09/08/2007, Enroute from Pago Pago, American Samoa to Niuatoputapu, Tonga
The sailing so far on this passage has been almost ideal and I don't expect any change before my arrival in Tonga tomorrow morning. The wind has been 10-12 knots on the beam and the sea height has been dropping since my departure yesterday afternoon so that now there is a 5 ft. swell with a period of 9 seconds. The ride has been very comfortable, there is no rain in sight and the sky has some large cumulus clouds typical of steady trade winds. Sand Dollar is now 75 miles from landfall which puts me into "New Potatoes" before noon tomorrow.
All else is well onboard. I will not start fishing until tomorrow morning at daybreak. There are still some ahi tuna steaks in the freezer.
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09/08/2007, Enroute from Pago Pago, American Samoa to Niuatoputapu, Tonga
With some trepidation I began the process today of attempting to free my anchor from the muck and junk at the bottom of Pago Pago Harbor. I truly thought the job would take hours or even days. Some derelict boats in the anchorage seem to have been stuck there for years by their appearance. Neptune himself must have been looking over me, on account of my clean living, for the anchor came home with little trouble. It was caked in two inches of crud but at least it was on deck and Sand Dollar was free to set sail for the Kingdom of Tonga.
The present passage to Niuatoputapu, cruisers call it "New Potatoes", is 205 miles on a broad reach. It will require two overnighters with a landfall early Sunday morning. However, the Tongans have decided to be the first ones in the would to wake up each morning so they moved the international dateline to the east of them. Who gave them permission to do this? As a result, Sand Dollar will actually arrive a day later, on Monday. The tourism ministry must have hired a Madison Ave. PR firm to come up with their slogan: "Tonga - Where Time Begins". Anything for a buck!
All else is well onboard and I am glad to have finally left Pago. I was getting used to the putrid smell of the canneries.
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09/06/2007, Pago Pago, American Samoa
The low pressure system is still hanging around but at least today there was some sunshine between the dozen or so rain showers. Tomorrow is looking good for a departure to Tonga. The ocean swell is down considerably and the wind is forecast to be 15 knots on the beam. The water tanks are full, the wine locker is stocked and there are a few fruits and vegetables hanging in the cabin. My only concern is whether I can win my anchor from the foul bottom of the harbor. It has been holding so well in strong winds that I fear it is hooked onto a piece of WWII scrap iron. There is no way I will go in the water to check it out. The visibility is only inches. I do, however, have the phone number of a local diver.
All else is well onboard.
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09/05/2007, Pago Pago, American Samoa
This may be a tropical paradise but it rained cats and dogs all night and all day today. It was a good day to stay below in the cabin and read a book or polish the brass. Several newly arrived boats dragged their anchors last night when the winds blew 30 knots. Fortunately, the crews woke in time to reset their anchors and save their boats from being washed up on the beach. Sand Dollar's anchor held but I was up most of the night watching for other boats.
The weather forecast says this pattern may clear in the next day or two. I am ready to leave anytime. All else is well.
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09/04/2007, Pago Pago, American Samoa
A strong weather system moved into the area today bringing waves of torrential rain and high winds. Boats arriving reported very rough seas and winds to 30 knots. Looks like Sand Dollar will be stuck here for awhile. I went to the Customs Office to change my departure document so that my next port will be Tonga instead of Western Samoa. The course to Tonga is at a right angle to the prevailing trade winds and swell so I am not anxious to depart until the conditions settle so that I don't take a pounding.
All else is well onboard but I am getting tired of Pago Pago.
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09/03/2007, Pago Pago, American Samoa
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.
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