Ha'apai islands to Tonga Tapu

Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Mon 26 Oct 2009 08:57
21.07.522 S 175.09.732 W
 
Yesterday afternoon we arrived at Pangiomotu, Tonga Tapu; the last stop for the final leg to New Zealand. We very much enjoyed the islands of the Ha'apai Group. After Tofanga and Uonukuhihifo, we visited Ha'avefa and Nomuku Iki islands. Again very nice, but fortunately not too many shell (it is so hard not to pick up those cowries we see). We left Nomuku Iki at 2.30 in the morning and had a reasonable sail to Tonga Tapu. Again the wind was a bit too much on the nose to quite make it, so we motored the last bit. It is great to be here with again many boats we have met before and chilling out in the bar for happy hour with friends. We checked in with the authorities and walked the town, did a bit of shopping. Duncan organised getting fuel and water sorted, which we hope to get on Wednesday. The some more provisioning and cooking for the final 8/9 day leg to New Zealand. A few more parties and BBQ's here and then we are looking at leaving here around the weekend.
 
        
 
        Some local residents in Ha'avefa                                    Girls happy with their pens                                    Wreck on Nomuku Iki, Sea Topaz in the back ground