Saturday 14 June - crossing to Malekula island as the wind dies

We finally decided to head up to Luganville, the biggest town on the next island up, where we could do some re-provisioning, we are running short on eggs! It was about 50 miles we needed to cover, so we set off promptly. Rala and Aldabra went their separate ways at crack of dawn. Alia Vita decided to come with us, we were mightily relieved that our anchors came up easily and had not got caught on all the coral rubble and bommies. The wind was great, high teens, low twenties, we were soon getting up to 10 knots of boat speed. Sadly it lasted a couple of hours and then died completely and we were back to having the motors on. Alia Vita put their spinnaker up only for the wind to die completely, and had to get their big sail down after being up only a few minutes.

We did not want to motor all the way to Luganville so we turned left to Malekula island and found a big bay to anchor in. We finally got our anchor down on the third attempt, away from any coral bommies. Rowan had heard part of the island is a reserve and we needed to ask the chief's permission to anchor. We set off in the dinghy, the first set of houses we visited, the guy was building a traditional home, having just spent two years in Cairns, Australia, he had picked up such an Aussie accent. He was very friendly, but sent us to the village further down the bay. It was really low tide, we finally found some kids who were delighted to show us to the concrete walkway over the mud to the village. The chief wasn't in, but everyone was very friendly and said they would pass on our gifts and greetings. The kids and one guy Wilson, volunteered to walk with us around the island, it was a bit like the Pied Piper we had such a gaggle of kids with us. The walk took us out beyond the mangroves onto the coral shelf on the open seaward side of the island. Loads of adults out there foraging in the rock pools. We walked back through the centre of the island where all the little farm plots are. Loads of pig pens where the pigs are fed on a diet of coconuts, must be so delicious to eat, a bit like the Iberico pigs fed on acorns. Wilson picked us loads of pawpaws.

We headed back to our boats for a rest. Frances had kindly made a chorizo/bean stew supper for us so it was a very easy night for us.

Our route back and forth between the islands, turning left to Malekula as the wind died

Leaving Ambrym island in good winds, you can see the rim of the volcano

Coming into the protected bay

Interesting skyline

The golden beach we anchored in front of

Walking around the village

Walking though the low tide coral shelf

The kids caught tiny fishes in the water puddles

The coral shelf and mangroves beyond

Walking back to the island through the mangroves

Huge Banyan tree

The pigs in their enclosures under the coconuts

Coconut grove

Waving us off, the jolliest people we have ever met, never once asking for anything, just genuine warm friendliness

The tide came in