POSITION 21:16S 160.17W

I spoke to Hamish again this morning – our fifth conversation this week.  Much time has been spent trying to work through the various issues on the computer – with only partial success. 

Hamish was however able to satisfy himself that the immediate forecast was good to go and departed Avarua at 11.00am local time.

Currently heading was 260T making 7.0 – 7.5 knots in 20 to 25knot SE winds.

ETA Tongatapu when we spoke was 115 hours

He and I will talk again within the next 48 hours so I can feed him a weather update.

Hamish advised he had taken on board another crew member – Will Benton – a 50 something Aussie with heaps of ocean miles looking for a passage to Auckland.

Hamish was also delighted to advise they had received a visit from my father Bill, who with Lorna were passing through Rarotonga on their way to a winter holiday in Aitutaki.  I am so thrilled to know that they were able to catch up.

Arrival in NZ will depend on whether they actually decide to go into Tongatapu.  Hamish will make a call on that decision in about 3 days or so.  If they sail here direct then expected arrival would be 10 days from now.

Michael