LTY UPDATE: Sunday, August 26, 2012
Port Resolution, Tanna island, Vanuatu
LTY time: 17:40:00 (Fiji time = UTC +12)
Location: Port Resolution, Tanna island, Vanuatu
Position: 19 31.483 S, 169 29.800 E (you can cut & past this into Google Earth to see on map)
Wind: 5-10 knots SE (inside the bay)
Seas/Swell: 6ft @ 6 seconds SE (coming from)
Air temp: 77 F 25C
Sea temp: 84.2 F 29 C
Barometer: 1020mm
GREAT SAIL to TANNA
I was up at first light to make breakfast and get things all ready to go and by 06:30 had the main sail up, then the anchor and we were on our way north to Tanna Island, home of one of Vanuatu's two active volcano's. It was a perfect morning with the scattered clouds dispersing as they day progressed and a good SE wind of 15-22 knots. Ideal sailing weather other than still a bit cold for my thin tropical blood. It was a fabulous and fast sail up to Port Resolution, just under seven hours for the 45nm sail. Swells were rather large out of the SE so must have been some good sized storms down in the lower latitudes which is typical this time of year but these make the ride all the more thrilling for me.
Port Resolution is a tiny and reasonably well protected bay on the SE corner of Tanna and you can check it out in Google Earth to get a good sense of it. I’m tucked in close to shore on the SE corner out of the way of most of the swell that hooks around the point and so far it is very comfortable. Some of the local boys/men have already been out in the dugout outrigger canoes just to chat, offering some fruit and the like. One of them is making arrangements for those of us who arrived today (three other boats) to get a ride up to “Yasur” the volcano and it looks good to be able to do that tomorrow afternoon and evening. We’ll leave here about 5pm so we get there in time to see both the sunset and then the fiery display in the night.
This is not your typical “tour” and would be outlawed I’m sure in most other places as there is always the danger of being hit by one of the “bombs” as they call them, which are the chunks of just hardened lava as it gets spit out and every year there are a few deaths apparently. However they monitor the volcanic activity and you don’t go if it is being particularly violent. With these kinds of things and most in life, I just play the odds and I figure the odds of getting hit are relatively low and well worth it to be able to peer down into an active volcano and have this overall experience so OF COURSE I’m going! I’ll give you the update tomorrow or the day after as it is likely going to be late by the time we get back tomorrow night.
Otherwise this is another gorgeous spot. I’ve been ashore to walk around for an hour or so and it is like a botanical garden in the small villages. There is even a “Yacht Club” in the form of a small building where you can gather and three small bungalow type huts that I think you can rent. I’ll spend more time ashore and go walk to the larger village and market tomorrow so will know more then. But from my excursions today it is absolutely beautiful, very friendly people and very remote.
Sun has gone down already here (6pm) as the bay is set as most are inside some relatively steep mountainous walls so the sun sets early and rises late visibly. That means it’s getting cold for me and time to go make dinner so I’ll leave you with this short update and have lots more to relate after more time ashore and the trip up to see the volcano.
Wayne
Comments