Anchored in the Apia Marina, Samoa

After a long night and half a day, we are now safely tied up along the wharf in a prime spot in the new marina in Apia, Samoa. Despite the forecast for light winds, we had steady 20 to 25 knots all night and this morning, interspersed with rain squalls with up to 30 knot gusts. So our carefully laid plans to arrive comfortably this morning at daylight were thwarted. To slow our progress, we had to sail under bare poles all night and be more watchful. We did not get much sleep. However, we made our way safely into the Apia harbour late morning and with the help of the friendly locals moored in the marina with no hassles.

It is very hot and we have spent the afternoon sorting out the formalities of arrival - it is a long drawn out process. We have had visits from health, quarantine and the port authority, still awaiting customs and immigration!! We have already chatted with many of our neighbours, some of whom we have met before in previous anchorages. We met a lad from Dunedin who has crewed up on a boat from Tauranga. He is making his way home soon with the addition of a marvellous, artistic tattoo covering both of his forearms - a memento from the Marquesas.

We will blog again in a few days with more tales of our south seas adventure.

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