Bora Bora to Vavau Tonga via Niue ,After leaving Bora Bora we made slow time getting to the approach to Palmerston Island the predicated Westerly wind made the mooring buoys on the western side of the Island too much of a risk so we decided to sail right past and now our thoughts turned to maybe going to Niue .
We had become stretched and not in VHF range of Tashi Delek (Mike & Carol on board) our buddy boat from the trip from Panama to Galapagos who we had caught up with in Tahiti and continued the buddy boat relationship .
Adina (Tom & Sussie on board) was a full day in front of us and also heading for Niue ,So Niue it was to be ,Adina arrived and told us of plenty of mooring Buoys available and the next day we arrived and Tom and Sussie helped us with information as we got in .Moana Roa (Laurie & Sonia + 3 Children )was also in Niue we had met them on the Isabella Net (SSB Radio ) but not in person and we all got together on Adina that night for sun downers .
We spent a few days sight seeing and had a day of diving with the local dive centre with a dive on sea snake alley and the caves ,both dives great dives and Tom and Sussie also joined us and had a great time .
Looking at the weather and once again a westerly wind was looming which after we had arrived on Monday it meant we should leave Friday to catch the best wind angle for Vavau Tonga ,
We were just preparing the boat when a Cat was seen approaching the mooring field and would you believe it it was "Have a Chat " another Aussie boat with Peter and Martina on board ,We had met Peter in Marina Taina in Tahiti and Peter and I went to the Tahitian dancing together (great night) as his wife Martina had taken the children back to Australia and had not yet returned ,
So Friday it was (Saturday Tonga time ) 5 boats Tashi Delek ,Adina ,Moana Roa ,Have a Chat and Us Dancing Bear all leave in a sail boat Armada for Vavau Tonga with Moana Roa and Adina taking up the position of advanced scouts for the fleet .
Arrival at Vavau Tonga was a slow process of getting to the customs dock then 4 officials checking us in ?
Very Nice People but a real culture shock on arrival