Tall Ship Soren Larsen Sailing adventure for all ages

Tall Ship Soren Larsen 2006 ~ South Pacific Sail Training Adventure for all ages

Vanuatu Discovery V240
It wasn't plain sailing approaching Ambrym island - Voyage Crew Mark explains why bow watch can be quite a ride..

An hour into the 4 – 8 watch, inky darkness had descended. An unexpected 50 knot head wind tore into the rigging and howled like a banshee. My watch mates, Stuart and Olaf, were aloft, heroically attempting to furl the course sail. The ship was pitching like a bronco and horizontal rain cut into our faces.

As I clutched precariously on the bowsprit, watching the dolphin striker repeatedly hit the waves and knee deep water swirl around me, I meditated on the fact that I had actually paid to be here! Somewhere in the shark infested darkness lay Ambryn, the black island of the sorcerers.

My instructions were to look out for reefs or the island before we hit either, although quite how I would get word back to the helmsman, I had no idea! It was too dark to pick up the glow of the volcano. A flickering pinpoint of light, two points starboard might be the village of Ranventlan, or it might be a yacht trying to shelter under the lee of the island, just like us.

Oh well, I thought, to get the same experience at Disneyland, I would have to go on five different rides – the log flume, pirates of the Caribbean, the Jaws ride, cannibal island, and the volcano – but this was real!!

Mark Leslie

Below is Mark's picture gallery from the voyage:
Ana at bow watch.	Aore island.	Asanvari beach.	Asanvari village.	Banum Bay.
Bow watch.	Fern tree carvings Renvatlam.	Foremast.	James First Mate sketching.	Longman and Naomi.
Nick and Longman at Asanvari ball.	On route Malakula.	Piggy back anchor Captain Craig 2nd mate and Daryl.	Piggy back anchor Tony Chris and Alex.	Purser at helm with Ana.
Renvatlam.	Rom dancers Ambryn.	Santo to Maewo 2.	Santo to Maewo 3.	Santo to Maewo 4.
Santo to Maewo.	Ship at Maewo 2.	Ship at Maewo.	Smokin.	Taboo house Banum Bay.