As Eco cruisers we don't have a water maker. OK, maybe just mean but it also means I don't have to spend hours fixing them.

Consequently, we are dependent on either shore water or rain water. The shore water here and throughout most of the islands is basically chlorinated rainwater and I don't like that in the tanks, the chlorine that is. Consequently we have become dependent on rain and we got that in bucket loads yesterday. I think it rained from about 3am until 5pm. When we woke we scurried around putting up our rain catcher and giving the decks a quick clean thinking we'd maybe get a few litres before it stopped. By lunchtime we'd put over 500 litres in the tank, filled all our Jerrycans, assorted buckets, had a wash and shampoo on deck, soaked and scrubbed the cockpit and still it came. We left the taps open and just let the tank overflow finally saying goodbye to some water we've probably carried for thousands of miles.

Today it's almost back to normal. A bit overcast but the sun is peeking through and finally, were thinking about breaking loose and heading down the island chain. Us and the 40 other boats gathered here waiting on the elusive weather window to make tracks to New Zealand, 1300 miles away across shark infested, stormy seas. But right now, flat calms and the boats that left last week are out there motoring! So, we will sneak south, biting off the first bit of the elephant by cruising the offshore islands of the Vava'u group then down to the Haapi islands and finally Nuka Lofa.

From there, it's listen to the weather and pick your moment.

Right now, it's coffee time.