Position: 21 degrees, 13 minutes south; 175 degrees, 42 minutes west

Today was the day. The weather has switched. The wind is starting to come out of the southeast making it possible to sail on a more or less straight line southwest. We’re on a heading of 220 degrees magnetic in 8 knots of wind doing about 4 or so knots. Minerva Reef is hopefully our next stop unless the winds won’t allow it. That would be about two days from now- or around 220 miles.

We got up early this morning and Ed from Quixotic was nice enough to run us over to town to pick up fresh veggies and fruit. Then we took the rental car back and headed back. Ann and I bid Ed and Nila goodbye for this season. They are staying in Tonga and have rented a cyclone mooring which is basically a really strong mooring that is certified to hold in case of a cyclone. They should have fun staying around for Tongan summer. Fewer people/boats, although more rain and the possibility of a cyclone adds a little excitement to the stay. We hope to be able to meet up with them next season in Fiji which is our next step back up to the north come April.

When we got back to Charisma we did some final prep work, and a little cooking (we now have three dinners and a bunch of snacks pre-prepared so all we have to do is warm them). Then a quick trip onto Pangai Motu to say goodbye to Big Mama and thank her for the great hospitality, Once the dinghy was deflated and stored on the foredeck, we hoisted anchor and headed out. It took a couple hours to get out past the reefs, but we’re now in deep water and headed south(ish).

It’s kind of exciting being on the last leg into New Zealand. That’s about 1000 miles and nine days from now.