NAI'A wrecked in Tonga?

I just heard that the Nai'a wrecked (complete loss) while in Tonga this season. Does anyone have any details?

Got an email from Josh on the 21st saying they were all fine and the boat is in Fiji for repairs. Damage is not extreme and is expected to be ready Sept 8th.

Details: Aug 10th 3am hit reef on Luanamo, 4am abandoned ship. Boat was removed and towed back to Fiji Aug 16.

What else you wanna know?

yes, i read a post from Ken Kurtis (a member of WP) on another board. He had info similar to Drew....

Supposed to be info on their website... someone with faster internet than me can check....

From their site:

I've been busy getting NAI'A home from Tonga, but now I have time to write an update for all of you who have inquired about her grounding. My apologies for not posting this earlier.

 

NAI'A ran aground on Luanamo Island in the Southern Ha'apai Group of Tonga early Thursday morning, August 10, at the height of a gale. She had been comfortably anchored when the wind shifted 180 degrees and picked up to gale force in the space of five minutes, causing the anchor to drag until the keel fetched up on the fringing reef. The crew transferred all the passengers to the island as soon as it became apparent that NAI'A could not back off the reef under her own power. I was in constant contact with them via satphone and, when the storm abated a few hours later, we arranged for a 60ft private yacht in the vicinity to transfer everyone to the luxurious Sandy Beach Resort, where we put them up until the first available flights back to Nuku'alofa and onward.

 

Unfortunately NAI'A went aground at the top of the full-moon high tide, leaving her high and dry at low tide, so it took considerable time and effort to pull her off the reef. A salvage team led by the former commander of the Tongan Navy successfully pulled her free a week later using a big tug. There was a final twist to the drama when the barge that was being towed in series with NAI'A sank, nearly taking NAI'A and the tug with her. Truly heroic action by the seamen on the barge, the tug, and on NAI'A averted disaster.

 

We've always known that NAI'A's Dutch builders crafted a very sturdy steel ship, but we've never put her to the test before. The only damage is an eight inch tear in the plating and some damage to an external bilge keel plus a few other dents. Luckily steel is very easily repaired and all but the cosmetic repairs have already been completed at dry-dock.

 

Although we had to cancel two charters at the end of the Tonga whale season, we are gratified that the passengers affected have showed us so much support. Nearly everyone whose expedition was so rudely interrupted have chosen to come back again next year rather than accept the refund we offered and cinematographer Tom Campbell, who had chartered the whole boat for a film project, volunteered to keep his money in until next year as well.

 

We had a dry-dock refit scheduled four months from now anyway so we've just moved that ahead a bit, which will have NAI'A better than ever by her first scheduled charter back in Fiji on September 20.

thanks Cor...

Rob and Cat are great people and the Naia a nice boat. glad to hear of such minimal damage and that the boat will be up and runnin asap

initial reports were a little sketchy but I'm scheduled to go on a 10 day trip Oct 14 and I've been told that the Naia will be ready well before then. For once I'm glad I purchased insuranc though.