Ahoy, sea lovers! Gather 'round for another salty tale from the high seas! My crew arrived three days ago, fresh-faced and eager, ready to embark on a 12-day cruise around the idyllic Tongan Islands. For me, it was the first island-hopping escapade since my trial run almost a year ago. Needless to say, I was just as pumped as they were. Who wouldn’t be thrilled about a jaunt through some of the world’s most stunning islands?

Mother Nature, however, had other plans for our first day. With a weather forecast that could make a seasoned sailor weep, we decided to stay at anchor and ease into our adventure. It also gave my jetlagged crew a chance to crawl into their caves and catch up on some much-needed sleep.

By mid-morning, everyone had emerged from their cocoons, ready for action. We kicked things off with a safety and weather briefing, ensuring we’d be good to go at 9am sharp the next day. Preparation is key, after all – even if it’s just to reassure everyone that I know what I’m doing.

Having already been here for 12 days on my own, I’d made a few friends among the Island Cruising group who’d sailed over from New Zealand. Mentioning that I was alone on the biggest boat with the longest anchor chain seemed to attract offers of help like a honey pot attracts bees. It’s heartwarming to know that in a crisis, like the recent tsunami warning and a bit of anchor drag, there were folks ready to lend a hand. Thankfully, I didn’t have to call on anyone, but it’s nice to have a safety net.

The night my crew arrived, the island cruising group organised a potluck dinner at the famous Big Mamas. I thought it’d be a great chance to introduce my new mates to my island buddies. We had a blast, and miraculously, I wasn’t devoured by mosquitoes, which is a rare and delightful win for me.

The next day, with the weather forecast predicting a lively 25-35 knot southeast wind and a 3-meter swell, we set off. It wasn’t going to be a walk in the park, but we decided to take advantage of the breeze and make the 176NM overnight passage straight up to Neiafu in Vava'u. Nothing like throwing everyone into the deep end right from the start.

Despite a few queasy stomachs, everyone did a stellar job, and we made it through the night, arriving in Neiafu at a leisurely 11:30am. After a quick exploration of the town, I had to remind the boys they were on dinner duty that night. Their menu? Fresh fish, caught by our very own Darren. Now, Darren’s history with fishing on our trips has been... let’s say, less than successful. But this time, he landed not one, but two giant fish within minutes! I missed the action, of course, snoozing through the excitement, but I’ve got photo evidence of his triumph. No more teasing Darren about his fishing skills – though I’m just as happy to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

As dinner time rolled around, I took to my usual role of galley overseer. While writing this blog, I kept one eye on the boys, throwing in the occasional patronising comment like, “Have you ever cooked before?” and “Do you even know what an eggplant is?” To their credit, they whipped up a fish korma curry in about 20 minutes. Alicia and I had a taste test and, with heavy hearts, informed them that the peas were still frozen and the rice was crunchy. Despite this, it was delicious. I’m still waiting for my properly cooked dinner, but I have high hopes!

Stay tuned for the next update, where I'll let you know if the boys finally nailed the curry and share our upcoming adventures as we head to some of the surrounding tourist hotspots.

Till next time,
Jess ;)