ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

The Cat's Away...

... but the mice cannot come out to play, it would seem, as it's a little too bouncy back onboard the good ship 'Bouncy Castle' (aka Smaskara). From onboard, the mice have managed to take over the keyboard, however and this is what they have to say for themselves...

"It's an interesting thing, trying to leave Port Vila, you know. Immigration were booked to see us at 1:30pm on Sunday (after church). As we waited and waited, nobody showed up. There were lots of unanswered phone calls. Then the answer appeared, magically, in the sky!! We figured that there must be somebody from Immigration working at the airport. So off we went to the airport and sure enough, we walked through departures and explained our story. Five minutes later, our passports were stamped and we walked back out of the airport to take our own 'liner' home."

Samskara departing Port Phillip Heads during the 2007 M2H - pic © Steb Fisher.

"It's our first night back onboard the bouncy castle and there's not much difference to the trip up from Melbourne, except that we are on the opposite board (or tack/side which is facing the wind). We have 25 to 30 knots from the SE (love those Trades) and we are sitting on 9 to 10 knots SOG. We have the #3 headsail up with one reef in the mainsail. The evening sorted out two crew, who found the ride a little interesting, at best. We're back to being a happy ship, with the forecast being for more of the same. We were looking to stop at Chesterfield (reef) on the way back (to Hamilton Island to start with), however will need to watch the weather (and those reefs, which have jumped up in front vessels before!). Should be going through the Grand Passage, which is off the top of New Caledonia, tonight."

"Right now, it's a little too rough for the mice to play."

Thank you, Mice. You look after 'Bouncy Castle' and keep us informed.

This is where they were when they sent their message through.

We're bound to hear more, eventually... Why do I get the feeling they are like the Penguins from Madagascar????????????!!!!!!!!!!!

By John Curnow