PALMERSTON ATOLL TO NIUE

August 13-18, 2012

We cast off our mooring lines at 1045  hrs this morning and sailed for Niue about 400 nm distant.  The winds were out of the SE at 10 kts and the sail was pleasant for the first 8 hrs or so then the wind died so we dropped sail and lay ahull until the following morning.  This pattern repeated itself over the next few days until on the last day the wind picked up to 20-25 kts and blew like stink.  We picked up a mooring in Alofi, Niue on Saturday morning August 18th.

Geologically, Niue is an interesting place.  It is a coral outcropping on top of a sea mount surrounded by very deep water.  It rises 220 feet  out of the water and is the largest coral island in the world.  The waters are crystalline clear because there is no run off from the island.  All rain water is filtered down through the coral and exits in caves and caverns.  This produces an unbelievable coloring in the surrounding sea.  The island is dotted with caves and caverns.  It is, probably, one of the most beautiful snorkeling places in the world.  Whales are seen here and come into the mooring field.  We can hear them at night when we are below the water line in the yacht.  On several occasions we have heard them sounding just off the the yacht.

As a town, Alofi, is unremarkable.  There is nothing special to recommend it.  Supplies are limited and vegetables difficult to find.  There is fuel and water available.  We rented a motorcycle for two days and toured the island.  Phyllis will post the pictures.  There are about 1200 inhabitants living in fourteen villages scattered around the island.  We have seen no outstanding architectural buildings or homes.  Everything is pretty simple and utilitarian.  The rich and famous do not come to Niue!

The central and most important establishment for yachties is the Niue Yacht Club.  Advertised as the "The biggest little yacht club in the world", it maintains 20 moorings for visiting yachts.  These mooring are professionally maintained and very secure.  As a matter of fact, the best we have been on.  What makes this so remarkable is that there are twenty members in the yacht club and no one has a yacht or any sailing experience!!  The members enjoy hosting yachties from all over the world.  There is a nominal charge of $15 NZ per night but this hardly pays for the upkeep of these excellent moorings.  As elsewhere, the Niueans are very friendly to visitors.  The yacht club members will do everything in their power to help solve any problem.  It's a great place to visit.

Tomorrow, August 25th, we sail for Neiafu, Vava'u in the northern Tonga group.  It's about 285 nm and the wind is forcasted to be SE at 20 kts.  If this holds to be true, we can make it in three days.  We will have WiFi there.  Also, we are hoping to receive a shipment of "meds" that we had sent from the States.