To recap - Blue spur is a Nicholson 38 ketch. Dave, me ( Shelby) and our daughter Sarah, now 15 have sailed her out here to Australia from the Humber. We left on 13th September 1984 to take 3 years, but soon got into the cruising way of life and have now been away 4 years.

Here in Pago Pago American Samoa. We were waiting for our walker sat.nav to be returned to us from Australia. Unfortunately the Australian customs did not understand that we wanted a quick repair, and bonded the set for 6 weeks. So after 2 months In Pago Pago and numerous phone calls to Australia we decided to head for the Vau Vau group in Tonga without the Sat. Nav. We had cruised without it for several months so we knew it was not really essential, although it really makes life easy. It is funny how priorities change, after crossing the Atlantic we took a vote on the boat equipment. Number 1 without doubt was the aries wind vane, number 2 was the Sat Nav, I was number 3 then we had the roller reefing headsail, log, compass etc. After 2 years cruising the Aries is still top of the list but number 2 is the electric windlass followed by the Sat Nav etc.

Just before we left Samoa a French Yacht "Ice Dream" came in. We had last seen them 2 years before in Madeira, and it was nice to meet Christof, Christina their daughter Elodie and new baby Oriane again. They left 2 days before us for Neiafu Tonga, promising us a cold beer when we arrived. We prepared Blue Spurr and spent an awful 12 hours recovering $250 bond on our cat Oakum, who we had acquired in the USA. Finally we sailed out of the harbour and headed south for Neiafu.

Tuesday 28th July. Blue Spurr is ready; we went ashore for lunch with Ron and Mellissa - friends from the yacht Ever After who plan to leave at the same time as us 13.00hrs. We cast of and set sail out of the harbour. The wind is SE very strong and kicking up quite a swell. Poor Ever After is only 29ft and keeps disappearing in the swell; we have a radio rendezvous at midnight with them. We sped along under full sail and got so far ahead that we never reached them on the radio. At midnight we had to reef down as the wind had increased to force 6. Sarah and I got sick.

Wednesday 29th July The seas are so bad that we hove to to take a noon sight. We saw a ship at l8.00hrs but couldn't raise them on the radio to get a position.

Thursday 30th July Dave took a morning sight at 10.00hrs. We saw another ship and called on the VHF and they gave us a position. The weather is still rotten and we are getting lots of waves over us.

Friday 31st July The wind has increased to Gale force and we have lots of waves breaking over the boat and we keep reefing and unreefing all the time. The beds are wet and Dave tried to start the engine to charge the batteries but it wouldn't start. He dismantled the starter but that didn't help. The weather is really lousy. We sighted Vau Vau at 1.00am and hove to until 5.00am.

Saturday 1st August We crossed the International Date Line so lost today.

Sunday 2nd August The temperamental engine wouldn't start. The batteries have all shorted out, due to the salt water. We had to tack 10 miles into Neiafu against the wind. It took 6 hours. We neared the anchorage under sail and selected a spot to anchor. How come that you always mean to practice anchoring under sail but never do it? Oh well here goes! We sailed towards our chosen anchorage with the seafarer echo sounder on using its own battery. Dave was shouting out the depth 60ft…60ft …60ft we were only 50 yards from shore so we hailed the nearest boat. What depth are you in? 60ft was the reply. Okay Dave said we have to get this right first time, drop the anchor! There were over a 100 boats in the anchorage and all seemed to be watching us. We touched bottom with the Bruce, let out 27 fathoms of chain and dug it in using the headsail. Perfect what had we been worrying about Phew!!! As it was Sunday the customs were closed. Two friends from a Swiss boat rowed over and invited us for spaghetti; also they relieved us temporarily of all the cheap liquor we had bought in Pago as the Tongan officials at that time were renown for helping themselves.

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