I had noticed the winch was red hot last time we put the sail up. Rowan opened it up this morning and it had completely disintegrated, just amazing it was still working. Luckily Rowan had a spare one, he got it successfully installed this morning. It is our main electric winch the one we use the most, so good to have it working again.
Midday when there was a little sunshine, between endless showers, we went and had a snorkel, the coral was in great condition, lots of fish, and some big ones, just lovely to see. We had a really long drift dive until it got too shallow for my comfort levels. Rowan stayed in longer but got very scratched by some coral on his way out. We have to be so careful with sepsis in these waters, luckily we have a stash of Mecurochrome from South Africa. It is mercury based and banned in the UK, but is so effective at drying out cuts and grazes that are continually in water. Rowan is covered in red from it, as he has a number of other scrapes too, including a toe he keeps stubbing.
There was great excitement late afternoon when the once a week Big Sista ferry arrived, love the name. It tied up to a group of mooring balls, an armada of local boats rushed out to meet it. Loads of noise as people and goods jumped on and off. The market building next to the beach was packed with people too. A loud speaker and music started, we thought it might have been electioneering of some sort. The little island behind us has a big village on it, which explains all the boats going back and forth.
Just before sunset we saw another boat, Arianna arrive, they hoisted their Pacific Rally flag like ours, so we invited them over for drinks. A Kiwi couple, who have sailed across from Australia, where they were visiting their kids. He is an engineer, they are part of a church group who are helping build up a school on Tanna Island near the volcano we visited. Do admire their energy, she is a music teacher and has taught the teachers and kids how to play the recorders they donated! They have built a couple of classrooms, and in their boat they brought over 25 sacks of fertiliser for the school greenhouse! I would say he is in his seventies, so pretty adventurous living.
The decimated winch
Tiny white sandy beaches with loads of coral about
Vegetation covered in creepers
Had to add this, Rowan in his new fins/flippers…..in bislama they are called leg belong dakdak (duck’s legs!)
Rowan’s got a nice picture of the coral
Some interesting fish
PolePole in the bay
Late afternoon the BIG SISTA ferry arrived
Great excitement as boats roared in to meet Big Sista
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