Dietmar Petutschnig
09/29/2009, Vava'u

Many of you have heard that there was a big quake centered in the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of American and Western Samoa where we just left.

The quake was reported as 7.9 on the Richter scale.

I received email from several of our friends, family and several cruisers in Tonga and beyond today, and also got some first hand information off the the local Marine amateur radio.

It was bad - at least one cruiser died crushed between 2 hulls in Pago Pago. One of the worst harbors with a terrible reputation in American Samoa.

We did however make it through fine - I was up walking Vienna when the quake hit - but witnessed no mayor damage - just a big scare here for all
of us in Tonga and - maybe a subsequent 5 foot surge - which for us in a deep harbor was no big deal.

The reality is that at 220 nm miles from the epicenter of the quake we had a 15 minute Tsunami alert security warning - via VHF radio - and at the time in the best possible spot for this type of a Tsunami to hit -
as the anchorage is over 100 feet deep and tucked away in a snaking archipelago.

A fellow cruiser [Hipnautical] was right out on the ocean as the tsunami went under him at a propagation speed of about 600 nm x hour and just like a cork - he felt nothing !

So it's best to float in deep water [ 100 feet plus ]
and not near a gentle sloping beach, should a Tsunami ocurr.

Several cruisers who had ventured out to lovely anchorages near us - in shallower water - did not do so well - some had to cut their anchor rode and head for deep water in a hurry - especially those anchored in less then 30 feet - a 5 feet surge [ this happens as the tsunami hits - reveals several coral heads under the hull so one is best to go for deep water ]

This surge runs for sometime several hours - for us here it was maybe 20 minutes of helter skelter.

Local schools were evacutated long after the Tsunami had passed us - and of course the banks closed thier doors too ;-)

The brazilian vessel Saravah has a revealing video of the outer shallower anchorages which I'll post eventually.

For more info about Tsunamis go to

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/ptwc/

Just remember, if you're on a beach and all of a
sudden a "tide" goes way out, and revelas a lot of beach suddenly - it's time to head for high ground. RUN !

Our thoughts are at the presnet with those who did not make it.

JOURNEY

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Dietmar Petutschnig
09/05/2009, Apia Western Samoa

We have arrived after a tumultuous* crossing from Apia via Niuatoputapu in what is a sailing wonderland. The Archipelago and snaking Islands of Vava'u - to arrive just in time for the Vava'u Regatta.

The best way to describe these formations in laymen's terms is imagine Minnesota inverted - land surrounded by water - little islands everywhere .

We participated in the Governors Cup and came in ... well almost last in the Catamaran class... but Carinthia, laden with stores, extra provisions. fuel and wine deliveries from Apia was in no racing condition - nor was it's crew after the bashing we received coming down here.

The party at anchorage # 16 [ there are so man y spots here that Moorings instituted a numbering system and everyone uses it ] was epic - much more organized than any latitude 38 party - and what an array of nationalities, locals, characters and yachts !

Pictures are uploading slowly but they should be online by the am under

http://www.52hertz.com/pictures/vavau_regatta/

More on Vava'u and the Kingdom of Tonga when I return from the US.

More on the crossing * when I need to revisit hard core blue water sailing - for now - not.

JOURNEY

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Dietmar Petutschnig
08/19/2009, Apia Western Samoa

What a relief !

It's been 2 weeks since we saw civilisation of any kind [ excluding of course the very civilized wedding in Suwarrow ] but here it is !

Apia - an often overlooked gem in the South Pacific - with oodles of fun and friendly locals - we arrived just in time for the 2nd anniversary of the Apia Marina - a harbor master and marina - so kind - that they guide you to your slip in a dinghy !

It's incredible reasonable here compared to French Polynesia and it seems that everyone is eager to say hi and engage in conversations.

La Palapa, Szel and TakuTori are our known friendly yachts in this port but the winners of this years Transpac Division 7 - the Spanish yacht Charisma - is also here - en route to Fiji and Australia for the Sydney Hobart race.

I promised myself not to get into a route war with feloow puddeljumpers who went to Palmerston Nuie or the Southern Cooks on their way to Tonga but it seems all of us north of 15 S have chosen wisely. In addition the quality of the local brew Vailima - a heritage from the German colonial days - is a heavenly payoff !

One of the more interesting items in urban chaos is Western Samoa's decision to "voluntarily" switch road traffic from the US/Continental Europe "drive on the right" configuration to the left [NZ / Japan / British configuration ] this coming September !!! This is causing LOTS of local controversy - more about this issue in person .... what a cluster f&^! - bus drivers in uproar - local village chiefs declaring their roads will stay true etc etc ...

JOURNEY

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