Extra crew and Erromango to Vila
Joseph had sold a lot of Sandalwood and purchased an expensive TV, generator and DVD player. I was able to test his generator which had fairly variable output voltage. The modern electronics looked rather incongruous in his humble abode. I should also mention that Joseph and wife were kindly looking after 23 visitors from other parts of the island!
Anyway, we had been lending DVDs each night and on our last day went ashore to retrieve them. Sadly, they had run out of petrol for the generator but got to watch "Cry Freedom" about Steve Bico's stand against Apartheid and death by mistreatment/torture. A sad but moving movie which they enjoyed.
There was a man there who had walked from Ipota (right across the island). His wife had been in a serious condition in Port Vila hospital and he walked to Dillon Bay to try and ring from a phone to ascertain her condition. He had used the last of his money and not got through. Joseph had been accommodating him for a week. So, we were asked and agreed to take him to Vila.
The trip was much rougher than we expected. We had dinner of BBQ fish at 1600 and Massing ate with us. He is a farmer/hunter and of course had never been on a yacht before. A baptism of fire!
We had a spare lifejacket for him. The passage was 83NM and we were doing it overnight. First we had 20kt winds, then nothing for an hour (so we motored). Then it went straight to 30kts and stayed there. naturally, the seas rose a lot and became quite rough. On Will's watch, it all got too much and Flinders (the wind steering) was not coping with the gusts. So we took down the Mainsail in somewhat adverse conditions. Massing (our passenger) had felt ill. William fed him a seasickness pill and less than two minutes later he announced he was now better! Willaim kindly gave him his own bunk for the rest of the journey.
Once the Main was down, the steering was fine and we still had plenty of speed. It was very rocky without the Mainsail for balance, but at least we were dry (except for Will who was wettened by a big squall).
We pulled up at an excellent mooring in the harbour right at the appointed time of 0915. We speedily put Massing ashore as he was anxious to see his wife. We hope she recovers well and that they get safely back to their village.
Well, better go now as we are preparing for tomorrow's departure for Epi in the North.
All the best,
Dave, Penny, Will and Paul
