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Author Archives: Jenny

passage to new zealand ~ the plan

November 9 – 18, 2013 For months prior to the passage to New Zealand, numerous cruisers fret over what could possibly be their toughest passage to date. With New Zealand lying between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Pacific Ocean, there are many strong low pressure systems that move across the region. One must also … Continue reading »

Categories: navigation, passages, weather | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

tonga ~ ha’apai & otu tolu groups

November 1 – 9, 2013 Good-bye Vava’u: Clearing out of Tonga can be done in a few ways. Many people make their way to Tonga’s southern Tongatapu Group where they provision for the passage and then clear from Tonga to New Zealand. While still in Vava’u, we chose to fully provision in Neiafu, and then … Continue reading »

Categories: fishing, nature & wildlife, navigation, passages, travel | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

tonga ~ odd & end photos

October 1 – November 1, 2013 It’s time to wrap up our visit to the Vava’u Group of Tonga. There are so many more stories and experiences to write about, but it’s time to move on. Therefore, here are some odd-and-end photos taken in Vava’u. return to home page

Categories: cruising kids, living aboard, travel | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

tonga ~ cave & snorkeling explorations

October 1 – 27, 2013 Photos of some of our Tongan cave explorations and snorkeling expeditions. Swallow’s Cave ~ northwest tip of Kapa Island, Vava’u a crazy & quite talented Chris (s/v Tribe) Mariner’s Cave ~ a hollow in the rocks near the northern tip of Nuapapu Island. The cave can only be accessed from … Continue reading »

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tonga ~ a weather situation

October 8 – 11, 2013 During a stormy night in Tonga, there are a handful of us who learned or were reminded of some extremely valuable lessons when it comes to boat and crew safety with respect to Mother Nature. Luckily, our group of boats and crew were unharmed, but sadly, a local fisherman lost … Continue reading »

Categories: electronics, weather | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

explanation of position reporting problem

Over recent weeks, it has come to our attention that our position has disappeared from the map. Several of our good friends and readers have become concerned as to our whereabouts and our well-being. Rest assured, we are still on the globe and all doing quite well. Every time we are sailing on a major … Continue reading »

Categories: navigation, newsworthy | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

tonga ~ the nature of it (whales)

October 2, 2013 Immediately following the first sea snake encounter in Swallow’s Cave with s/v Gallivanter, our afternoon became even more incredible and turned into one that we will remember for a lifetime. We were just finishing up snorkeling in Swallow’s Cave when we noticed s/v Sueño making their approach to Neiafu for clearance into … Continue reading »

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tonga ~ the nature of it (sea snakes)

October 2, 2013 More than once, we snorkeled and explored in Swallow’s Cave on the northwest tip of Kapa Island. For our first trip into the cave, we’d gone with s/v Gallivanter. The caves are so large that you can drive your dinghy straight into them. Upon entering the caves, we learned how the caves … Continue reading »

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tonga ~ the nature of it (cicadas & bats)

September 23 – November 1, 2013 On our first evening in Tonga, while anchored in Port Maurelle, we will never forget the incredibly loud sound of cicadas. The last time we had heard cicada song to that tune was on a North Carolina summer evening. It was music to our ears! As the sun was … Continue reading »

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tonga ~ neiafu & tongan culture

September 23 – November 1, 2013 Of the Tongan Vava’u Group, Neiafu is the primary village for provisions and most necessaries, as well as clearing in and out of Tonga. In order to clear in, we were required to dock alongside the main wharf. There were many boats clearing in at the same time, so … Continue reading »

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