9th July 2002 - Haa'pai group Tonga.
Soren Larsen is presently in Tonga on a 10 day voyage around the Kingdom. She has visited Vava'u in the north and is today near Lifuka and sailing back to Nuku'alofa to complete this trip on Thursday.

 

 

27th June 2002 - The ship has arrived at Nuku'alofa on Tongatapu at the conclusion of her first voyage in to the Pacific. In fact the ship arrived in to the lagoon at Tonga's capital at noon yesterday and by 1600 had completed the necessary Customs and Immigration clearance.

 

The ship sailed from Auckland on the 16th June to commence this 5 month project through the islands of Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Voyage Crew had flown in from Europe, UK and the States to be part of the crew for this ocean passage north in to the tropics.

 

 

 

 

They certainly experienced all range of weathers on this passage as the north of New Zealand was lashed with fierce winds just days after Soren Larsen's departure from the Hauraki Gulf.

 

While the ship missed the worst of the depression system it left adverse northerlies to contend with for the first half of the passage to Raoul Island in the Kermadecs. Motorsailing into a headwind is not a comfortable experience and it was tough going until the first landfall at Rauol.

 

 

Sat. 22nd June - The Kermadecs.
Most got to go ashore at the remote New Zealand outpost and enjoy the bush walks around this volcanic outcrop. Our thanks go to the NZ DOC ( Department of Conservation) staff who gave us a great reception there.

 

After the Kermadecs the winds were kinder and Captain Tony Davies reported favorable tradewinds - Force 5 and sunny, all well - and with topsails set Soren Larsen was making 7-8 knots NNE towards the Kingdom of Tonga.

Appetites returned and even some beer got drunk - as usual the ship left very well stocked for her voyage!

 

 

MORE PICTURES AND REPORTS WILL FOLLOW.

 

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Soren Larsen Voyagers Log: P.O.Box 310 Kumeu, Auckland 1250 New Zealand

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