[password] TwinkY6433
[position] 20 01.28S 174 27.88W
[weather] ENE 8 knots, 1016 baro
[speed] Anchored off Limu island, Ha?apai, Tonga
[heading]
[status] Had a noisy and rolly ?sleep?. Upped anchor and motorsailed north. Maybe if we tuck inside the outer reef to the east of the central Ha?apai Group, we?ll have a calmer anchorage and better sleep ... see, cruising ain?t always glamour and boating bliss.

On the way we hooked something on the game rod our friend Jim loaned us. Steve managed to get it close to the boat, but before we could see what it was or how big, it spat the hook and got its freedom. We turned around to continue and there were two whales about 4 boat lengths away heading in the same direction. They then turned towards us and dived. Very cool to see them and hope to see more and up close. We motorsailed across a 500m deep trench and through a reef pass into the central Ha?apai Group. Another whale behind us was having fun leaping out of the water, but he was a fair way away. We are now anchored up in 7m of water (not our usual 20m), and it?s a lovely little island surrounded by beautiful blue water and very easy to see bommies. The colour of the water reminds me of Beautemp Beaupre in the Loyalties last year - stunning turquoise. We?re invited to another boat for sundowners, so better go - this is more like it and makes up for the frustrating day yesterday.

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