INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
Position: 17D31.324S 172D47.474W
100 nautical miles left to sail to Vavau in Tonga
Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25 - We have crossed the International Date Line so today is Wednesday and Thursday or to simplify things we have lost a day. It does highlight the fact that we are now getting very close to Australia. At least we are now in the same time zone.
The weather is still very rough with the sea state around 3 to 4 metres and winds up to 30 knots. This hasn't been one of our best passages as the conditions are very hostile and the sailing is uncomfortable. Cooking in the galley is now like trying to eat a hamburger on a rollercoaster ride. You can hang on to some items but a lot of things lose your grip as you struggle to balance with the unpredictable motion of the boat as the waves and wind exert their forces. This morning we had a wave break over the cockpit and salt water managed to wash down into the seating area through the canopy.
We can't wait to get into some calm weather on the leeward side of Vavau later tonight. Early the next morning (Friday) at sunrise we will continue onto the anchorage. The next hazard to watch out for won't be reefs or other ships but humpback whales as they congregate in the area at this time of year to breed. When we arrive in Neiafu we need to clear in with Immigration and do a complete wash down and clean up of Faraway.
We saw a programme about Humpbacks last week, the males get VERY frisky when they are fighting for the attentions of a female. Look forward to seeing photos.
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