Neiafu - Vava'u
Miss Molly 4
Bob & Peggy Wilkerson/Geoff & Merel Pettifer
Sun 24 May 2009 00:48
173:58.97 W
The routine of the last couple of days has been to rise at the same time as
the sun so we can have maximum use of the daylight hours. Hence that,
although the previous night we were the last boat in at the Uoleva
anchorage, we were the first one to leave the next morning. A perfect 15
knots on the beam, which would have given us an average of about 8.5 kts
would we have had the use of the mainsail. But we decided not to use the
main to keep the rip in it safely stowed. Instead we unfurled the headsail
and let some more horses out of the engine room to have about the same
result, but with a bit more noise.
We picked up a mooring ball in the late afternoon and after a tidy-up went
ashore for a beer at the yacht club. We joined the local Moorings managers;
a nice couple, and some of their delivery crew. Also a familiar face from
our time between St. Maarten and Panama showed up and together we had dinner
at The Balcony, where we were served by a jovial Ozzie. On the menu was the
mahi that we did not feel like catching. Nice to have someone else cook for
us!
Luckily this morning was calm enough to get the mainsail down for repairs.
The forecasted 30+ kts Northerlies have not yet materialised. It is truly
Sunday in Neiafu. The only sounds we can hear from the shore are church
bells and roosters. A great day to make a start with turning Miss Molly from
passage making boat back into leisure cruising boat.
This will be the last blog entry for a while as Miss Molly will be based here in Tonga for the coming months.
Cheers from
Geoff & Merel