September 22, 2012
Unfortunately our weather window to Vava’u had us arriving on Saturday, and the customs and immigration in Vava’u, like Samoa, was not open during the weekend. But unlike Samoa, there are some anchorages you can duck into before you head into the main harbor and town. You’re not really supposed to do this, but no one checks.
Our plan was to anchor outside of the bay and lay low; then head in Monday morning. The plan changed when we listened to the local morning VHF radio net when we were about 8 miles out. It seemed like a very friendly, active net, and with the Regatta on, it sounded more like summer camp than a typical cruiser net. With our current unfriendly conditions: gray skies, squalls, choppy seas and 20 knot winds, we felt drawn into the festive, warm embrace of the net, and when Baker (the net controller) asked if there were any new arrivals today, Rich jumped in and said, “Legacy!” We were warmly welcomed to town, and Baker said if we’d like, he’d arrange for customs to come down and clear us. There would be an extra fee for a Saturday clear-in, but it could be done. We jumped at that!
Two hours after talking to Baker on the net, we were sitting at the Customs dock getting cleared in. Three hours later, we had miraculously gotten the last available mooring in the harbor of Neiafu, the main city in Vava’u. It is possible to anchor there, but the areas where it is shallow enough to do so are few and far between and a long dinghy ride from town. Moorings can be hard to come by at this time of year and nearly impossible to come by during Regatta week. Somehow, we just got lucky. –Cyndi
