Port Maurelle, Neiafu, and Hunga Lagoon Photo Log

May 15-30, 2016

There’s simply something comforting about returning to a familiar place. We spent almost two months in Vava’u, Tonga two years ago, and now we are here again, mostly because they have a new boatyard and we need to haul-out. But as you can see, we are enjoying ourselves quite a bit before heading to the yard.

Logbook – May 15, 2016 (Niuatoputapu to Vava’u)

Passage Log Highlights

0808 Engines on
0910 Engines off, main (1 reef) + genoa
1505 Main (1 reef) + genoa
1803 Main + genoa

Daily Notes

Caught & released a barracuda

Logbook – May 16, 2016 (Niuatoputapu to Vava’u)

Passage Log Highlights

0313 Main + genoa
0600 Main + genoa
0710 P engine on – batteries
0744 P engine off
0911 Main + genoa
1533 P engine on
1610 SB engine on
1636 Engines off Port Maurelle

Daily Notes

At Port Maurelle – A/B dinghied over to say hi to another kid boat, Del Viento

The familiar Vava’u Island Group – we headed straight to the familiar Port Maurelle anchorage

The captain keeping an eye out for whales or possibly tuna

I’m not sure if this is really called “shark tooth rock” or if that’s just what Tim and Brenden call it. This is right at the main entrance to the Vava’u island group.

Email to Family and Friends Dated May 16, 2016

Subject: Exodus – On passage to familiar territory

We departed Niuatoputapu yesterday morning and as far as upwind passages go, this one’s not so bad, as shown by the fact that I’m sitting at the computer and not laying in bed. (Although I did lay in bed most of the day yesterday) We’ve had light wind, 8-12 kts, so even though there is a 2-3 meter ground swell coming from the SE, the wind chop on top of it isn’t bad at all. We had some excitement in Niuatoputapu that I forgot to write about in that we almost lost the dinghy. The boys had gone to shore to help one of the ladies move something heavy (and also give her a fish head) and when they got back to the wharf it was dark and the dinghy was gone. According to Alex, he calmly scanned the horizon and spotted the dinghy almost even with Exodus, and in the meantime Brenden was freaking out. They started yelling, but Tim and I back on Exodus didn’t hear them, so they jumped in the water and swam like mad. Once they were able to get our attention, after running around and telling me to get out of the way, Tim dropped a paddle board and then Brenden hopped on it and raced out to catch the dinghy. The lagoon is not very big, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that just a few more minutes and the dinghy would have been over the reef and out in open ocean. Both boys had jellyfish stings from their swim and then of course blame had to be established. I won’t go into the whole blame thing here, but apparently someone else in our crew ties as bad a bowline as I do. (Seriously, three years out here and I still can’t tie knots!)
Now we are headed to Vava’u, a familiar place for us after spending so much time there two years ago. It’s fantastic cruising grounds, and would be a great place for someone else to start their adventure, if you know anyone who might be interested in that…
Love and miss you all,
-D.

P.S. I wrote this earlier today, and we’ve since arrived safely at the Port Maurelle anchorage in Vava’u.

Logbook – May 17, 2016 (Port Maurelle)

Daily Notes

T/B – spearfish – shark tooth rock – no fish
Exodus happy hour with Del Viento

Email to Family and Friends Dated May 17, 2016

Subject: Exodus – familiar places and new friends

When we pulled into Port Maurelle, a bay very near Neiafu in Tonga, we had six previous anchor waypoints to choose from on the chart plotter. Yeah, I guess we’ve been here a few times. As often as we find ourselves in new places, there’s still something somewhat comforting to be somewhere familiar. Last time we were here we were saying good bye to good friends but also making some new friends too, and I’m glad to say we are making new friends this time too. There was already a kid boat here in the bay when we arrived, they have two girls on board, and they are from California too. The boat is called Del Viento, and although this is the first time our paths have crossed, we know a lot of the same people (Lumbaz, Lady Carolina, Kenta Anae, to name just a few…)
Tomorrow we will head into Neiafu and start organizing the haulout.
Love and miss you all,
-D.

Logbook – May 18, 2016 (Port Maurelle to Neiafu)

Passage Log Highlights

1312 Engines on
1330 P engine off
1428 P engine on
1447 Engines off

Daily Notes

T/Boys – try to find Del Viento prop piece that broke off. Depth ~50-70 ft. No luck!
Dinghy surfing
Move to Neiafu
T – beers at Mango w/ Del Viento + others
B – Ice cream & hide ‘n’ seek w/ Del Viento
D – customs, Digicel, Marlin rum, running
Dinner at Rooster bar
No, I did not have the spicy chicken burger

Alex using the force to try and make Brenden fall
(Photo by Del Viento)
http://logofdelviento.blogspot.com/

The girls from Del Viento giving it a shot
(Photo by Del Viento)
http://logofdelviento.blogspot.com/

(Photo by Del Viento)
http://logofdelviento.blogspot.com/

Hey look at that, we have a buddy boat again! We were totally gaining on Del Viento

Approaching Neiafu…we’ve done this a few times before

Logbook – May 19, 2016 (Neiafu)

Daily Notes

Organized haul-out for Monday
Pizza & free “Margaritas” at Aquarium. Worst pizza ever.
Epic resistance game with Del Viento

Email to Family and Friends Dated May 19, 2016

Subject: Exodus – Neiafu

We are back in Neiafu, and after two years, very little has changed here. It’s all the same cast of characters on the daily VHF net broadcasting their long commercials for their local businesses. We enjoyed burgers at the Rooster Bar last night, and I was able to get a bottle of Marlin rum 25 Pa’anga. Best value rum in the world, I’m pretty sure. Good and cheap. We have good memories of this place from two years ago, like Johnny getting slapped by a whale, rum and whiskey tasting competitions, cart safaris with Nana and Papa, and bar hopping with Lady Carolina. One thing that’s different here is that they now have 3G internet, so we no longer have to sit in a restaurant suffering painfully slow wifi. I went running yesterday and my legs were rebelling against something called hills, which they hadn’t experienced in some time. Just like last time, the dogs were a bit aggressive, but I’ve gotten used to having to shout them down and show them who the alpha dog is.
It looks like we will haul out Monday, and then we’ll probably head to Fiji pretty quick. I keep getting asked what we are going to do if/when Exodus doesn’t sell in time for us to be back for the boys to start school in the fall, and all I can say is… haven’t you gotten used to that we’re cruisers and we never know what we’re going to do until we do it? Haha.
Love and miss you all,
-D.

Logbook – May 20, 2016 (Neiafu to Hunga Lagoon)

Passage Log Highlights