Yeah, we have arrived in Vanuatu!
18 June 2016 | Anelghowhat, Aneityum, Vanuatu
Paul Duncan
We're pleased to be back up in the tropics safely on anchor after a robust 5 day 23hr sail in 20-25 knots gusting 30 from the SSE-SE, along with a confused 2-3m sea state. Whilst not a great passage due to the terrible sea state, at least it was quick. At one stage we saw 11.4 knots of boats speed, which matches our previous record for Iolea. All boat systems worked flawlessly and we had no gear failure, I (Paul) however did at one stage make a poor sleep deprived choice by electing to take a nap on the windward (i.e. wrong side) side of the boat only to be promptly thrown out of bed when we were hit by a large wave, resulting in bruises but no broken bones. Overall, we cannot complain though; as this was the first safe sailing window of the season. Earlier windows resulted in excessive motoring or unsafe conditions. In our case, apart from using the engine to motor out of NZ and into the anchorage here in Vanuatu, the engine was not used once this passage. Now that we are here we see that there is a massive low travelling across the Tasman which will bring huge winds and seas and quite a storm hitting NZ. Anyone still in NZ wanting to sail north must now wait for at least two weeks before they will have any chance of seeing a decent window. We count ourselves lucky to have had this timely opportunity to sail to Vanuatu.