Saturday morning began with a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs at anchor, fueling us for a day of exploration here in Vanuatu. We kicked things off with a dinghy mission around the bay. Port Sandwich, a sprawling bay stretching about 5 miles on the southeastern end of Malekula, is fed by several freshwater streams. Its sheltered anchorage offers excellent protection from the trade winds and numerous spots to take the tender ashore, including a lovely village within walking distance.

In the afternoon, some of the crew headed to shore for a walk into the village, while Ben, Bec, and Warren stayed behind on a quest to catch fish for dinner. On our walk, we seemed to be a wonderful source of entertainment to the local children, who came to see what we were doing and where we were off to. They happily showed us the way to the village, eager to show us around. We had a few soccer matches along the way, and lots of laughs despite the language barriers.

Lamap Village, perched with a view of the sea to the east, is a friendly community of homes, a school & church, shop and kava bar. The locals' hospitality made the visit truly memorable. We were shown all around, and at one point, we thought Nat was going to stay in Lamap for good, as her and her long blonde hair were highly popular with the kids! The visit was everyone's highlight of the anchorage by far. Back at the boat, Ben, Bec, and Warren surprised us with freshly harvested oysters they had gathered, a successful afternoon all around!

This morning, we set off early in search of new dive spots near Gaspard Bay and Cook Bay. Our efforts were rewarded when we discovered a stunning little beach where we spent the morning snorkeling in crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant coral. It must have been where Finding Nemo was filmed. After having lunch anchored off the beach, we continued our journey West and found our anchorage for the night—a quiet little bay by an island called Awei .

The rest of the day was spent enjoying the tranquility of our new surroundings. We took advantage of the calm waters for paddleboarding, swimming, and exploring shore. A short wander through the trees we found the village on the island, much smaller than our previous anchorage but just as welcoming.

Tomorrow, we’re setting off to see a few more local villages and dive spots around Malekula before sailing to another island!

Cheers! -Liv

We Found Nemo!

Operation Cook Reef

Port Sandwich or Bust