Commodore
June 20, 2025

Saturday 21 June – rest day

We started the day with getting a few chores done. A cloudy day so cooler, much better temperature to do chores in. Our bumpy passage yesterday crashed down our radar deflector. It is our second one, they are always put up with jubilee clips that just rust through. Rowan doesn’t think they will have them here, I picked up all the metal bits and I am determined to make a lighter one in a clear plastic water bottle tied up with plastic zip ties. I’m pretty keen to be as visible as possible! I also had to do a bit more repair work on the trampoline, we found another area that had nearly broken through, I whipped it all together again. My last repair from nearly a year ago is still looking perfectly strong.

Midday when the sun was out briefly we went and had a snorkel, there was one reef that had great coral and quite a drop off, I was a little more careful looking out for sharks, we saw some really big silver fish in the distance…. definitely not sharks. The coastline here is stunning and the colour of the water is magical. Late afternoon a big cat came into the bay, a charter boat called Shady Lady. Not sure I would charter a boat with a name like that! They obviously come here regularly as there was a local setting up a fire on the beach for them, they had also anchored much further in than we dare go. Goodness knows how they do it when there is coral everywhere and not a lot of sand about.

Rowan made delicious raw tuna and avocado patties that were absolutely scrummy. Our avocados that we bought at the market in Luganville have finally ripened. They are the biggest avos I have ever seen, and absolutely buttery and perfect inside. We will have to go back, just for the avos! We have about 9 bags of tuna fillets in the freezer which will keep us going a while.

Our Starlink router has given up working, thank goodness Rowan purchased a mini one when we were last home. It seems to be just as efficient and draws a fraction of the power, and a much cheaper contract. Rowan has discovered we can buy a new Starlink router in Port Vila, another good reason to be heading back. We have some boat parts that have been sent by DHL to pick up. A trimaran that left NZ a few weeks after us, is also bringing a few things for us, they have just arrived in Port Vila. We managed to watch a movie which was a first in ages, Echo Valley, it was a bit intense for me, but had some good actresses.