Arrived in Vanuatu!
Mystic
Archie Massey and Jo Wood-Hill
Tue 2 Oct 2012 23:36
Lon 169:29.74E
Tuesday, 3pm
We have arrived in Vanuatu after a fairly quick and easy passage. We had 15knts of wind across the beam for most of the way and were cruising at 8 knots for much of the time! It took us 3 days and 2 hours, which was the quickest we could have hoped for. We left the Fiji rain behind as soon as we were out of the barrier reef at Namotu, and have enjoyed clear skies all the way across.
We are now anchored in Port Resolution, on the island of Tanna. It is not a port at all - more like a bay with a nice white sand beach and a couple of huts around the bay! There are 7 other boats here, including the Belgian family on Laissez Faire that we have been following around!
The main reason for coming here was to visit the world's most accessible active volcano, Mt Yasur. As we sailed in this afternoon we could see great plumes of brown smoke and ash rising into the sky above the anchorage. We're not sure that anchoring here would be that great if the wind changed as presumably we will get the boat covered in ash!
Jem and Ewan, our friends from Bondi, arrive tomorrow which we are really looking forward to. Apart from visiting the volcano we are also hoping to take a truck over the mountainous interior to check in with customs and visit some of the traditional villages. After that we'll sail the 120 miles to the capital - Port Villa.
Not sure when we get internet again - this is not Fiji!
Bye bye rainy Fiji
Let's go West. As soon as we left the barrier reef the sun came out for a gorgeous sunset
Archie keeping a good lookout
Mt Yasur erupting as we approached Tanna - it seemed to do this every few minutes!