ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Almost home.

Our Seamanship Poster Crew, the Slinkies aboard Slinky Malinky, are almost back in Port Phillip. The image below, was taken by Steb during the 2009 MWS, so we may be able to see them out and about for the final few races of the 2010 MWS...

John Owens has sent us in this information during the morning of 10/08/10, "Slinky is en route from Sydney to Melbourne, currently adjacent to the Gippsland Lakes today. We expect to be back at HBYC on Thursday the 12th. We left Port Vila on July 23rd and had five days on a reach across to near Fraser Island, then a few days down to Sydney, where we arrived on July 31st. Weather was crook for that week, so we had a berth for Slinky organised at the CYCA and left her there. Have a few photos to get to you when I'm in Melb."

"We got back to Sydney last Sunday (8/8/10) and set off about midday and had been getting N to NE winds of about 20+kts, so a quickish trip so far. Will contact you when in Melb."

Excellent news John and thanks for the updates. We do look forward to seeing what images you have for us. Three cheers for our Slinkies!

Also firing in a note this morning was Robyn Brooke aboard The Secretary. "One very black night is almost over. It's 0500hrs and the sky is beginning to lighten, putting to bed a rather uncomfortable ride - not pleasant when you can't see anything. After being dumped on over two consecutive watches, I have decided the party's over and I'm back in the full klamotten, wet weather pants and jacket. It's 24 degrees here at the moment, so being down below in full gear, while the boat is rolling and skewing in a rather confused sea, is a bit of a challenge." Yuck!

"Last watch, even my book took a wave! I know, I'm getting soft - one wave and I head to the shower and a change of clothes. That's what you get after a lovely dry race to Vanuatu and two weeks cruising around the islands."

"Anyway, no time to chat as the wind is swinging. Just to let you know we will probably try to make landfall in Bundaberg, depending on the trough that will hit the East coast on Wednesday. We were originally going to head directly for Brisbane, but the charts don't look so happy South of Fraser Island. If the South Westerly is too difficult to sail, we will have to turn tail and even go up to Gladstone to check in. Will keep you posted."

We do hope they stay relatively dry and certainly very safe.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

That African Tribe.

Our members of the Fakawi Tribe, Robyn and George aboard The Secretary, have just sent in some more information about their return voyage and where they'd like to make land and where they might have to settle for! (As of 1630hrs AEST, 09/08/10)

"Just left Chesterfield Reef, which was absolutely amazing. Thousands of birds nesting within metres - David Attenborough stuff. We were the only boat there, until a fishing boat arrived just on dusk last night. Leaving, we passed through Ilot du Passage, which is a sliver of water 14 metres deep, between two reefs and islets. Once through, the depth increased gradually to 40 metres, then dropped away to eternity, or so it seemed to our sounder."

"Unfortunately, I haven't worked out how to send photos through the sat phone yet - having enough trouble keeping the nav system working and am trying to fix the issue we have with power to the radar, as we will be needing it on approach to the East coast, to keep an eye on the nasty weather, which is heading our way."

"Have changed our plans to go direct to Brisbane because of the weather, so will now attempt landfall in Bundaberg. If unable to make headway in the conditions, once the SW hits us on Wednesday morning, we will turn tail and head north to Rockhampton or even further, until we can find shelter. Lady Musgrave (island) might be an option until it passes, assuming we can get in there in the blow. I hope the front slips away to the SE a bit faster than is predicted."

"Anyway, we're prepared for it. Will let you know when we're safe in harbour."

Stay safe and make land soon. Cheers from all of us.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Santa's Sleigh - Pt II.

It is with many thanks to Cheryl Coombs, of the 51st Project, that we have our initial batch of images of donated items being distributed in Vanuatu. The 'Ocean Grader', nee 51st Project, is currently on the central NSW coast, en route to Pittwater for a spot of cruising. Nice. Enjoy that one, team.

Cheryl wrote of this image - "Too Cool !!! We gave them hats from the 51st Project which were greatly received by all..."

Phil Coombs stands by the sign at one of the schools.

Phil receives ".... gifts from Ruben and his family for the School Supplies we gave them. We were very humbled."

One of the schools visited as part of the whole Humanitarian Aid Project attached to the 2010 M2V

Santa's Sleigh all right!!! Pressie time.

Cheryl comments of this image, "School on Moso Island.... Tassiriki Primary School - handing out our school supplies. A school with 76 children and prior to us arriving, they had just two balls... They flipped out !!!"

So what do you do when you have unpacked them all? Kick them, of course - "We had too much fun kicking and throwing balls around - it certainly puts a lot into perspective !!! We are so pleased that we gathered up all the items and took them - it was very rewarding for Phil, myself and Chris.

Not all hard yards, however...

Well that's a good office view.

And the view under it all is pretty special too.

Once again, many thanks to all who dug deep in sooooooooooooo many ways to make it all happen.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

They're Alive. They're Alive!!!

I was so thrilled to see that our members of the Fakawi Tribe, Robyn and George aboard The Secretary, were alive that I had to get this posting up pronto. Robyn filed this one in not too long ago...

"Yes, I know, we've been off the airway for ages now and there's been no news from us, which is always good for family but not so for journos, eh J?!" (She's right - and we cannot wait for the pics of the goods being distributed, either.)

The village of Tasiriki that DaSec has made her final stop at...

"Tonight was a fitting finale for the delivery of the school supplies. We are at the 'end of the road', literally. The road around Espiritu Santo ends here at Tasiriki, the most gorgeous place, where we just happened to anchor off the school and landed on the beach in the late afternoon to be greeted by hordes of children who then happily carried the dinghy above the surf and the goodies up to the school. After the delivery of our final four cartons, the head teacher, Lui Thompson, guided us around to their harbour, which is a stunning alcove between coral caves and fissures, all topped with a tropical wonderland."

"There are people sleeping on the black sand beach tonight and I hope the smell of our barbeque chicken is all heading downwind and not in their direction. They are waiting for the 'ferry' transport in the morning to take them up the rugged west coast to their village. Others will disembark for the bumpy 1-2 hour trip to Luganville, the capital of Santo."

Port Vila at the bottom on Efate and Espiritu Santo at the top...

"We won't be here to see it, as tomorrow early we weigh anchor for the east coast of Australia. Garisenda is already out of VHF range as she continued on this afternoon, while we have made this unofficial stopover to deliver the last of our gifts to the children of Mamara Centre School."

"George has taken a bit too much sun over the last two days pounding the road between the ship wharf and customs, so he is in bed early, which means we will be underway before the roosters start crowing, so I'll keep it brief."

"With the passage before us (apart from an 'unplanned' stop at Chesterfield Reef - French Territory), I hope to be able to report on the amazing trip we have had."

The Coral Sea and Chesterfield Reef in the middle-ish. Hope the French have not got their noses out of whack after the Mice?!

"Hope all is well with you all.  Expect to hear from us soon - Robyn (and a snoring George)."

On a completely different note, The 51st Project experienced part of the East Coast Low that has been around my neck of the woods for a while. We had 55kn yesterday and sooooooooooooooooooooo much rain... This is what they managed to get up on their site - "Almost back in Australia...... Spoke to Peewee this morning - they have had the trip from hell on the way home, currently heading towards Coffs Harbour under Tri-sail and by the sounds of it, there's some repair work to be done.... All are well on board - I think Peewee is considering giving up sailing and taking up "lawn bowls"..... :-)"

Sounds like we'll have pics soon enough and we hope all stay well as their voyages continue...

By John Curnow