Palmerston Island

Well I made it to Palmerston in nine days, averaging an appaling 72 miles a day. They were all talking about the unusual weather, days of rain, apparently it never happens. Well apart from my first day here it has continued to rain and is blowing a near gale, so I've been stuck on the boat sitting out the weather. The wind should drop a bit in the morning, but will come in from the NW at 40kn and here I'm only sheltered from the East so I'll be setting off again at first light in the general direction of Fiji, with a possible stop at Niue in 380 miles or Tonga in another 250.
Palmerston gave me a wonderful welcome. Simon was out in a dinghy getting the mooring buoy ready to hand to me as I cruised in, then left me to clean up, returning with the government official and the mayor to clear me into Cook Is. This must be one of the more remote locations, population 70, it gets a supply boat four times a year, so if you leave to see the doctor in Rarotonga you get back three months later! I am the third boat to call in this year. It was wonderful to walk on land again after the last horrid nine days. There are three families descended from the three wives of the Scotsman who settled here, and each family takes turns to host a visiting yacht. I was given a tour of the island, and joined in lunch with everyone at the building site of the new school room. The kids were all studying in a covered open classroom. I met about half the population and was very much looking forwards to the next day or two ashore but the weather has vetoed my plans. Not looking forward to the next bit at all, seas should be big after the last few days strong winds, and wind will be variable in direction, still it should take only four days to Niue where I can take another break if needed.