Yott Sailing Fact Box : Vava’u, Tonga

Yacht Charter: bareboat and skippered charters are available with Sunsail and Moorings

Best Time to Go: June- November (average temperature 23°C), hurricane season is January to March.

Time: GMT +13 hours

Flights: Vava’u does not have direct flights from overseas. Royal Tongan Airlines has daily flights from the capital, Tongatapu.

Port of entry: Neiafu, 18°39’S 173°59’W, this is also where the charter fleet are based

Shopping: Most food available but the choice limited. Good fresh produce is available at the morning market in Neiafu, make sure everything is washed, peeled or cooked before being eaten to avoid stomach upsets and worse. Best souvenirs include basket weaving, made from coconut fronds and pandanus leaves; wood carving; jewellery, particularly bone carving.

Languages: Tongan and English

Currency: Pa’anga, cashpoints accept visa and most people happily take $US.

Customs: Sunday is a day of rest, sailors should follow suit, long skirts and trousers should be worn in church and to formal events.

Information: Cruisers’ net 8am, VHF CH68. Moorings and Sunsail have their own daily nets

Don’t Miss: Diving, visibility can reach over 30m; whale watching, locally organised tours run between June and November when the whales arrive to mate and calve. Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can still snorkel and dive with the whales; weekly feasts are organised at different anchorages during the week, traditional food is served wrapped in leaves, on the beach or in the local villages; dinghy adventure into Swallow’s Cave; snorkelling in Mariner’s Cave, only for the bravehearted as you have to snorkel under a submerged entrance to get into the cave. Friday night fun race in Neiafu, open to all yachts.

Charts: Both Sunsail and Moorings have their own charts of the area listing anchorages 1-40. This may be less romantic than the Tongan names, but much easier to navigate. Both guides give suggested itineraries and navigation warnings.

Fishing: Excellent fishing off the coast with mahi mahi, yellow fin tuna and sailfish a common catch. Daily sport fishing excursions are available from Neiafu.

Warnings: Don’t tip or offer handouts as it destroys cruisers’ relationship with the locals

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