More on Vanuatu

1 November 2010

Vanuatu is an amazing cruising ground and the people still live in their traditional villages. We fell in love with these fantastic friendly people last year when we cruised New Caledonia and Vanuatu on our J130 “Ragtime”.  

The town of Luganville on Espirito Santo is the 2^nd largest in Vanuatu after Port Villa. Even in the 12 months since we have last been here we can see major changes in the town. The hardware store would do any city or town proud and there is a new Bank in a lovely new building. Aore Island is across an approximately 1 ½ mile passage from Luganville. The passage is very deep and protected which makes it safe from a tsunami accept perhaps on the eastern end of the island, although this is also well protected from the surrounding islands.

Chart plotter showing where Salacia is moored.

Expect a warm welcome from The Aore Island Resort. They cater for cruising boats and have convenient moorings for rent  in front of the Resort. This is extremely convenient because the water is deep and most vessels don’t like to anchor in 30+ metres.

The jetty is situated such that a yacht can tie up to load water from the resort, provisions or for repairs.

The Resort ferry takes guests and sailors over to Luganville 6 times a day by timing your trip you can provision and be back on your yacht in 2 hours. There is a good fresh fruit and vegetable market in Luganville as well as a number of well stocked supermarkets.

All of the resort facilities are open to yachts including the laundry service and the 4* restaurant and bar.

The diving in the clear water is fantastic and there are well equipped dive shops. Dive on the legendary ship “The Coolidge” and also the famous “Million Dollar Point” where, at the end of the war, the Americans drove all of their tanks, jeeps, trucks and other equipment into the ocean. Snorkelling on the sight is almost as good as diving on it.