An unpleasant weather system was building over the Solomon Islands. Cyclones are rare at this time of year but prudence dictated I stay put and watch the weather from the safety of the harbour in Neiafu. This gave me an opportunity to participate in the annual Vava'u regatta - 35 boats in all. One day we raced out to a small island group, anchored, had a party, lazed the next day and then raced back. Not very stressful. On the downwind legs Wild Fox did well and for a long time kept up with much bigger and fasterboats, but fared less well on the upwind legs. With just one crew member aboard it is amazing how fast my boat can be coaxed to go downwind. (At present I am considering this crew thing). In the end I got first prize for being last over the finishing line in the last race and also won the prize for the boat best dressed overall. The prize was a very expensive book of pilot charts which I already had so it was sold by auction and I gave the money to a local charity.

 

On another day I went around the island on a kart safari with the crew of Blue Marble; interesting especially for the number of breakdowns. I am now preparing the boat for the trip to New Zealand. In a few days I will sail 75 miles south to Ha'apai, the next Tongan island group and kick off from there for either Opua or Whangarei. This builds up to about 20 boats leaving for New Zealand in each weather window. The first boats to leave left too soon and took a bit of a pasting. Wild Fox does not like taking a pasting...