LTY UPDATE: Saturday, August 25, 2012
Itchepthav Bay, Aneityum island Vanuatu LTY time: 16:50 (Vanuatu time = UTC +12)
Location: Itchepthav Bay, Aneityum island Vanuatu
Position: 20 08.479 S, 169 46.633 E (you can cut & past this into Google Earth to see on map)
Wind: 8-18 knots NE True (in the bay)
Seas/Swell: 2 feet @ 8 secs
Air temp: 80.6 F 27C
Sea temp: 84.2 F 29.0 C
Barometer: 1021mm ONE MORE DAY in ITCHEPTHAV BAY
Thanks SO much to all of you who sent Emails and text messages with your kind concerns and best wishes for my recovery from this interesting experience with Dengue Fever I’ve just had. They mean a great deal to me and remind me just how charmed a life I do lead to be surrounded by so many special friends and family. My sincere thanks! While not something I’d wish for I can assure you, Dengue Fever, like all my other experiences has been great learning experience and something I’m the better for. Just imagine how strong and revitalized my immune system is for example! ;) It all went pretty much text book like with the various symptoms, especially the “breakback” pain in the lower back where the name originates from apparently and the fact that it lasted for exactly seven days. I’m perhaps a little bit weak still but easily 95% otherwise so it is also nice that it disappears about as quickly as it comes. As Nietzsche so aptly put it “That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” and those are words I’ve found to be more and more true over the years. I was going to up anchor and sail north to Tanna Island early this morning but it was raining and not much wind so I’ve stayed to enjoy another day here in beautiful little Itchepthav Bay which I have all to myself. The sun cooperated and came out by mid morning and has stayed sunny all day and as forecast the wind has been picking up this afternoon so tomorrow morning should work very well for the day sail up to Tanna. It should be about 50nm, so about 8-10 hours depending on conditions. I’ll be putting in at Port Resolution on the SE corner of Tanna which is reported to be a well protected anchorage and easy access ashore to the village there and people who can help you make the climb up to the volcano. Today has been extremely enjoyable as it is the first full day I’ve spent this year in my favorite state, being the only boat in the bay off some isolated island beach. Clouds have all burned off, the wind is up and running my wind generator nicely as well as keeping any flies and mosquitoes away and I’m surrounded on three sided by this lush mountainous hills of this idyllic little bay for one so what’s not to like? Leaving Fiji was the official start I guess but this now feels more like the true start to this year’s sailing adventures and season and it could not be off to a better start. My lungs aren’t up for it quite yet so I’ve not been snorkeling, plus the water is still cold by my wimpy standards (29C/84F) so I’ve not been in snorkeling and being the spoiled little snorkeler I am the coral and fish life here isn’t too spectacular. This whole year has been much colder than my previous 2 years in Fiji and I do miss the hotter weather. It used to be that a thin sheet was enough or too much at nights and you needed to have the fans on each night but this year I am still needing to have a blanket at night. Makes for nicer sleeping I suppose but I do much prefer the heat during the day when and find it quite cold anytime it dips below 25C now. Am I a warm weather wimp or what!? However the current weather and location all makes for pleasant dingy rides and walks on the beach and Ruby enjoys those MUCH more than snorkeling as she still has trouble getting her mask to seal well and remember to not breath through her nose! I still haven’t quite figured out the situation ashore with local villages. I suspect there are several villages within a few KM of here as I do see people on the beach from time to time gathering shellfish and the like. There is also a nice fresh water creek of a good size that comes down through the mountain valleys lying right in front or me and emptying in the bay and there have been several groups of ladies and children who have come down there to wash clothes and themselves. Makes for good people watching but I’ve not met any of them on my trips to shore yet. Well, the sun is making its daily dive for the western horizon so time to me to head for my lounge chair on the aft deck to toast another sun down. I’ll raise a glass for you too and hope you are enjoying your evening as either summer or winter (depending on which side of the equator you are on) draws to a close for 2012. Wayne & Ruby the Wonderdog
