Day 7 Bora Bora - Tonga

Position 16 degrees 17 minutes S; 166 degrees 19 minutes W
Motor sailing at 7.3 knots course 225 degrees
Wind 10 knots from 90
459 miles to go
Compared to our slow progress sailing in light winds,using the engine  we are hurtling towards tonga, and positioning ourselves further south ready for the coming big blow - which will be from a difficult angle if we are still too far North of Tonga.  Hopefully sailing again by this afternoon with forecast better sailing conditions.

Day 6 Bora Bora - Tonga

Position : 15 degrees S ; 163 degrees 58.3 minutes W
Sailing at 6.5 knots at 245 degrees
Wind 13 knots from 100 degrees.
Still painfully slow on this northerly route looking for wind.  Have just gybed over and heading directly for Tonga at last. Have just downloaded latest weather forecasts - looks like a solid 30 knots forecast for monday night and tuesday, so that will be a contrast from the trip so far!
612 miles to go.

Day 5 Bora Bora - Tonga

Position 15 degrees 45.9 minutes S; 161 degrees 24.8 minutes W
Sailing at 5.8 knots course 267
Wind 15 knots from 060
739 miles to go - halfway hopefully tonight!
still not much breeze, lots of cloud, some rain showers.  Briefly glimpsed the lights of another yacht behind us in the night, but she faded away behind us as the moon rose.  steady slow sailing.

Day 4 bora bora - tonga

position - 15 degrees 5 minutes S; 158 degrees 56.9 minutes W.
Sailing at 7 knots course 285
Wind 15 knots from 110
Only 886 miles to go!
Comfortable sailing in steady breeze despite moderate seas.

At sea

Position - 15 degrees 13.6 minutes S, 156 degrees 10.8 minutes west
Sailing at 6.2 knots, course 265degrees in 15knots wind from 91 degrees.
1040 miles to go to Tonga
Still very slow sailing in light winds,  thanking our lucky stars we are not hand steering!
Swell easing,  reasonably comfortable sailing.

At sea again!

position 10.00  tuesday 25th local time:  15 degrees 35.8 minutes S; 153degrees 29.7 minutes west.
sailing at 5.7 knots, course 300 degrees, seas slight but large southerly swell, 12 knots wind from 150.
A slow start , not enough wind for comfortable sailing, rolly in big swells on the beam,a really nice night sailing under clear skies and a full moon, heading north to find more wind.
Satphone relay, Posted by Kate's Dad Andrew

Bora Bora: Waiting for a Weather Window and the Heiva Festival

We have been "stuck" in Bora Bora, waiting for a weather window to head to Tonga.   The weather poor NZ has had has sucked all the wind out of where we are.  Can't complain too much.  The lack of wind has made for some awesome days anchored out by the reef watching the stingrays go by, four metres below us, through the glass like water.

                                            

                                           

              

                                            

                                            

                                            

                             

                             

                                          

We have been keeping ourselves entertained. The Heiva festival, "the Celebration of Life", began on Friday and we went along for the opening.  The huge thatched roof market building had been closed off all the time we have been in Bora Bora.  Little did we know, it was being prepared for the festival.  On opening night, the place came alive with food stalls and gaming booths tempting punters with spin the wheel and dunk for ducks. 

The opening ceremony was a mix of singing, dancing and costumes - ranging from conservative to skimpy.  As expected, the hip movements were superhuman and memorising.  

We are planning to head off to Tonga this afternoon, as the wind is expected to fill in.  This morning has been packed with checking out procedures and cooking meals for the passage.  We will be posting daily updates on where we are.