As explained in our last News item, the Blue Water Rally has been in Port Vila, Vanuatu for about a week since leaving Fiji. Although we don't support the stopover, we know that Rally crews are in the safe hands of our good friends Bryan and Elsie Stoneham who run the yacht company Yachting World, there.

Visiting a Pandemonium!
They have assisted with clearances and berthing our yachts and introduced our crews to the local facilities. Vanuatu had the mixed benefit(!) of being at one time administered by both the British and French Governments as a Condominium. ( Wryly referred to by a friend in the Foreign Office as a Pandemonium!)  That said, Vanuatu and Port Vila are in good shape since independence and our people have found excellent places to chill out and the French have left behind some excellent eating establishments.

A country of contrasts
Vanuatu is a country of contrasts - its islands each having a special character, with numerous opportunities for crews to get off the beaten track.  There are fantastic dive sites for scuba divers, incuding the sunken WW2 vessel, the President Coolidge whilst snorkellers have been introduced to a semi-tame dugong! For those seeking to meet the locals Ralliers have been to visit villages on some islands where life is still very primitive and the locals follow John Frum and the Cargo Cult. However, one of the greatest attractions has been the live volcano on Tanna which has drawn several groups of Blue Water Ralliers over the past days to view its spectacular explosions of lava.

Elsie has also reprted to us that a large part went to Tanna on the 27th whilst the remainder were in the Yacht Club watching the Wallabies beat New Zealand at rugby. There was a great Party on Friday with unique Custom Dancing performed by local villagers, plus the now inevitable kava drinking (allegedly the strongest in the Pacific!) and a BBQ. We were delighted that Keith, from Baccus was on hand to make a speech of thanks on behalf of the Ralliers and ourselves as organisers and to present Bryan and Elsie with a plaque to mark our 7th visit.

Delayed departure, but this is a cruising rally....
We never set start times as this is a cruising Rally, but we had hoped to report that the fleet would be underway around 28th.  However, that was not to be and Peter on Neva, Net Controller for the day, has reported that a low pressure system has created poor conditions on the route to Mackay. He hopes that things will clear by Wednesday and we shall have more positive news then.  Weshall also bring you up to date with plans for the Blue Water Rally's arrival at our new stopover in Australia - Mackay Marina in Queensland.