I ever attempt to catch a BIG fish again, I will make sure I am tethered to the boat!
THE CHISHOLMS! – Hey guys, so glad you FOUND our blog! How are you all? Have you moved into the new house yet? Tonga is most definitely an awesome place to sail too, if funny actually, because we are anchored in a place right now, that really reminds me of Great Barrier – where we met you guys!! No issues having bonfires on the beach here I would suspect, only issue you’d have would be actually getting a fire started – so wet here at the moment.
SALLY & NICK – Yes, totally this life is much more like being on a cruise, than hardcore sailing. Although we shouldn’t speak too soon, as we’ll be on passage to Fiji shortly and that means 3 to 4 days sailing non-stop for Mike and I, as there will be zero crew – wish us luck. We have popped some photo’s up on our SV Moonfish facebook page – hopefully you’ve seen them? Oh, and sadly I don’t think we’ll be in NZ to make your wedding on the 16th of October.. I am totally bummed! As I would love to go.
TONY – So glad you are enjoying our blogs, we are definitely getting great use out of the books you lent us, they are full of useful info – thanks so much. We’ve been singing your praises to team FUSIO, and they are looking forward to meeting you. We hope your back is healing well, oh and we did see the boys from Bravado, they didn’t like all our Blue Marlin action on passage as they had no luck and yes the clams and snorkeling at Minerva was the best I have ever seen! Just EPIC
TIMMY – Hullo!! There was a bit of ‘are we there yet’ getting to Minerva, as we were motoring so much. Sasha couldn’t really believe we had finally go there. It was so good to finally stop and sleep properly. The ‘Tall Thing’ is still the right way up, and we have swum with the bitey things a couple of times now with no bites – which is a nice surprise – Lanie says just treat them as you would a dog, which has changed my ‘JAWS’ perception somewhat. Today was my first SUP since the ‘arm-gate’ incident – it’s still locking at the elbow so no burpies or crunchs for me, the bikini is getting tight.. gasp!
GRAEME & BEV – We can’t believe you guys are following us!!!! Fusio is ONLY faster when we are motoring, and that’s ONLY because we use one motor, not two, as it uses less fuel. We’d leave them in our tracks if we ever get a beam reach 15 knots, our code zero sail and dagger boards would have us ZOOMING along at 10/11 knots. You got a rig in that boat of yours yet? Let’s race!!
THE DELAMARES – Unfortunately we can see many fish work ups here in Tonga, and we have been trawling through a lot of them with different lures, but we cannot for the life of us CATCH a fish!! Any tips on how we are suppose to catch fish in Tonga??? Glad you guys are enjoying our blog.
DUGGAN (aka Jo) – Glad you’re keeping tracks on us, you need a YIT for all your adventures!! You guys must be hanging out for TONGA now? When do you arrive?
TINA & ROSS – Thanks for looking after Blackie, I really REALLY appreciate it. Ps you should be roasting all that delicious pumpkin you have – not having baked beans for dinner! We figured out how to deal with it on board, we use the machete to chop it up, it really was one of the best pumpkins I have ever eaten – full of flavour, so thanks.
LIONEL & IRENE (aka Team Kiapa) – Sorry Lionel we only just received your comment on YIT, we have your email now, so you can’t get away now!! Heh heh. Thanks so much for hosting us in Minerva, it was awesome meeting you and your crew, and seeing inside Kiapa, such a beautiful yacht! We’ll track you down in Fiji!! Where abouts are you guys?
FOODSTUFFS TEAM – Hello Karuna and Team Foodies!! I wondered if you guys were following the adventure, so glad you get to join in the fun! Karuna I only just saw your comment from the 10th of May today (13th of June), we get access to the internet maybe once or twice a week. Say hi from me to everyone there!! I haven’t forgotten to send lude postcards.. Just need to get to Fiji where they will sell them… stand by for awkward snail mail deliveries.. muhahahaha!

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[weather] 100% cloud cover, Rain showers REGULARLY. Please oh please bring the sun back! Baro: 1010.

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