Lolowai Bay - Ambae Island, Vanuatu
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Wed 16 Sep 2009 02:30
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15:16.818S 167:58.769E
Note: Scroll down to see the picture and
description.
We left Palikulo Bay on Espiritu Santo Island on
September 2nd and started our planned two week island hopping trek to Port Vila,
the capital city (really two road town), of Vanuatu. We sailed nearly
fifty miles east to Lolowai Bay on Ambae Island with a marvelously clear
sky except for the cloud that seemed to be permanently attached to the top
of the old volcanic peaks on Ambae Island. With two hours to
go, the volcanic peaks blocked the southeast wind as we attempted to
sail up the northwest coast of the island. The engine had to be turned on
so we could motorsail, but with no complaints from the crew since the
island sheltered us from the waves as well as the wind. We followed
Storyteller and another sailboat through the narrow reef pass into the small bay
where there was a small town with a tiny hospital and, wow, power. This
town, called Saratamata, is the provincial government center for Ambae and the
surrounding islands, hence the power, the hospital and lack of canoes paddling
out to greet us. We didn't go ashore and stayed only one night
leaving the next morning for Asanvari Bay on the southern tip of neighboring
Maewo Island.
Picture 1 - Our view from inside the bay looking
out across the reef to Maewo Island in the background.
Anne
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