Nearly in Fiji

Dear all,

 

Ocean Lady is sailing nicely towards the Navula passage on the south west side of the Fijian Islands. The journey has been plagued with rain! We dry our waterproofs out just to get them wet again on the next watch!

Our midday position was 18 47S, 177 27E Notice that we have now crossed the 180th parallel

 

Hope everybody is well,

Love Ocean Lady

Lots of rain....

 

Dear all,

 

Last night we were greeted with yet more rain, it started around midnight and stopped this morning around 10 o'clock. Other than that the wind is pleasant and progress is good.

Our midday position was 19 37S, 178 56W – Almost half way around the world!

 

Love,

Ocean Lady

 

At sea again!

Dear all,

 

We are well on our way to Fiji now in position 19 03S, 176 50W, 150 miles into the journey. We are experiencing good weather so are sailing with twin headsails and using the engine to assist when the batteries need charging. Before leaving we plotted no less than 60 uncharted reefs to avoid for this leg of the journey!

 

Hope everybody is well,

Love Ocean Lady

 

Hello from the Kingdom of Tonga

Dear all,

We have had a great week in Tonga, the people are very friendly and welcoming. We have caught up with friends doing the World ARC and had a nice week relaxing after a rough crossing from Niue. We have managed to catch up on a load of maintenance and get out and about.  A highlight has to of been the BBQ and cave swim on the Catamaran Seazen. Swallows cave was amazing, stalactites, bats, clouds of fish beneath in crystal clear water. There is another cave (marinas cave that we couldn’t find) probably a good job given the swell on the day.

Swallows cave from the inside

Stu and Laura took part in a Clear up Vava’u litter pick with the local Vava’u environmental protection agency along with Jeff from Sea Falke and Jamie and Lucy from Bamboozle. We also experienced another Sunday church service with the Tongans all dressed up in their traditional attire.

 

Today we have been to a botanical garden owned by lucy and Haniteli, a great day out. Haniteli started growing the botanical garden back in 1954 when he was given the land by the government. With his passion for agriculture and plants he opened the gardens when he retired in 2002.

We are hoping to get fuel and vegetables tomorrow and clear customs for Fiji, a five day crossing.

 

We hope everybody at home is well and have all enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations.

 

Lots of Love,

Ocean Lady

 

Safely arrived in Tonga! - but where did Sunday go???

Hello everyone

 

This is just to correct our mistake yesterday we have actually safely arrived in Tonga...who picked up on it???.  Our friends on the boat Seazen arrived this morning, so all three boats cruising in convoy have all survived the passage from Niue. 

 

We've been pretty clumsy and seemed to have lost a day, Sunday 27th May 2012 will never happen for us!  we jumped to Monday 28th May and are now 12 hours in front of the UK, after passing the international date line just before reaching Tonga.  As we have always been chasing UK time, it will take a while before we get used to being ahead.

 

Love to all at home!  we are about to go explore the Kingdom of Tonga!

 

Ocean Lady!

 

 

 

 

Safe arrival in Niue

Dear all,

 

We had a great time in Niue but had to leave due to adverse weather. The anchorage is open to the west and we had the choice of staying and hoping that the weather would not have a westerly component in it or run. We opted to run. If we had stayed and were then forced to leave the wind direction was likely to be unfavourable for the voyage to Tonga.

 

We are now in Neiafu the main port of the Vava'u group in the Kingdom of Tonga. The weather was "fruity" to say the least! Some of the worst seas we have ever experienced. 59 knots of breeze apparent on the wind instrument! Large 7-8m breaking waves. The cockpit was filled regularly by big greenies and the storm staysail was used in anger for the first time ever!

 

Jeff on Sea Falke was in transit with us but Seazen opted to stay, probably the best option for a 43ft Catamaran. They are on there way now so hoping to meet them in a day or so.

Niue was amazingly friendly, the "yacht club" make a very special effort for visiting yachtsmen. We were met on the wharf by the Commodore of the yacht club Keith who showed us how to use the crane to remove the dinghy from the water. The swell is such that you cannot just tie the dinghy alongside.

 

Our stay included a tour around the island visiting the chasms and arches, sea snakes - four times more poisonous than a cobra but they are not able to open their mouths wide enough to bite a human – We didn't take any chances!! Meeting up with some of the World ARC boats and enjoying a great BBQ put on by the yacht club.

 

It was a shame to leave because of the weather, but grateful that the weather remained stable enough to stay for a few days.

 

Love to all,

Ocean Lady

 

Leaving for Tonga in the morning

Hello Everyone
 
After a fantatsic stay in Niue we leave for Tonga in the morning. 
 
We will update on our stay in Niue when we have more time (we need to sleep as we leave early in the morning) but here are some photos from our previous stops that are long overdue!
 
Mostly from our stay in Aitutaki.
 
Love to all at home
 
xx