Latitude: 13 51.846 S
Longitude: 171 28.697 W
Course Over Ground: 310 T @6.5 motorsailing
Wind Direction: East
Sea Swell: East
Sky: 10%
Update: American Samoa to Apia, Samoa
We left our mooring buoy in Pago Pago Harbor late yesterday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. Fellow cruisers Windryder had asked that we notify them just before leaving as it was their intention to pull anchor and claim the buoy. We heard a later radio transmission that confirmed that they were indeed securely moored, but not until Brian on Skylight dove on Windryder's existing anchor to help free them from the rubble on which they were tangled.
Earlier in the day, Russ checked out with the port authorities and paid our dues of $167.00 while I spent $6.00 at the laundromat doing two loads of laundry. Such a treat not to be using my bucket and toilet plunger as the agitator. The sky was finally clearing, and we were seeing sun for the first time in a week. We had been waiting for a window to leave and Thursday afternoon was the window, but not for Tonga.
After a somewhat elongated stay in Pago Pago due to the weather and sea state, we were considering skipping Apia and Nuiatoputapu and heading straight for Tonga. The extended sea forecast however suggested it might be better to arrive in Tongan waters after Wednesday. Going directly would put us there on Monday or Tuesday. Apparently a storm to the southwest of Tonga is sending large waves north. We would have 15 knots of wind on our beam (a good thing), but 12-16 foot seas on the nose (a bad thing). So we made the decision to head to Apia for a few days and wait there while the sea state near Tonga settled out a a bit.
Having seen most of American Samoa and tired of the foul anchorage and the odor for the tuna cannery polluting the air, we decided to move out. If all goes well for Brian and Claudia on Skylight, they will leave Pago Pago on Monday/Tuesday as we will, and we will buddy boat down to the Vava'u group in Tonga. For now we have given up the idea of going to Nuitoputapu so that we have a little better wind angle down to Vava'u.
We met Brian and Claudia in Suwarrow. They are from Acton, CA. We enjoy their company so are looking forward to buddy boating with them. Pincoya with Gene and Gloria are also in Pago Pago, but are currently waiting for a propeller shipment from the states. Within the course of a week, both of their outboard motors and their propellers failed. Hopefully, Pincoya will catch up with us in Tonga. Beginning on Wednesday, September 22, there is a Tonga Regatta for which we are registered. However, it looks like we won't get there for the start, perhaps a few days late. We aren't so interested in the Regatta as catching up with the fleet before they all head to NZ, Fiji, and Australia for the hurricane season. Freezing Rain, Pincoy and Sula are a few of the boats headed to New Zealand. The Road and Endless Summer are off to Australia. Trim, Skylight, and ourselves are headed for Fiji.
We had our sails up and were headed west by 6:30 last night, chasing the setting sun. During the course of the evening and night we had to change course a few times to head north and then northwest to the lee side of Samoa. It was a beautiful sail. The seas after we left American Samoan waters and started heading north subsided from 9-10 foot swells to 3 - 6 feet. The wind was a gentle 10-14 knots. The waxing half moon shone in our windows most of the night.
We are on the northeast side of Upolu Island (Samoa) and within 15 miles of the harbor entrance. We understand there is a modern marina here with electric and water hookups. They will probably have WIFI as well, but I'm sending this update via the radio anyway, just in case. We look forward to a weekend of sight seeing. The wind remains under 12 knots, the seas are less than a meter and the sun is shining. It is a beautiful South Pacific Day. I think now we've had about five of these, so now I can start using the other hand.
All is well on Worrall Wind.
No comments:
Post a Comment