Bound for Australia

Just 20 minutes out of Port Vila we had drawn a complete blank on the fishing. This was a big disappointment to Margaret, who was very keen to catch just something ahead of brother Mark and uncle Scott coming onboard in Noumea. Then fish on and the reel buzzed. Margaret hauled it in, Warren gaffed it and Carolyn was on camera. A 12.7 kg wahoo – our biggest fish yet by 2.5 kg, and a good target to beat. The downside is we were still eating it a week later, even after giving away the head and tail. We tucked into the harbour and behind a small resort island where we picked up a mooring buoy from Yachting World, the local boaters ‘can do’ people who run a bar, restaurant, laundry, moorings and anything else you need. To get there we had to go under the power lines, which are charted at 18 metres, but according to the latest pilot book have been raised to 28 m. We had carefully measured the mast again in Erromango – 23 m from water level to top of the mast and thankfully did not cause a blackout. Warren and Margaret had had a day here already on the way to Tanna, so knew their way around. We restocked at the markets, and had - fish for lunch. The next day we rented hobie cat dinghies from the island resort and spent a couple of hours sailing round the bay, finishing with a race home – it is better not to say whether Cameron or Sophia’s team won. In the afternoon we went parasailing. Then our last night was spent at a Vanuatu feast on the small island resort next to our mooring, where we had cocktails round the pool and a local food buffet. Margaret was keen to try Kava - the local witches brew drink made from crushed roots of the kava plant. It is a very popular drink from Tonga all the way to here with groups of men sitting round camp fires drinking it and then doing not really much else. It looks like muddy ditchwater, and sorry to say tastes just like it too - an acquired taste no doubt. After our good byes, we had a few days in Port Vila looking for weather to head South, but the kids had a great time playing with the kids on Pacific Bliss. We all headed out on their boat to a nearby bay for a swim and to watch the local circus act at the restaurant on the beach. Then we caught the bus back into town for Pizza. All the kids did a show onboard the next evening, which included alot of acrobatics inspired by the circus acts. Now final shopping before heading to Noumea, New Caledonia.