Anchored at Nananu-I-cake. Had our first kite surfing lesson yesterday. Ron had more success than me in flying the kite, however today is another day, although we’ll need more wind before we do anything!

Making our way across the top of Viti Levu to Nananu-I-ra Island to meet up with Warren of Safari Lodge. Warren gives tuition in kite surfing and many other wind water sports. After talking with Monty and Margy from Whistler we thought we?d give the kite surfing a go - how hard can it be? Plus I?d rather learn here in warm water than back at home! We?ve spent the last 6 weeks in the Mamanucas and Yasawas. Had a great time at the Musket Cove Regatta and have had several visitors. Swam with the Manta Rays on several occasions and revisited our favourite spots. Now time to see something new!

Arrived Fiji 24 July, cleared in at Denarau. Left Friday afternoon, one night at Mana, three at Drawaqa and now at Blue Lagoon

Lovely fast sail yesterday. Will go ashore this morning to clear in and market then back out to enjoy Vava?u!

Lovely fast sail yesterday. Will go ashore this morning to clear in and market then back out to enjoy Vava?u!

On our way from Ha?ano at the top of the Ha?apais to Vava?u. Lovely sailing conditions. ETA approx 12.15pm.

Our fish tally to head into Pangai.

Looking forward to swimming over the wreck this afternoon. 2 years ago this was one of our favourite locations. Will walk over the island and see if we can get any fruit or vege. Plan on staying here tonight. We are member no 21 of the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club, the Crown Prince is Commodore. They are hosting the ICNZ fleet tonight. Don McIntyre the founder, is currently in England working on bringing the 50th anniversary solo round the world fleet to Nomuka.

Nomuka-iki has been leased to an Australian by the Crown Prince and managed by local man Joshua. They are developing a marine research facility and have PhD students here conducting research on various marine life and reef ecology. They have started the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club and will be teaching local children to sail. Part of their efforts are also encouraging the children in athletics and their families the value of tidying up their village - possibly a long term goal! We will join the yacht club this morning, happy to help out with such a positive enterprise, will head up to Ha?afeva today, about 15 miles north.

Ron traded some outboard oil and batteries for 2 cooked lobsters from Esse before we eft Kalafesia! We motorsailed to Nomuka and donated another lure to a fish with sharp teeth. Good snorkelling over reef, saw the largest group of clowns to date.

Met Esse the sole occupant of Kalafesia yesterday. He occasionally has one or two others over to help out with fishing. He had just sent a boatload of octopus (70) large clams (50) salted fish (150kg) and some lobster to Pangai market. He has 300 pigs on the island, the ones we saw near his dwelling certainly the best condition we had seen in Tonga. If you are passing and can spare a solar light, he has a rather old one which is his only night light, apart from a torch. We walked and waded around the island at low tide, lovely beaches, but snorkelling was a little underwhelming fish and coral wise. Heading to Nomuka this morning.

Motored (head winds) to Kalafesia and anchored at 5.30pm. Lovely to be here as too rough to get in last time. Looking forward to exploring today.

Transiting the passage into Tongatapu Very good on board :)

Another challenging day with poor visibility in torrential rain most of the day. Clearing into Nuku?alofa Tuesday for a break and to enable us to carry out some minor repairs before heading on. All good on board :)

Lightning, rain, some wind SE (great) then NW (ok) now NE (meh) starting to think we?ll still be here next week! No fish and lost a lure with wire trace during 25kn windy spell from NW yesterday afternoon. Staysail mast attachment sheared off a couple of hours ago, have lashed it on deck safetly. All good on board :)

Lightning, rain, some wind SE (great) then NW (ok) now NE (meh) starting to think we?ll still be here next week! No fish and lost a lure with wire trace during 25kn windy spell from NW this afternoon. All good on board :)

Wet, windy and wild, not quite to forecast! Triple reefed main and 1/3 Genoa. We joined the fish catching ranks yesterday, with a baby mahi-mahi about 12? long. Very cute and still swimming around today! All good on board :)

great signal from the Heatwave radio now. There will be no GHradio report until MOnday as we are going AWOL

at 6am motor sailing last 12 hours, slight improvement on motor only previous 24hrs! Yesterday lovely warm and sunny. Just waiting for some more wind. Have decided to head direct to Vava?u with ETA Tuesday as easier to repair auto pilot ram locking pin which sheared off 2 days ago. All good on board :)

all well

great radio signal from Sue

Averaging 150nmm a day. We are aiming to stay east of the kermadecs

A good start to day 3! 12 to go, maybe? All well on board. Making east to try to get into large slow moving high and then into the trades. That’s the plan anyway!

Looking at leaving Monday morning with 12-13 day passage top Pangai.