The first two days of the trip passed without incident. We were motoring in really low winds and getting baked by the sun.  It was so hot you didn't know where to put yourself and absolutely zero wind to cool down.
On our third day, (Saturday), we had squalls with wind and rain nearly all day, but at least we managed to get the sails up in the afternoon, and since then we have been sailing well. It is now Sunday afternoon here.
After Niue, where we intend to spend 3 or 4 nights, we will then set off to Tonga and Fiji. The journey is about 250 miles to Tonga and should take about 36 hours.  Sundays in Tonga are very quiet and apart from church there is nothing open, and Monday is a bank holiday. We also have a party on Tuesday night at 7pm.  So in normal circumstances we could leave at 6pm on Sunday, sail for 36 hours and arrive first light (6am) Tuesday and in time for the party.
However, and there is a huge flaw in that plan, one we only realised his afternoon - the International Dateline!  The time in Tonga is exactly the same as in Nuie, ie 10am in Niue is still 10am in Tonga, but Tonga is a whole day ahead. So if we did as we planned and left on Sunday, we would have arrived on Wednesday morning and missed the party!!!
Anyway, having figured that out it is definitely time for a relaxing cup of tea - too much brain activity for one afternoon!

The trip continued for a week in total and by the time we arrived in Niue, things were starting to take their toll. We had 15 feet waves just about all the time rolling us violently from side to side, and we were unable to sail due to the light winds. We had a huge lightening storm one night, which went on for hours. To say we were glad to arrive was a huge understatement!  All the other crews had a similarly bad experience, with many saying it was in their top 3 worst trips ever! The thought of setting of again to go another 250 miles to Tonga is not in the least bit appealing right now. 

Sent from my iPad