To All
After a year in Fiji it was once again sailing in the Blue Water. the passage from Fiji to Port Vila Vanuatu was plotted as 516 miles or for us figuring on about 130 miles in a 24 hour period a 4 day trip. Kathy and I stand strict 4 hour watches when on passage and Connie as guest was exempt from official watches. Instead she probably spent more awake time than either Kathy or I. It was especially nice that Connie had no problem doing galley chores.
Thursday 0930 hours out the pass and sailing on a course due west for Vanuatu. We were accompanied on this passage by 3 other boats. Meaning we all leave the same day but during the trip we really never see each other but do keep in contact via radio. The boats being different sizes and types with varying speed capabilities also means quite different arrivals.
The first 2 days were just lovely sailing. Wind aft of the beam and anywhere from 5 to 14 knots. The first day out we caught a nice sized tuna to add to the already stocked freezer.
Next we had some light winds and had to fire up Miss Perky. By keeping the RPM's down she had no "hot flashes" and we continued on our way.
As we move along we get daily weather reports through our sailmail internet provider and all looked as winds continuing in the 10 to 15 knot range till Tues. 4 May when we should be safely anchored in Port Vila. We were keeping on our schedule but no one let the wind gods know that they were to stay in the 15 knot range. Sunday evening the winds began to increase. Now we were having 25 to 30 with higher gusts. Sailing still with the wind aft of the beam we were comfortable but now we were going to fast speed of 7.5 to 8+ knots. and our arrival time was projected to be in the middle of the night. One rule we like to never break is entering an unfamiliar anchorage in the dark. The solution put a third reef in the main. So out on deck I go get the reef in and we continue on at a mere 6 to 6.5 knots but we will now arrive in the early morning daylight.
Monday morning after a very nice passage we were anchored at the quarantine buoy in Port Vila. The last of our group to arrive but two of the boats choose to enter during the night. On arrival we are once again required to do the paperwork shuffle. First we're boarded by the health officer. We can't bring in any fresh fruit so that goes in a bag. We lie and deny having any beef on board as we don't want to give any of our frozen up. The biggest concern is of course our two cats. We know that they are not allowed on shore and as we will be either on a mooring or at anchor there is not a chance of that anyway. We move from the "Q" area onto a mooring and then it's off to town to complete the formalities, immigration and customs.
Now your assignment is to google Vanuatu and see where we are and what we can be doing. A little insight. Vanuatu is a independent island nation in the west Pacific ocean. The islands are volcanic with a number still active. In 2007 Vanuatu was termed the "Happiest Country in the World". The money here is vatu with an exchange rate of 100 to 1 with US $.
We will only be here for a short time and it appears there is a lot to see and do so updates may be coming more quickly. We hope this finds All healthy and Happy. J&K
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