[password] TwinkY6433
[position] 21 07.654S 175 09.753W
[weather] ESE 10 knots, 1015 baro,
[speed] Anchored just off Big Mamas, Pangaimota Island, Tongatapu, Tonga
[heading]
[status] Have had a great time socialising. Every day more boats arrive and there are then celebratory drinks at the bar. Last night we had quite a few drinks at the bar, and then the crews off Caprice and Manuhaea (both friends from last year) came over. We had 10 on board, and the G&Ts and homebrew went down very well indeed. We have no idea what time they left, but at about 4am we were up again putting all the clears down as it started to rain .... hard! It just kept getting heavier and heavier and then about 5am the wind quickly kicked in. Next thing we had 30knots and all hell seemed to be breaking loose. We were fine and our anchor was holding nicely, but some boats were struggling and spent the next few hours motoring up on their chains, or upping their anchors and motoring out into the lagoon to get off the lee shore. One boat just attached a buoy to their rode and cut if off the boat and motored out. Several boats got their chains and/or anchors tangle and had a few dramas with trying not to bang into each other. We (Steve, myself and Jim who?d crashed on board for the night) had an ?entertaining? few hours until sunrise just keeping an eye on things with the engine ready to start if we needed to motor out of danger. At the end of the day Seaforth stayed put (70m of chain out, anchored in 20m of water) and the wind gradually died down during the morning and we took turns keeping a watch and sleeping. It?s now a calm 10 knots and we?ve just been for a walk on the beach. There?s three dogs at Big Mamas, and one black one called Buster took us for a walk half way around the island. He also catches fish, so reminded us of Moose in New Caledonia. The crew off Varekai are leaving tomorrow, so we?re just having dinner and then will be heading ashore for their final night of drinkies in Tonga. The livers are holding up well so far.

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