When we went to sleep last night the sky was clear and the wind was light at about 6k. This morning it was 14-21k gusting to 24k with a nice 1ft chop which soon grew to 2ft. At 1pm we decided to go find a more comfortable spot on the lee side of the island. We went around the Western side of the island Baie Hurepiti, a deep bay the cuts heads up in a mountain valley. The spot is very reminiscent of the Marquesas Islands, very very lush, green, sloping hillsides covered with coconut palms, sparse population, beautiful.

By 2pm we were in the bay and looking for a spot to anchor. There were only 4 other boats there and 2 were on permanent moorings. We scouted around but found only water 70 or 80ft deep, or shallows about 5ft deep. Then Kate spotted a free mooring and we asked the boat next to us who had come in just before us, and who had picked one up, who owned them. The lady of the house said a family ashore owned them and she would call them on the radio and ask if I could use it. Meanwhile, Kate picked up the buoy and made the line fast on the bow cleat. By the time that was done the women next door called over that it was ok, so here we are. The first time on a permanent mooring in over a year.

The water is flat calm here, deep in the bay, but the wind howls down through the valley at 15-20k with some gusts higher. We're quite more comfortable then we were exposed on the North side though. Tomorrow we will move down to Raiatea to get fuel and re-provision.