Post by ComfortZone on Jun 10, 2023 15:41:50 GMT 12
Vanuatu is very peaceful at present, but there is a swarm of cruisers headed our way. I was in the Yachting World Port Vila Office this morning and they have all the rallies coming thru on their white board. Fiji currently has the "invasion" from NZ, French Polynesia seeing all the "coconut Milk Run " participants and a significant number will arrive in Vanuatu in August. Not sure what they are going to eat, produce is in short supply and expensive, the cyclones ravaged their crops. Can't even buy a bunch of bananas at present.
all going well, just taking it easy currently anchored in a corner of Mele Bay beside the rather rundown Hideaway resort and the much better Beach Bar. Nice spot but can be a bit rolly. GF arrived on Wednesday took a while to get thru customs as no she was not going to pay import duty, GST and anything else they could think of on the spare alternator she was carrying for CZ (the big one is working OK but sounding a bit noisy so wanted to have a spare just in case) Weather is warm but often overcast and the occasional shower, water temp very nice for swimming. An eclectic collection of boats in the bay ranging from Uhuru (Oyster62 that was in NZ in the summer) to a very basic 8m yacht which is sailed by a woman singlehander with the Youtube site "Sailing Wind Hippie" and another little 9m boat that the crew have been cruising on for 17 yrs including being stuck in Chile for near on 3 yrs with all the COVID restrictions. We are going back to Vila tomorrow for final stock up of whatever fresh produce and fruit we can lay our hands on, top off diesel, water, data credit, cash, groceries (eggs are cheaper here than NZ) and a few other things then heading north. Couple of days in Port Havanna then Thursday on to Epi (no cell coverage there) and beyond. Have to fluctuate back to areas with coverage from time to time as GF needs to keep working. No doubt Starlink will be the way to go in future years. One unexpected issue has been battery charging, was expecting solar to pretty much keep CZ going when on hook but that has not been the case. Solar output well down with overcast weather and low sun intensity/angles so having to run the engine once a day to pull the freezer down and and bring up the batteries. Others having same experiences and those with wind generators not seeing alot of output.
Thanks for the update CZ. Weather has turned to custard here again so warm and overcast sounds not bad to me.
Windhippy aka Holly certainly gets around. I had lunch with her and her mum in Rotorua a few months back and gave her a near new head to replace her old one on the "Gecko".
I've nearly finished the book she gave me that her parents wrote about their 3 or so years cruising around the arctic as a family with three young kids.
Fogg so wrong asking CF to share his photos........just make the rest of us super super super envy.
Well atleast the sun is shining today.
I was more worried that CZ's girl friend had just arrived. After a long absence. Fogg was making an assumption CZ was swanning around amazing bays and anchorages, as opposed to, err, 'catching up' with gf. I def don't want any photos of that.
Yeah Holly (Wind Hippie Sailing) is a cool girl. We met her when she was staying at GH and she joined us for drinks & dinner one evening. And I helped out with a few things before she left that were made easier by having a car eg a few runs to the fuel station to fill up her jerry cans. Also dug into my spares boxes to help her replace some worn out kit before she departed eg spare lines, mainsheet & blocks. Even gave her a freshly cooked loaf of bread the morning she departed. She was really keen to depart cold, wet & windy NZ so she left the week before you, CZ, and had a much bumpier trip than you did. Her BF (Dan) is the chef on Uhuru so you’ll see those two buddy boating a bit, no doubt.
Also Olivia (YT channel “Wilderness of Waves”) is another singlehanded American girl living the dream and I think she’s also in Vanuatu, planning to buddy-boat with Holly this season.
Meanwhile, back in Auckland the morning mist has lifted and the sun has come out but it’s still v cold. And I overdid my morning swim - stayed in 5 mins too long - so I’m standing in the sunshine drinking hot tea trying to overcome excessive after-drop… 🙄
Meanwhile, back in Auckland the morning mist has lifted and the sun has come out but it’s still v cold. And I overdid my morning swim - stayed in 5 mins too long - so I’m standing in the sunshine drinking hot tea trying to overcome excessive after-drop… 🙄
If you ever get the feeling I'm looking at you as if I'm questioning your sanity, remember that post
The bathshed dunny seat was about 87 degrees below freezing this AM. But it was awesome sitting there looking out over all the fog ( only the 1 g ) in the valleys with the odd ridge sticking out like islands.
Some posts done via cellphone hence what you read is unlikely to be what I wrote.
Her BF (Dan) is the chef on Uhuru so you’ll see those two buddy boating a bit, no doubt.
Also Olivia (YT channel “Wilderness of Waves”) is another singlehanded American girl living the dream and I think she’s also in Vanuatu, planning to buddy-boat with Holly this season.
Ah, that would explain the Uhuru crew member being rowed back to Uhuru yesterday morning
If Olivia has a traditional style US boat with lots of green trim and canvas work have seen her as well. Will post some photos as soon as I figure out how to download from the new phone. On our way to Port Havanna
CZ currently in Port Havannah, but we are in hotel in Port Vila. GF has come down with health problem needing doctor's care. Found a good doctor with well equipped cljnic, you don't want to go the hospital here. Our friends keeping an eye on CZ
CZ currently in Port Havannah, but we are in hotel in Port Vila. GF has come down with health problem needing doctor's care. Found a good doctor with well equipped cljnic, you don't want to go the hospital here. Our friends keeping an eye on CZ
A few hours later and the GF is trending towards -
Better
Worse
Still the same, no change
Never fun having health issues in far flung places where they often speak funny.
I had one in Bora bora with a French only speaking Doc. That was not fun at all.
Some posts done via cellphone hence what you read is unlikely to be what I wrote.