Arriving back in Tonga was like coming home. We received many congratulations for completing our circumnavigation but it felt a bit wrong, we still needed to return to NZ but we nonetheless allowed ourselves a bit of celebration with a nice botle of bubbly we received as best dancers in the fund raiser in Niue!!!
Tonga has changed much and as far as we could see the infrastructure for the better. With the huge exception of the roads in Vava'u which used to be very good and now are riddle with pot holes thanks to the gigantic chinese trucks going over it.
Not quite sure what to say about all the chinese presence in the islands but people seem a bit upset to say the least. Especially in Nukulofa, we heard many complains.
But out in the water things seem great. We had an amazing time, snorkelling the coral gardens and just exploring the lovely anchorages and people. The shelling was incredible. We saw no sharks in Vava'u eventhough a lady got bitten right in the bum while we were there. We did see some rather big sharks in the Haapais though.
The Haapais kept their reputation of wild weather patterns and showed us a very thrilling time to put it mildly. We ended up on the rocks in Pangai harbour after a mini tornado ( as the locals put it) passed through bringing 60 knots plus which hit us sideways without much warning. It was mayhem and our anchor got picked up by our mates that had just managed to avoid a T bone collision with us and we dragged to the rocks. The same friends saved the day by pulling their anchor in, very much attached to ours and pulling us off enough for us to turn on the engine and re-anchoring. It was a nerve shattering experience and the closest we have ever been to losing Moonwalker.
Brisa watched her Tablet and played inside the entire time, we did not hear a peep from our lovely daughter. What a blessing.
Nukulofa didn't fare too bad in the adrenaline side... there while at anchor by Big Mamas we saw up to 74 knots dying to nill then back to 40 for a 12 hour period while the same cyclonic weather greated havoc with the boats on passage to New Zealand.
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| Brisa Dressed up for a feast |
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| Trevort, Gill, Dee and Coco where our visitors to Tonga and the previous owners of Moonwalker! |
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| Moonwalker and Radiance at anchor in Pangai harbor after spending a good while on the rocks shown during a 60 knot tornado! |
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| The only whale we saw in Tonga this time round as it was very late in the season. |
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| Brisa with her Halloween trick or treat mates |
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| Coconut trees during a 40 knot - 12 hour long session |
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| The unamed but very much cyclonic weather we endured in Nukulofa. We are on the top baloon just above the arrow. |
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| After the blow this was the view of the beach. |
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| Massive swell created by the passing low. |
So Tonga will not be forgotten anytime soon, if ever not only for its amazing scenery and people but by its share of adrenaline fulled moments just before the big crossing home.
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