“Despite its beauty and fascinating culture, very few visitors make it to this part of Vanuatu”; we are on a ten day trip around the Banks islands!

This is a special trip not only because we are venturing into the northern islands of Vanuatu, but also because Tiger Timbs, previous owner of the “Eye of the Wind”, along with many former “Eye of the Wind” Voyage Crew, have joined Soren Larsen for this trip as a reunion sailing voyage! My first tall ship was “Eye’ and what a treat it is to sail with my first captain once again as well as to have the company of some familiar faces off my old ship! Lets hope this is the first of many reunion trips on Soren, Welcome!

Upon departing Santo we undertook the 100-mile sail towards Sola, where we checked in with the custom officials. After being given the OK we motored around to a small nearby island, Pakea for lounging in the hot sun and refreshing ourselves in the sparkling waters. I entertained a group of local children, photographing them in their village and tossing them around in the surf, we had a blast! After moving around to our original anchorage, the Tarzan rope was rigged and the splashes of bodies hitting the water echoed round. A group of us headed ashore at dusk to the local Nakamal for some kava, we were told it was the best in Vanuatu! After three 100 vatu coconut shells full, I was in agreement with them, as were the others. The numbing effects lasted after we returned to the ship and as soon as dinner was over, I was all to eager to grab my sleep mat, sleeping bag and bottle of water and find refuge on the deckhouse roof for a nights slumber.

Ureparapara and Soren Larsen have a history, last year we were so happy to see Soren included in their custom dancing, that this year we were just as anxious for the display! After a 30-mile sail we arrived after dark into the volcanoes watery crater, outriggers surrounded the ship; even in the dark we could just make out the silhouettes of the men there to greet us. Chief Nicholson climbed aboard and joined us for our evening meal and then proceeded to outline the following days events with Jim, it would be a busy day!

By 0930 the following morning boats brought the walkers/hikers ashore, one group walked out to some bat calves on the point while another group were guided up to the volcanoes rim for a Panoramic view of the ship in her anchorage. Just in time for lunch the trekkers returned only to be ferried back ashore for the custom dancing. Nick, Kenny and I remained on deck being amused by a group of local children just home from school. They were thrilled to eat the left over mac‘n’cheese, the young girls were especially excited to get their hands wet in the soapy dishwater, I couldn’t keep them away from the galley sink! After a feed they had tours of the ship and then proceeded to make their way out onto the bow sprit, they had little to no fear and as soon as Nick and Kenny showed them how to jump from the ropes, they were jumping off and scampering up the anchor chain just as quick as the seasoned deckies! By 1530 the dancing was complete, and it was time for the football (soccer) match!

Team Soren had a few locals join the team and the cheerleaders on the sidelines did a fine job of encouraging the players. With the referee in his stripes and the whistle in hand the game was jam packed full of action. There is always some discrepancy on the final score, in all the years of Soren coming I don’t think we have won a single match, tied: maybe, a win: we’ll see! This year the score was 5 to 4…which team had 5 and which team had 4 is still being talked about!!

Myrna and I had a fantastic volleyball game with the local girls and after the game was through, the volleyball (James’ beach volleyball we’ve made so much use of this year!) was donated to the village, what a happy bunch! We were then paraded into the chief’s garden area and a string band welcomed us in. We sat along bamboo benches and a feast was being laid out before us! We filled our tummies with yam and breadfruit chips, rice, lobster salad, chicken curry, and lap lap (a local dish made from a grated root vegetable called cassava baked in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves and baked over the fire), we washed it all down with sips from our green coconuts, a delicious meal! A fun filled day with a group of wonderfully happy people, a hard place to leave!