Itchepthav Bay, Aneityum island Vanuatu LTY time: 16:50 (Vanuatu time = UTC +12)
Location: Itchepthav Bay, Aneityum island Vanuatu
Position: 20 08.479 S, 169 46.633 E (you can cut & past this into Google Earth to see on map)
Wind: 8-18 knots NE True (in the bay)
Seas/Swell: 2 feet @ 8 secs
Air temp: 80.6 F 27C
Sea temp: 84.2 F 29.0 C
Barometer: 1021mm ONE MORE DAY in ITCHEPTHAV BAY
Thanks SO much to all of you who sent Emails and text messages with your kind concerns and best wishes for my recovery from this interesting experience with Dengue Fever I’ve just had. They mean a great deal to me and remind me just how charmed a life I do lead to be surrounded by so many special friends and family. My sincere thanks! While not something I’d wish for I can assure you, Dengue Fever, like all my other experiences has been great learning experience and something I’m the better for. Just imagine how strong and revitalized my immune system is for example! ;) It all went pretty much text book like with the various symptoms, especially the “breakback” pain in the lower back where the name originates from apparently and the fact that it lasted for exactly seven days. I’m perhaps a little bit weak still but easily 95% otherwise so it is also nice that it disappears about as quickly as it comes. As Nietzsche so aptly put it “That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” and those are words I’ve found to be more and more true over the years. I was going to up anchor and sail north to Tanna Island early this morning but it was raining and not much wind so I’ve stayed to enjoy another day here in beautiful little Itchepthav Bay which I have all to myself. The sun cooperated and came out by mid morning and has stayed sunny all day and as forecast the wind has been picking up this afternoon so tomorrow morning should work very well for the day sail up to Tanna. It should be about 50nm, so about 8-10 hours depending on conditions. I’ll be putting in at Port Resolution on the SE corner of Tanna which is reported to be a well protected anchorage and easy access ashore to the village there and people who can help you make the climb up to the volcano. Today has been extremely enjoyable as it is the first full day I’ve spent this year in my favorite state, being the only boat in the bay off some isolated island beach. Clouds have all burned off, the wind is up and running my wind generator nicely as well as keeping any flies and mosquitoes away and I’m surrounded on three sided by this lush mountainous hills of this idyllic little bay for one so what’s not to like? Leaving Fiji was the official start I guess but this now feels more like the true start to this year’s sailing adventures and season and it could not be off to a better start. My lungs aren’t up for it quite yet so I’ve not been snorkeling, plus the water is still cold by my wimpy standards (29C/84F) so I’ve not been in snorkeling and being the spoiled little snorkeler I am the coral and fish life here isn’t too spectacular. This whole year has been much colder than my previous 2 years in Fiji and I do miss the hotter weather. It used to be that a thin sheet was enough or too much at nights and you needed to have the fans on each night but this year I am still needing to have a blanket at night. Makes for nicer sleeping I suppose but I do much prefer the heat during the day when and find it quite cold anytime it dips below 25C now. Am I a warm weather wimp or what!? However the current weather and location all makes for pleasant dingy rides and walks on the beach and Ruby enjoys those MUCH more than snorkeling as she still has trouble getting her mask to seal well and remember to not breath through her nose! I still haven’t quite figured out the situation ashore with local villages. I suspect there are several villages within a few KM of here as I do see people on the beach from time to time gathering shellfish and the like. There is also a nice fresh water creek of a good size that comes down through the mountain valleys lying right in front or me and emptying in the bay and there have been several groups of ladies and children who have come down there to wash clothes and themselves. Makes for good people watching but I’ve not met any of them on my trips to shore yet. Well, the sun is making its daily dive for the western horizon so time to me to head for my lounge chair on the aft deck to toast another sun down. I’ll raise a glass for you too and hope you are enjoying your evening as either summer or winter (depending on which side of the equator you are on) draws to a close for 2012. Wayne & Ruby the Wonderdog
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