Voyage Log 2002 Tallship Soren Larsen

11th July 2002 - Tonga.
Soren Larsen is presently in Tonga having just completed a 10 day voyage around the Kingdom. She has visited Vava'u in the north and has sailed back to Nuku'alofa to complete this trip on Thursday.

Here are Captain Tony's reports from the ship of the Kingdom of Tonga cruise V166 -

3 July - Hi all left Nuku'alofa 1600 Monday (1st) and had a good overnight sail to Nomuka in the central Haapai Group. We arrived at 0800 and all are pleased that we have good weather today.

The Avon inflatable was launched and Voyage rew (VC) went ashore to the village. I went off to find the local policeman to show our internal clearance paperwork, and as with previous years he was tending his pigs and was quite happy with our papers!

The voyage crew visited the village and walked across the island and in the afternoon we moved the ship to anchor over at Nomuka-Iki where many spent the rest of the day walking the palm fringed beach and snorkeling on the reef. That evening we just had time to have dinner on deck before it starting raining - which continued all night. We raised anchor at 0600 and headed for Uoleva. As the morning progressed I decided that due to the passing front and rain and generally poor viability we should opt to to straight to Vava'u and use the SE Force 5 winds. It was fairly rolly downwind and some found the motion uncomfortable but nearly all VC are already becoming proficient on the helm and learning the lines and handling sail. Its good to have the watch system up and working.

SEE HAAPAI PICTURE PAGE:here

7th July Neiafu - Vava'u
Good weather at last.. We have had a great couple of days in and around Vava'u. The intrepid snorkelers managed the underwater entrance in Mariners Cave and the ship's Avon's toured inside Swallows Cave. We also had a nice beach day at Nuku atoll and on Saturday evening a feast was arranged at John Ano's beach. This traditional Tongan meal was followed by dancing, a string band & most people's first taste of kava. [See Picture page of this evening here The Kingdom of Tonga V66 page 2 Vavau feast night]
Today (Sunday) we having a snorkeling & beach day on Euakafa with ETD 1700 . We aim to make Uoleva 1000 Monday.

8th July Great sail from Vavau. Calm seas and a helpful F3 ENE. The night watches enjoyed a spectacularly starry night and in the morning we spotted Humpback whales & dolphins. We dropped anchor at Uoleva 1000.

Everyone (well many) aloft for a harbour stow on the sqauaresails and then an early lunch. VC are presently ashore snorkeling & Tracey and Nikki, our cooks are preparing for a BBQ on the beach at about 5.30pm. The plan is to leave mid morning tomorrow and sail direct to Nukualofa and the ship will anchor for our last night together off Pangaimotu on Wed p.m.
SEE VAVAU PICTURE PAGE here

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