Vanuatu, Tanna

Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Fri 8 Oct 2010 23:57
19.31.537 S  169.29.784 E
 
We arrived safely in Resolution Bay Tanna a few days ago, after a passage with plenty of waves and some water, from slapping waves in the cockpit.
We took a taxi to go to the other side of the island to see customs and immigration. It was an interesting trip (puncture on the way back), past the live volcano that we were going to visit. This unfortunately did not happen. It rained very hard when we got back from immigration and the guide said that all we would see was steam. The intention was to go the next day, yesterday, but our help was needed in a search and rescue off a neighboring island, A local boat with 12 people in it had capsized the day before. We went with four yachts, some local boats, who searched inshore, one patrol boat and an aircraft. Between us we did manage to find some survivors, some had swam ashore, but three were still missing when we had to call the search off when it got dark.
We set off for Port Vile for a night passage. We are about 30 miles off now and are looking forward to a few days of rest and sightseeing.
 
          
 
        Puncture on the way back from town                                Search and Rescue plane