Vanuatu Part 6

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="1ccd05a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>DRUMBEAT</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DRUMBEAT"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voyages"><B>Voyages</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="1cdd2123.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id386.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu 2007">Vanuatu 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id377.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu Part 1">Vanuatu Part 1</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id383.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu Part 2">Vanuatu Part 2</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id387.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu Part 3">Vanuatu Part 3</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id385.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu Part 4">Vanuatu Part 4</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id388.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vanuatu Part 5">Vanuatu Part 5</A></div> <div> <B>Vanuatu Part 6</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Travelling Home</B></div> <bR> <div> We spent the next few days in Luganville cleaning up and preparing for th etrip home.  We added 400 litres of duty free diesel to the almost empty tanks, which brought them back up over half full.  We probably used 600 litres in total for the trip.  We cleared customs on Friday, and headed around to Aore Academy to wait for the expected SE wind to kick in.  Alistair from the academy was after a lift back, so he came with us.We went to church at the Academy, however it was pretty quiet as the students wer on holidays.  We had Alistair, Jill Brian & Jan over for lunch on Saturday, and chatted the afternoon away.</div> <bR> <div> On sunday there was still no wind, so we made an excursion to  creek on the adjoining island.  It was an awesome adventure, finding a blue lagoon.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="e56c2580.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="600" ALT="Up the creek...." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20"><IMG SRC="e58c2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALT="One of two cowries we found in shallow water. We let them go." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20"><IMG SRC="e5ac2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALT="Blue pool" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="e5cc2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALT="Some people just can't help em' selves" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="e5ec2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="e60c2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20">Monday 27th August and there is still no wind, however our GRIB files indicate the SE change coming through later in the day, so we decide to leave.  It was some tears that we said goodbye to Brian & Jan.  Brian wouldn't get off the boat until th eanchor was up.....pretty emotional stuff.  We have had the best time with these guys, sharing adventures and supporting each other (egging one onother on, more like it).  They will finish the PYM program, then move on to the Solomon Islands for the cyclone season, and Fiji early next year, then back to Vanuatu for PYM next year.  We salute you guys.....</div> <div> <IMG SRC="e62fe520.jpg" border=0 width="254" height="338" ALT="Damon lowers the Vanuatu courtesy flag as we leave the anchorage." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="e64c2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALT="The 'camp' for the trip home.....we brought a mattress up, heaps of cushions, and slothed around here foe 5 days." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> We motored for the first 20 miles, until we cleared the main islands of Vanuatu, and a southerly breeze kicked in. The wind initially came from the south, which is a good sailing angle, being a tight reach, however there was southerly swell associated with it, which we were punching into at 10-11 knots.  It was pretty rough as the winds built, however by 1800hrs the wind had swung to the SE, and the seas followed within a couple of hours.  We had a moment of concern as we passed Sabine Shoals, thankfully in daylight, as our SeaClear charts showed us going straight over the top, however the Raymarine plotter showed us a couple of miles north as we planned.  I kept an eye out for any breaking seas, but saw none, so we guess that the Raymarine plotter was more accurate.  The wind stayed at around 20-25 knots from the SE for most of the trip, with the exception of a couple of storms as we approached the Great Barrier Reef when we saw up to 36 knots.  We put the second reef in the main at 1700hrs on the first day to keep the pace down and reduce the chance of screaming off on a reach if the seas swung the stern around too much.  I then adjusted the headsails as the wind speeed varied.  We managed 256 miles in the first 24 hours, despite the slow start.</div> <bR> <div> At 1000hrs on day two we hit a really rough patch, which must have been caused by currents, and discovered the floor boards floting around in the starboard hull.  The forward port light had been forced open by the poer of the waves, and had bent out of shape so that it couldn't be closed.  We dropped the sails and ran downwind with a small patch of headsail as I made repairs by drilling and tapping the frame so it could be screwed closed.  I had to bend it back into shape with a hammer, but managed to slow it to a slow drip.  It held to the end of the voyage with no further problem.  We sailed under headsail only as we cleaned up the mess.  We went back to the second reefed main overnight, however went for the third reef at 1000hrs on the third day and left it in as we calculated that we would arrive at the reef in the dark if we averaged any more than 10 knots.  The second day saw 214 miles pass, with 247 miles om the third, and 223 miles on the fourth.  We entered the reef at about 0900hrs, 4 days after leaving Vanuatu.</div> <bR> <div> We had an easy sail through the reef, then a fast sail across the passage to Mackay.  This was the most dangerous part of the trip, as we were doing around 15 knots most of the time, and had close encounters with two whales, and saw another 8 in the 120 mile run from the GBR to Mackay.  We had to keep a good look out.  We arrived in Mackay at 1800hrs, and were met at the marina berth by Customs and Quarantine Officers who were very courteous and helpful, taking about an hour & half to clear us in.  We enjoyed fish & chips at the take away shop at the top of the walkway, and slept very well that night,</div> <bR> <div> The trip north to Airlie Beach was pleasant and uneventful, and I had 2 job offers by the time we got there.  Back to work.....</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="e66c2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALT="Damo pulls in another bonito as we travel between Mackay & Airlie. We caught 5, but threw them all back." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20"><IMG SRC="e6a5ed30.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="467" ALT="A nice bonito" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="20"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>