The wind comes from the port side on the first day of the sail to Port Vila Vanuatu and a reefed mizzen and headsail is suffient, no main sail. The second day the wind comes more from the aft so more sail surface is needed while making an effort to stay in harmony with the 2-3 meter waves…
Thats what I call a fast crossing: average speed almost 7 knots….
a fast checkout at Denarau and then sailing straight to the west
just arrived in Port Vila Vanuatu after 531nm in 77 hours, a live band fills the background๐
Checking into Vanuatu here so we can meet up with John and Olivia who are sailing in a few days to Australia while we will sail to Port Resolution on Tanna island to visit the vulcano mount Yasur.
pain au chocolat, merci France
a sunday morning in Port Vila
with wonderfull sunday morning bread
Going southeast means close haul sailing against the tradewind with a stop at Erromango island for the night
Tomorrow another 68nm to the vulcano at Port Resolution, Tanna island
there it is...Mount Yasur, the always active vulcano
No wind so its motoring all the way to the anchorage while arriving at sunset
at anchor near Port Resolution, Tanna island
vulcanic activity everywhere, geysers and hot water pools
I could make use of the dinghy wheels for the first time
and found the IWEA sign on the left
a traditional dig-out canoe made from a tree
the road to the village and the visitor center
weird...this does not belong here: this track ends at a huge Chinese build road from the visitor center to Mount Yazur
On the way back we met Donovan. Donovan can be contacted by WhatsApp: +678 737 3554 and his company IWEA tours can be found on Google maps and on Noforeignland https://www.noforeignland.com/place/6755338971776455
Donovan is now accredited to provide tours to the vulcano Mount Yasur, the hot springs and many other tours. Just ask him and he will tailor make a tour for you. For us Donovan offered an overnight stay on the camp site at the foot of the vulcano because we wanted to hike and visit the vulcano at sunset. The 6km hike goes through his village up the hill and through the gardens and tropical forest, all his land.
It is a very beautiful walk and not difficult. Donovan provides drinking coconuts and papayas at resting moments every few kilometers.
back on the boat with a load of fruit given to us by Donovan
this magnificent old tree is on the way up to Donovan's village
at Donovans village
Donovans farm house
the path through the rainforest and lush gardens to the vucano
Banyas tree
Donovan preparing fresh bananas for us at his plantation
here cows are used as lawn mowers
The camp site is on a patch of grass at the foot of Mount Yasur where you can hear and feel the vulcano rumbling already…
left our backpacks at the campsite
and walked straight up the 360m high vulcano
the crater
looking back from the crater to the forest which changes in only a few hundred meters into an ash field
We were very lucky that it was so clear, not raining and that the vulcano was so active so we could stay several hours (bring a sweater) enjoying this -once in a lifetime- spectacle.
lava comes up from holes deep down in the earth
Loud roars and booms every few minutes that make the earth shake. The darker it gets the bigger the eruptions, so it seems!
We decended through the loose ashes in the dark and setup our tents for the night around the camp fire.
At night we could feel and see eruptions that threw lava in the air higher than the craters edge… The next morning after coffee another beautiful 6km return hike down hill back to Port Resolution.
What an amazing experience, thank you Donovan!
Living so close to a vulcano is challenging, for instance the vulcanic deposits endanger the quality of the drinking water for the village. Donovan uses the money he earns as a guide for safe drinking water projects. He currently needs for his projects:
200 meters of 40mm poly hose to bring of safe drinking water to the storage tank of the village.
5 couplings for 25mm poly hose
materials to realise safe drinking water taps in various locations in the village
See Donovan in the video below:
Unfortunately there is no method of transport to bring goods from e.g. Port Vila to Port Resolution so it would be great if future visitors could bring these materials with them.
If you can help please contact Donovan beforehand on +678 737 3554 to make arrangements. Thank you!
Oh yes...and a coconut dehusking lesson for Stefan
look how proud he is
treasures given to us from the village gardens
Currently a dugong and a large sea turtle is diving up every two minutes right beside the boat
saw at least ten turles while snorkeling
meal cooked by Philipe's wife
on the water with Phillipe and his team trying to find the dugong families that live here
we saw six! Ooops forgot the camera...
Highly recommended! Please contact Philip on There is no anchoring fee.
Checking out at Luganville after another successful night time arrival over a coral bar. Tomorrow snorkeling near the wreck in the bay and there should be turtles and dugongs too
