For all our wandering in a tropical paradise, we have not really spent much time just hanging out at the beach and playing in the water. So today we sailed just three miles from Baie Vaitahu to Baie Hanamoenoa, a cruisers favorite for its clear waters, white sands, and great snorkeling.

So that's it today. We anchored among the other cruising sailboats, went snorkeling among the coral reefs near shore, walked the length of the compact beach, and hung out on the boat all afternoon.

This harbor is the first one that is fairly well protected from both wind and roll. Just a gentle rocking, and wind gusts during the day of only 20 knots, which is a pleasant respite from the 30-40 knot gusts in the last two anchorages. And now that the sun has set over the open Pacific, the wind has dropped to a gentle breeze, with an occasional fifteen knot puff and the sound of gentle surf on the beach.