I am moored in Tonga. Last night I tried to sail very slowly, but I still was too fast even after replacing the Genoa by the storm-jib, Guppy was still doing 3 knots! At dawn, the very much slower Midget 26′ sailboat had catched up with me and we sailed in together behind a large cruise ship, following in its wake – going in between all the rocks and small islands towards the anchorage. This really was the best approach I ever did. The islands and the rocks looked so magical and beautiful in the morning light, with the palm trees standing out of all the greenery, and the whole scene shrouded in a soft light mist. Tonga is very beautiful. I spent most of the day clearing customs, which is not that easy to do over here, even though everybody is very kind about it all. I had to do a bunch of paperwork for the immigration office, the customs, the quarantine office and much more until everyone was happy.. Oh well, I have plenty of time. Then I enjoyed an ice-cold Cola on a terrace, satisfied to see Guppy lying at anchor between many other yachts – this was an exhausting trip and I should have been taking a rest instead. But oddly enough, I was not really tired even though I had not slept at all the night before. I wanted to enjoy my very first day in Tonga, and that went well. I guess tonight I’ll sleep pretty good… As for tomorrow, we’ll see…

Laura