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Port Vila, Once More with Feeling
- Older in Vanuatu - South Pacific 2007: First Crossing - Newer in Vanuatu - South Pacific 2007: L/C Brisk
We left Nguna at first light on Monday, Sept 3.
The southeast trades have been blowing stronger than usual, or stronger than they blew the last time I was here, or something. We got out onto the open sea and the swells were big, with complex strucutre on top. Wind gusts strong enough so that I had to think about holding tight onto my faithful Lendal wing paddle so it wouldn't blow away.
We paddled for a couple of hours and when I looked back, Nguna was getting a little fuzzy. Mataso was starting to gain strucutre. I guestimated that we were 1/3 of the way, but I was too wet and busy bracing to take out my GPS and confirm. My Prijon Kodiak was handling well. It is my old friend -- after all we crossed the North Pacific together. I was just starting to reminisce fondly, get into the feeling of the open ocean, dig deep and pull hard for Mastaso, when Nina called out.
She had been doing well and paddling bravely in the big seas, but just didn't have the power to overcome both the distance and the cross wind. So we made an emergency decision and fell back to the shelter at the north west corner of Nguna island.
The next day we paddled back to Efate, and then took a truck back to Port Vila. Tomorrow we hop on a tramp steamer/freighter/copra boat to Epi Island and resume the journey and the adventure.
Dated: 09/05/2007
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