We welcomed our new crew onboard Thursday afternoon and set sail shortly after, aiming to beat the heavy weather forecasted for the weekend. Our destination: the sheltered anchorage of Port Sandwich on Malekula Island, about 80 nautical miles north of Port Vila. We slipped lines at 2100, which proved trickier than anticipated due to some ~creative~ mooring techniques from the marina staff, but a few rolling hitches later we were on our way!

The night was a rolly one with little sleep and an impressive collection of sick bags, but thanks to the long shifts put in by crew Ben and Steve at the helm, we made it through to daylight. We enjoyed a beautiful morning as we continued North, with following seas and blue skies. 

The bay of Port Sandwich is nothing short of breathtaking. The island is totally covered in lush green, with sandy beaches stretching along the water’s edge. There are a few other boats anchored here, but the island remains serene, with only a few locals and free-range cows on the beach. As soon as we dropped the anchor, we jumped in for a swim to shore, where we strolled and took in the tranquil greenery.

One of the highlights of our shore excursion was Anne’s heartwarming interaction with some local children. Despite our shared struggle with language barriers, Anne managed to connect with them through a universal language: French nursery rhymes.

Meanwhile, Ben had his own encounter with local charm. While attempting to pay a local for a ride back to Salt Lines, he accidentally sparked what appeared to be a much more complicated transaction. The local, mistaking Ben’s payment for a purchase offer, began enthusiastically unloading his fishing gear, clearly excited about what he thought was a great deal. We briefly entertained the idea of upgrading our tender to his outrigger canoe, but quickly realized that fitting it on board might be a bit tricky.

For dinner, we fired up the barbecue and enjoyed Vanuatu steak skewers—declared world-class by the meat eaters on board, which I can believe given the contented appearance of the beach cows. After a well-deserved feast, we settled in for a long, restful night in calm waters, dreaming of the adventures that await us in the coming days. 

Cheers! -Liv