Letter from Vanuatu

Crewperson Ameria takes time to write from Santo after the Banks Islands voyage:

Hope all’s well in the motherland! Having a great time here, every trip is different and the crew and Jim are fantastic. The VC’s on voyage 255 seemed to be an interesting bunch with quite a bit of enthusiasm and the two young guys – Simon and Johnny – were absolutely hilarious.

Some highlights were the ‘snake dancing’ which was raved about. The photos are brilliant, just like postcards. This was not far off Vanua Lava on the east coast, near Port Patterson where we had a challenge from Jim to erect the ships banner between two palms on a mushroom of rock which Jon, Gareth and Simon fearlessly did, even though the rock had sea snakes writhing all over it! Emma and I were happy to stand off and take pics.

Ureparapara was amazing. The north of Banks Islands anchored in a volcano crater! Dugouts and shadows in the night as we furl the jibs on our arrival and shapes like ghosts in the reflection of the masthead light. Feasts of crayfish, rice, taro, papaya salad and lap-lap – ‘best kava in the world’!

Waterfall Bay was amazing. Green Jurassic jungle cascading down the cliffs as if God had spilt a tin of green paint. The waterfall on the headland a rush of cool, fresh water enjoyed by all. We swam for an hour with the locals and climbed behind the torrent of water where spray fills your eyes from all angles and bounces off the rocks. The women demonstrated ‘water music’, slapping the water to create drum sounds, quite remarkable – like emu thumping. Flying foxes or bats fly above looking like pterodactyls from a million years ago. Above the falls, on the cliff, the peace and serenity of nature is overwhelming.

The local boys come aboard Soren and set up a string band which is a huge success with all the crew up and dancing.

At Wasi Village we go ashore to buy some Lapita pottery which dates back 3500 years. It looks weathered already and fragile but we are more than happy to give these people money. Outside the lee of Remarkable Point, when we head to Mata’arae we have a bit of a slog to windward in 30kt winds which is a bit wet but good sailing which veryone enjoyed. Also, the next day, sailing back to Santo we had winds on the beam – and we managed to hook a tuna for sashimi for the last night party!

Well as you can probably tell I could keep writing fo hours, but I’d better make my way back to Soren. I’ve had my time off and now its back to work!

It has been pouring with rain today here in Santo which wasn’t a lot of fun but some of the crew have gone diving which seems like a sensible thing to do here!

Cheers

Amiria

See the Full Picture Gallery from this voyage here

Soren Larsen will be visiting these destinations again next year.