Port Resolution, Tanna

10 October 2015

This sheltered anchorage lies on the Eastern side of the island. It is not an official Port of Entry, but for the sum of V5000, one can arrange to either leave the boat at anchor, and travel across the island by 4x4 to Lenakel to clear in,( for a further V3000),or…., one can arrange for the Customs and Immigration officials to come to you….. for V3500 extra!

An Australian aid organisation donated an IT centre with 10 computers powered by solar panels and a battery bank to this primary school. Sadly, there is no one in the village who can teach the kiddies how to use them.

The anchorage in Lenakel is not well protected, so many yachties choose one of the above options. The whole process of clearing in and out of Vanuatu is pretty expensive, and sadly, it is causing many cruisers to miss out on a great cruising experience. We paid V5000 for customs clearance into Aneityum, plus V5000 surcharge, as it is not an official port of entry. We then paid V4800 for Immigration clearance when we got to Tanna, plus the V3000 x2, to travel to Lenakel to clear out, plus a further V5000, because the boat was in Port Resolution! All told, V25800, or +/- R 3250 for our 3 week s.

Magnificent Banyan Trees everywhere

This excludes the Volcano tour (V12600), and our V4000 “donation” towards school funds, in return for the experience of sharing a village lunch prepared by school teacher Willie’s wife, Sheila.

A thermal spring on the edge of the bay. The locals use them for bathing and cooking

Thermal cooking

Pig sty

Sheila presents her lunch

Grooming time

 But, despite these costs, the people are very nice, helpful, and friendly, and it is quite clear that they receive little to no help from their government.

Most cruisers visiting Vanuatu bring gifts and items , which help to improve the quality of life … pens, paper, books, crayons, reading glasses, basic medicines (given to the local nurse!), fishing equipment, clothing, tools.  This was especially appreciated this year, after the last year’s cyclone, Pam,  which devastated much of the southern Vanuatu islands, crops and buildings. One feels totally relaxed and comfortable, with none of the worries about personal safety and security which sadly seems part of life the world over.

Werry, entrepreneur and very good driver

Off loading cargo on the beach at the main port, Lenakel. This is the anchorage of the Port of Entry for yachts

Streets scenes from the capital of Tanna, Lenakel

Ocean View Restauarant where we had lunch

The villages around Port Resolution are neat and well cared for, and the foliage and vegetation is evidence of the fertile soils in the area. 

Garden of Eden

The “yacht club” is something of a misnomer! It is a building… a place which once obviously held a more prestigious position than it does today! There is a VHF radio, but it does not work. There is a bar, but there are no drinks for sale. Despite all this, various yachting rallies (ARC, ICA etc) stop here, and make it their base, and one can imagine that for a few brief weeks in the year, it takes on a very festive atmosphere, with its lovely view over the anchorage!  

The Port Resolution Yacht Club

A selection of shells from the beach

Mt Yasur experience..... Great Balls of Fire

2 October 2015

 Our main reason for heading on up to Port Resolution , on the island of Tanna, was to see and experience Mt Yasur, probably the world’s most accessible active volcano.  It was rather a lumpy/shitty motoring trip up, and we were very grateful to drop the hook in the calm and sheltered bay, named after Cook’s ship.

We booked our trip to Mount Yasur (12600 Vatu, +/- R 1750 for both of us),  for the Sunday, and were taken on a very bumpy 45minute 4x4 ride up to within 150mts of the summit. From the drop off point it is an easy hike up to the lip, which is done just before sunset. Mother Nature then starts showing off her earth shuddering, noisy, and spectacular pyrotechnic power! Still pics cannot do it justice, so we did our best to capture some video footage, which turned out surprisingly well! We had great fun the following day putting it all together into a 10 minute clip, and we will surely bore you all with it when we get home!

In the meantime, you will just have to look at the stills, and imagine!!

On the Tuesday, we took the 4x4 through to Lenakel, on the other side of Tanna, to clear out with Customs. This trip takes one over the ash fields behind the volcano, so I have mixed up some of the pics from both days, to give one a better overall perspective of the volcano.