The Marumaru Atua crew have sought shelter in Palmerston from rough weather conditions on their return to Rarotonga from Suwarrow.

The crew left Suwarrow on Wednesday.

Cook Islands Voyaging Society Secretary Byron Brown said Palmerston gave permission for the vaka to anchor for shelter in what were “pretty gnarly” conditions.

“It would have been an uncomfortable trip for those couple of days they were out there,” Brown said.

He said the vaka needed permission from the Palmerston Island Council to go to mooring because Covid-19 restrictions meant the island was closed to visitors.

Brown said the crew stayed on the vaka the whole time.

The crew were given fish, akari and lime from Palmerston residents while they waited out the weather.

The vaka departed Palmerson on Monday morning and is expected to arrive in Rarotonga either Wednesday or Thursday.

Crew and Te Ipukarea Society members were in Suwarrow to lay rat bait.