Vanuatu Islands to Mackay, Australia

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Sat 21 Aug 2010 01:13
21ST AUGUST, 2010

WE HAVE ARRIVED AND COMPLETED OUR CROSSING OF THE PACIFIC!!
Sorry I have not been able to get on line before now to send photos.  We had a fantastic time sailing up through the islands of Vanuatu.  Both French and English are spoken as it was administered by both countries until thirty years ago.
We anchored off the island of Yuripiv and were greeted by the head of the village who showed us around the island.  In order to go to church the next day his wife insisted I have a present of a 'Mother Hubbard Dress as even a European style dress was not considered appropriate for the church.  I think the dresses must have been introduced by the missionaries back in the early 1900s.!  See photo'
We had a very good sail from Vanuatu to Mackay taking 7 days.  We waited for a weather window as the smaller yachts who left before us had a hard time in 40 knot winds.  Other than one front which lasted a few hours we had an average wind of 15 - 20 knots, perfect, champagne sailing.
Now in Mackay and scrubbed the yacht down inside and out. We were in quarantine for a night and morning searched by customs had to hand over four very good British steaks from the freezer, but was allowed to keep the NZ rack of lamb and everything that was commercially sealed and bottled.  He didn't even want to look at our drinks locker although I tried to show him.  He checked things like pasta and bags of herbs and spices for bugs.  Gifts for wood bugs.  All was fine, so not as traumatic as some people make it out to be.  Everything cooked I was allowed to keep, which was great.
Have met up with David de Kantzow, for those of you who remember him from HK days.  He has the use of a friends catamaran and is on his way up to the Whitsundays, so we are going to set sail with him on Tues or Wed for a few days up there before heading down to Brisbane to lay up the yacht.  We will be staying with Maggie and Rob Law whilst we do so.



Yuripiv Island from Aqualuna

 



Children following us to church

 



Donald sounding church 'gong'

 



Gabbie wearing her 'Mother Hubbard' dress given to her by the island chief's wife to wear to church

 



Boys crowding around the yacht

 



One boy canoe

 



Canoes on the island beach and greeting us 

 



Boy paddeling canoe

 



Red Footed Boobie sitting on our dingy for the night