We have been anchored at Pangaimotu since our arrival last Thursday. As we arrived customs were waiting for us in a somewhat battered launch. Four large Tongans came aboard. There was much form filling, eating of biscuits and drinking of soft drinks and we were quickly cleared for entry into Tonga. One of the most painless entries into a country yet.

Pangaimotu is a small island encircled with a sandy beach. You can walk around it in about half an hour. The island is owned by the king and leased to a charming couple, a Tongan, Anna or "big mama" and her Danish husband Errol. The bar and restaurant are the main activities - the accommodation being somewhat run down to put it mildly! The bar has been the setting for various festivities and planning meetings. One was a competition for the best song or story which contained all the names of the boats coming here. Anne of Harmonie won with a brilliant short story. We did quite well with a sing along version of the Yellow Submarine including all the boats names. Festivities culminated with a Pirates night and some outrageous costumes. There was also a competition for the best protest, a bit dominated by over lengthy contributions from the Kiwis. Most of the boats here are Kiwi. We are the only British flag flyer. There are though quite a few Brits around and British immigrants. There are three or four American boats and a couple of Aussie boats. Everyone is very friendly and the whole thing has been excellently run by a lovely couple from Opua who sailed out as part of the rally on a boat called Windflower.

The weather has gone a bit rainy and windy today so we are recuperating from all this partying by doing some tidying, writing blogs etc.