The Waiting Game
02 November 2012 | Pangaimotu Tonga
Mark
I am stirred by something and wake from sleep. The first morning light awakens my senses and I crawl from our bunk trying not to wake Lolo. It is 0700. I stumble toward the nav. station and flip on the breakers for the PC, SSB radio and stove. My eyes are blurred but I find the coffee pot, unscrew the top, and then climb up the companionway in my underwear to dump yesterday's coffee grounds over the side. After getting the coffee going, I don my reading glasses, swap underwear for my salty shorts and proceed to log in to the computer to download the latest GRIB files over the HF radio. This is my morning routine. Today may be a big day as there is a tropical depression forecast to sweep over the top of us and the other 8 boats anchored here at Pangaimotu, Nuka Alofa, Tonga. November 1st officially marked the beginning of the southern hemisphere cyclone season. There are some 50 boats scattered over 1200 miles between here and New Zealand and everyone is a bit more edgy - waiting every mornings forecast with baited breath. Though we decided not to go at the last window, and are sitting safe at anchor, we are still concerned about the low which may bring 40 knots of wind that clock around the compass before it passes. I wait to hear the telltale sound of the end of someone else's winlink modem session and jump in quick to start our download. The coffee gurgles and I shut off the stove just as I hear the steam. The GRIB file is received and I overlay it on the OpenCPN charting software to see what the latest large scale forecast is. The SSB radio crackles to life as I switch frequencies to hear the real life drama of friends on passage checking in to The Pacific Drifters Net. Today the boats that motored to Minerva Reefs last week are getting a bit hammered in 25-35 knot SE winds and seas. I hear the weariness in their voices as they check in. I know the feeling and as I sip hot coffee in our still anchorage, I'm glad we stayed here. The sky is overcast as we listen in to Gulf Harbor Radio and David's prognosis of weather over the days to come. There is urgency in the voices over the radio as everyone wants to know what lies in store and whether they will be safe on their passage. We hear of blown out mainsails and headsails, broken forestays and some folks running with the wind, diverting to remote islands for repairs. Through the morning and afternoon, we watch the barometer drop from 1017mb. By 1430, it reads 1002mb and the barograph displays "STORM WARNING" confirming what we already know. Russell on Moonwalker, Alex on Aleris and I, gossip about the latest GRIBS and prognosis. Yesterday we put out a second anchor with 300 feet of rode. Lolo practices the fiddle as I chop vegetables for a big pot of Mahi-Mahi fish chowder. When I'm done, I play guitar while Lolo busies herself cooking a passion fruit pie. We distract ourselves and try to enjoy the relative peace. But we hear it may blow 40 knots tonight at midnight. We don't want that, but we'll get what we get.