Tonga to New Zealand - 4 October

Dear Family and Friends:

At 0700 this morning we weighed anchor from Atata, a small motu near the pass into Nuku'alofa, in Southern Tonga. We're bound for North Minerva Reef, a shallow spot in the South Pacific Ocean 250 miles to the Southwest and a good place to hang out and wait for the right "weather window" for the passage to New Zealand. This can be one of the most treacherous passages in the world or it could be a lily pond. We're prepared for the worst, hoping for the best and will see what the wind and sea gods hand us!

I'm sorry I haven't written to update you on our experiences in the little island nation of Niue and the lovely island groups of the Kingdom of Tonga, and if I said I was busy, you wouldn't believe me anyway, so fageddaboudit! I may get to that later on.

"We" for this passage are Sonny Cesare, another Yank and a long time sailor and traveler that I met in Auckland last year who popped in from Fiji to join the boat, Todd Meyer, an Auckland acquaintance, avid sailor, bluewater veteran and a boatbuilder by trade who flew up just to sail back, and of course MaiTai and me. Paula opted to make the passage in a Boeing aircraft and then head off to Sydney to visit some relatives and re-enter the career world. We'll miss her and wish her happiness and success!

At the moment, we are experiencing some spirited reinforced trade wind sailing. Winds are 20 to 29 knots on our port beam and we are averaging nine to ten knots, occasionally surfing some of the larger waves at 12+ knots. Other than a near miss with two sperm whales after lunch, it has been a pleasant and non-eventful ride. We anticipate "reef-fall" at North Minerva mid day tomorrow. Todd has been there before and has informed the crew that we will be having crayfish (lobster) for afternoon tea (lunch) tomorrow. Hope he's right!

Cheers for now, George and crew