Radio transmission has been very poor the past few days for meteorological and geographic reasons. That, coupled with low battery power because of capacity testing, has made it impossible to get this report out on a timely basis. Sometimes I spend hours trying to find a receiving station only to get dropped just before my message is to be transmitted. Once I get out of Pago the conditions should improve considerably.

My plan was to depart today, Labor Day, having already checked out with the authorities on Friday. However, the weather changed last night and there is no wind. If conditions are good tomorrow I will set sail for Tonga and leave Western Samoa for another day. The passage to Niuatoputapu, Tonga is about 205 miles which means two overnighters.

All else is well onboard. The Pago Pago Yacht Club invited the cruisers to a pot luck tonight. There were seven boats represented and half a dozen members. A good time was had by one and all.