Vanuatu
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Vanuatu Sailing: A real South Pacific adventure
Follow in the the wake of Captain Cook and explore Vanuatu in a wooden tall ship. An active holiday where you are guest voyage crew helping sail the ship, and where exploration of these South Pacific islands is by anchoring inside the reef and jumping barefoot from the ships boat.
There is a variety of voyages from 10 day island hopping holidays to pioneering expeditions to the more remote communities on the Banks and Torres Islands, or 17 day voyages combining ocean passage and island cruising. These are 'hands on' adventures where you are the ships crew and the welcome you recieve and the insight into the cultures of different islands that you gain by visiting as seafarers is unique.
Sailing to Vanuatu from Fiji
Vanuatu sailing is not just about voyaging around the islands. Arrive in style as a seasoned South Seas sailor on square rigger Soren Larsen, starting in Fiji and learning to be crew on the 644 mile journey between these vastly different island groups.
Experience the colourful hospitality of the Yassawa Isles of Western Fiji. The magic of the remote islands of central Vanuatu, with a 3-5 day ocean passage in the SE trades. Experiencing what square riggers do best— surging through the blue ocean swells downwind. Cruise the Yaswas group of islands for 2-3 days, hopefully enjoying the fantastic Fijian singing and dancing at one of the villages, before heading for the Southern islands of Vanuatu. This in one of Soren Larsen’s favourite places so these voyages always fill up quickly. . There are so many choices—like being shown around the villages on the Mescalyne islands. A display of their custom dance and ceremony can be arranged. At Ambryn local guides can take you for a walk into the jungle where they show you their bushcraft and traditional hunting methods. These shore excursions are not compulsory and payment is made direct to the village. At Epi you might be lucky enough to swim with an overfriendly dugong ( a marine creature not a local !).
Distance: 644 nautical miles
Big Tip: Best voyages for contact with the locals. Mysterious rituals, dancing and drumming, exotic mix of world class snorkelling, lush jungles, active volcanoes with happy local people not yet tainted by tourism.
Vanuatu Banks & Torres Islands
Formerly named the New Hebrides by Captain Cook, Vanuatu is one of the most culturally diverse groups in the South Pacific. If you want to meet the islanders and learn about their customs and beliefs then this voyage is a must. Espiritu Santo now has an international airport but you will leave any trace of modern life behind as you set sail for the most inaccessible islands in the Vanuatu group.
The Northern Banks and Torres Islands are rugged and untouched by modern tourism development and this voyage allows a chance to see a part of the world beyond the normal reach of other travellers. Soren Larsen has explored the Northern Banks before and many of her voyage crew have booked a return trip because she is running a pioneering expedition to the Torres Islands for the first time in 2010 ( a few places still left).
Highlights in the Banks include Ureparapara where the ship can anchor inside the huge breeched crater of the volcano. Vanua Lava where a thunderous waterfall descends into the sea, and seeing islanders who live in bamboo and thatched houses without electricity. Returning to the West side of Santo there are several coastal villages which rarely see visiting ships.
Big Tip: Best expedition style voyages for contact with the locals. Mysterious rituals, dancing and drumming, exotic mix of world class snorkelling, lush jungles, active volcanoes with happy local people not yet tainted by tourism.
Vanuatu Island Hopping
There are still a few places in 2010 on this 10 day voyage exploring Vanuatu—starting on the island of Espiritu Santo (known as Santo) finishing on to Pt Vila on Efate. Exploring similar ground to Captain Cook’s ship Resolution when he charted the islands in 1774. Short internal flight can bring you back to Santo.
Vanuatu to New Caledonia
Starting from Pt Vila the ship will try and call at Eromango or Tanna Island if the trade winds are not too strong. In the past the ships crew have enjoyed a local feast prepared by the village under the Palm trees, lit by hurricane lights. There is an active volcano on Tanna so you may see lava being thrown high into the sky at night. At a conservative estimate of 100 miles a day the ship will sail down past the Loyalty Islands to Noumea. This allows 2-3 days cruising the New Caledonia waters. The outlying atolls have beautiful white beaches with palms, unlike the volcanic jungle covered islands of Vanuatu.
Distance: 291 nautical miles
Big tip: great contrast of rugged jungle covered Vanuatu and the classic South Sea atolls of New Caledonia
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