Sand Dollar made landfall in Pago Pago, American Samoa at 9:15 this morning after a challenging entrance into the harbor. The wind was blowing at 22 knots with 8 ft. seas and there was a dogleg turn up into the wind required to avoid a reef near the entrance. In light wind and seas this would be no problem but the "Sailing Directions" stated that the waves break over the reef in heavy weather so vessels should go around the buoy at the end of the reef. The buoy, however, is very close to the shore and the surf and no sailor wants to be anywhere near a lee shore in stiff winds. So, I fudged it a little and went inside the buoy so as to have a much better wind angle to make the harbor entrance. As it turns out, there were no breaking waves, there was plenty of depth, and the tuna boats go right across the reef in all but the worst conditions. The initial entry into any harbor or through any passage always makes me anxious, no matter what the conditions or where it is. This is just a fact of life for cruisers because virtually all the entries are for the first time.

Welcome back to civilization. I spent three hours dealing with U.S. officialdom. There were visits to the boat by the health official, the quarantine officer, the harbor master, and the customs squad including a sniffing dog. The immigration officer did not show up so I trekked off to his office to get my passport stamped. Everyone was very polite, just a little slow. No, make that very, very slow. Seems to be the way of life here, which is not all bad.

All else is well onboard except the food situation. I have had little to eat the last 24 hours besides fresh ahi tuna.