What a difference a day makes
22 July 2023
Karenn
Seas calm & sunny skies - What a difference a day makes.
So the system that weâve been working to avoid for days came to visit us
yesterday in full force, today no trace. On the midnight to 3 am watch I
observed clouds giving way and more and more stars appearing. Awaking at
8 to a most beautiful morning it was hard to believe we were in the same
place and time.
The sea is ever changing, often conspiring with the wind, or as was the
case it seemed yesterday, in a roaring row between them. Unlike other
places Iâve sailed, there are few scant places/anchorages to âshelter in
placeâ so weâve been obligated to keep out to sea.
How nice it would have been to sail into Vavaâu and anchor today,
however we must abide by the customs and requirements of our host
country (or penalty or jail). An advance notice of arrival is necessary,
and as this is a pious country, the earliest we can come in is Monday.
Sad to watch Vavaâu in the ârear view mirrorâ as we overshot and made
distance in the afternoon, but a 12 nautical mile distance is stipulated
until our approach is in process.
Each place we visit has its own requirements, and this can be
drastically different in each country, and even within the same country
at different specified Ports of Entry we are required make first
landfall at. We read that we can expect five visitors aboard. Often
there are Customs and Immigration representatives, but also a Harbour
Master, Health Department or Biosecurity officials too. On one of my
prior trips (central America) six militia in camo with machine guns and
a German Shepard boarded ⦠there was hardly room for all of us (36â
monohull) and the three crew must remain in plain sight which means
sweating inside the cabin. So thatâs Monday, two days of bobbing on the
big blue beautiful sea ahead.
Captainâs note: We crossed the international dateline, so we skipped
Friday 7/21 and today is Saturday 7/22 for us on Rover.
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