This was easily our favorite spot in Ha’apai. It is the southernmost island in Ha’apai, which made it a great launching point for heading down to Tongatapu. The island was uninhabited, however there were definite signs that people spend time there including small, corrugated tin shelters and lots of trash on the side of the small island opposite from the anchorage (not visible from out boat). The passage from Nomuka was quite a bash, but it was well worth it. It’s the only island in Ha’apai with any sort of elevation to it, so it was strikingly beautiful even if only for the contrast with the rest of the island group. There is a limestone cliff overlooking the anchorage, and a long sandspit that is just barely covered at high tide. This sandspit turned out to be a huge highlight for the boys because it was, “the best skim boarding ever!”
Tim and Jack went lobstering on the reef at night, but unfortunately there weren’t any to be found. However, they did have a successful day spearfishing and came back with a couple pompanos. They are interesting looking fish, but to be honest, they weren’t very tasty. We celebrated Jack’s 29th birthday with some brownies and an epic game of resistance. Our last day there we had a full day of sunshine for the first time in I don’t know how long, and I gave the boys a full day off from school in order to skim board. Our next stop would be the big city of Nuku’alofa, and although we were looking forward to internet and fresh vegetables, we were sort of sad because leaving Ha’apai would represent the winding down of our season cruising in the tropics and we turned our focus to preparing for the passage to New Zealand.
Gresham Family Exodus 