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GPS: 17 44.241S 168 18.608E

Run: 145.9nm (264.1km)

No, we are still not officially in Vanuatu.

We arrived in Port Vila about 12 noon yesterday and customs came to see us just after 3.00pm. That was fine but immigration and biosecurity were busy, so we still aren’t here. Their offices reopen on Monday so we will be able to go to the office and complete booking in.

On our way here Marion tried out another seasick remedy. Masking tape across the stomach. Not sure if that did any good.

Port Vila is the nicest and cleanest city/port we have been in so far. Waiting for customs we were anchored in 7m of water and could see the coral bottom. Two Dugongs swam past to greet us. We were too slow to grab the camera. We have moved closer into the harbour on a mooring ball and the water is still clear. Isle of Wallis may not be our number one spot for long.? Today we went to buy data and fresh fruit and veggies. The local market has the best quality and range of produce we have seen in all the islands.

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Well, we are still not officially in Vanuatu.

Due to bad rain on the morning before we arrived the road from the other side of the island had been washed way. This meant customs could not get here.

There are 4 other boats in the bay with us some trying to book in some trying to book out. We all went ashore to look at the volcano yesterday evening. What an experience! What’s health and safety?? We were picked up from the bay by two Toyota 4×4 dual cabs. Five in the cab + driver and six in the tray. 45 minutes later we arrived at the base of the volcano. We were each issued a plastic helmet to protect us from falling ash (health and safety). This is where we get transferred to single cab 4x4s this time ten of us in the tray. The tray did have seating, 50mm x 200mm planks nailed together and a pipe framework holding up a trampoline. We all clung into the pipes as the seating slid around as we went up the mountainside.

We arrived at the top of the mountain just before sunset and we walked up to the rim of the crater. We were then lead around the rim of the volcano which in places was only 500mm wide. The hand rails along the track ended just before reaching the rim. Who needs hand rails?? They probably kept burning up.

But there is nowhere else you could get so close and see so much. There was loud bangs as the lava exploded into the air with such force that the air pressure would push you back if you weren’t steady footed. We stayed there for about two hours after dark and then made our way back to the 4x4s using torches or our phones to see the way.

An amazing experience. Now we are off to Port Vila to clear customs and officially be here.

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GPS: 19 31.503S 169 29.706E

Run: 125.2nm (226.6km)
Avg: 5.4knts
24hr: 128.7nm

We are unofficially in Vanuatu. Before we left Fiji we emailed Vanuatu customs of our arrival date and they confirmed they will be waiting. Three hours before arriving we emailed them to say we would arrive at 2pm and again they confirmed they would be waiting. It’s now 5.30 pm and we are still waiting.

It’s been an eventful day. It started with a series of squalls overnight and into the morning. Daybreak revealed several kamikaze flying fish lying on the foredeck. As we approached Port Resolution (about 800m off the narrow entrance) under motor, the motor died. Quickly we put out the headsail, no time to put up the main. Sue and Marion now with a bit of sail power turned away from the entrance, while Andrew figured out what has happened to the motor.

No fuel getting to the motor! One of the two fuel filters dirty? No time to replace filters. Turning the valves over and reroute from the tank to the secondary filters (back up system). Oh, no fuel getting through. Check the main tank valves, yes they are turned on. Okay blocked fuel line from tank. No time to do anything about it while bouncing around in these waves. Grab the jerry can with diesel, into the engine room and put the filler hose into it. The filler hose is connected to a pump leading to the backup system. Turn the pump on. Fuel now running through the back up system, turn on the engine. With a few coughs and splutters it fired up.

We furled the sail away and motored into the bay. Finding a place to anchor was easy, not too many boats in the bay. Dropping the anchor, well that wasn’t quite as easy. With all the bouncing around going through the squalls, the manual handle and mechanism on the winch had jammed. The anchor only went down 1m. By this time the wind had caught the boat and pulled the bow around pointing towards the rocks. Sue being on the helm knew to put it back in gear and with full revs do a 360 to bring it back into position. By the time the boat was back in position Andrew had sorted the anchor and we were set.

Marion is cooking dinner tonight. As she is French it must be something good. Ooh la la!

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GPS: 19 09.496S 171 22.473E

Run: 179.5nm (324.9km)
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 163.8nm

Another relaxing day doing 6 knots with the wind and waves behind us.

To kill the boredom Andrew set the crew (Marion) to work washing windows.

This evening with just a little rolling motion we had dinner on the foredeck as we watched the sunset over the bow.

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GPS: 18 38.062S 174 03.764E

Run: 143.2nm (259.2km)
Avg: 6.1knts
24hr: 147.5nm

Not a lot to report. No dolphins, no whales, no fish! Marion had second day flu. The majority of people get seasick usually the second day. We’ve discovered one of the seasick tablets we have on board can have the adverse reaction of sending people to sleep, as Ben (my son) discovered and with Marion today.

Still making good headway today, weather permitting we should arrive at Port Resolution on Tuesday.