Port Vila

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The pictures below would be the last of this brand new sail. Not because the sail was bad, but because the sailors flying it aren’t all that good. Winds picked up as we sailed north throughout the day, and as darkness rolled in we really should have furled the Code … Read More

Vanuatu Beach Party

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There were some vibrant colors and some decent coral growth around Port Resolution, and there were also lots of cool coral canyons to freedive through in the deeper waters. There really wasn’t much swimming around, though. Must make for a long day hauling in nets with just a few small … Read More

Mount Yasur

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Port Resolution is a pretty magnificent anchorage. It’s well protected, has a long flat beach, fairly healthy coral, and enough fish to keep the local population fed (though I didn’t see many fish that I would bother with a spear). It’s got a great view, very friendly locals, and a … Read More

ATM Run

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When you are in Port Resolution and you need cash to pay for a trip up the nearby volcano, there isn’t much choice but to make the two-hour truck trip (each way) to Lenakel. The main town on Tanna Island is home to a whopping 1,400 people, and three ATM … Read More

Port Resolution

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I mentioned the sloppy seas as we left the reefs of Fiji. Those seas did not settle the entire trip to Vanuatu. By day two of it we were all feeling miserable. Lowe tends to get seasick on pretty much every passage for a day or so, but the rest … Read More

Farewell Fiji

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I sometimes wonder if having a washer on the boat is worth it. Because we have a washer we tend to just toss dirty clothes in the hamper whether or not they pass the smell test or not. Been worn for a couple of hours? Must be dirty. Ali would … Read More

Cruiser Hangout

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Monitoring the markets in Fiji means getting up in the dark, and closing down for the day about the time the sun starts creeping up, which is nice as it leaves the whole day wide open for proper cruising fun. We found out some friends had splashed their boat (gotten … Read More

Musket Cove

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Days pass pretty easily here in Musket Cove. Perfect weather, some decent snorkeling, and a welcoming resort with the best pizza we’ve had in a long time. There’s even a nice little grocery store. Local boats use this pass at high tide, but at low tide it clears up for … Read More

Vuda to Musket Cove

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While we were at Vuda Marina we did a bit of running around. Fill the propane, get diesel, grab some fresh groceries, see a couple sites, and get back out on the water. The nearby botanical garden was nice. Bit overpriced for what it is, but hey, they threw in … Read More

Out and Right Back In

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There’s just one thing I don’t like about catamarans with saildrives, and that is the fact that they have oil seals that are only accessible underwater. When those seals leak, which they seem to do once a year, the only way to replace them is to get the bottom of … Read More

Volivoli

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We raised the anchor at 4 a.m. while the kids slept, and motored through calm waters as the sun slowly came up. Twenty years ago I was screaming, jumping, and waving my arms in order to make a trade in the soybean pits of Chicago. Today I trade while peacefully … Read More

Leaving Savusavu

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We didn’t want to leave Savusavu without doing at least a couple of dives. Unfortunately, heavy rains day after day had kept us out of the water around our normal haunts, and I wasn’t sure it’d be better anywhere else, but we decided to go out and try diving Natewa … Read More