Paw Paw - Log Day 189: Pago Pago, Not Your Typical Tropical Island Destination

Earlier today we sailed passed the uninhabited atoll of Rose Island and then spotted "land ahoy" soon thereafter; the eastern islands of American Samoa known as the Manua Islands comprising the islands of Ta'u, Ofu and Olosega. While these islands are inhabited, we have to sail passed them, since the only anchorages available to yachts in American Samoa are on Tutuila Island.

This has been a very long 10 days for us since leaving Bora Bora and while we're looking forward to getting into an anchorage, unfortunately Pago Pago is not your typical tropical island destination. Apparently the water is dirty so we won't be able to run out watermaker. A huge Starkist tuna cannery is located in the harbour which belches out odours that smell like rotten cabbage. Mix that with a constant drone and diesel fumes from a nearby generator plant and you have anything, but paradise!

So, why on earth would we come here, I hear you ask. Well, we have a shipment to collect and apparently there is access to good doctors, dentists and opticians, all of which we need for our annual checkups, dental cleaning and new glasses. Additionally, there is very good, inexpensive provisioning and, since food was very expensive in French Polynesia, we've depleted our ships stores, so we need to restock before heading to Samoa and Tonga.

We have been told, however, not to judge American Samoa by the Pago Pago harbour area, so we're looking forward to enjoying the rest of what the island has to offer as well as seeing Do Over who arrived a few days ago.