World ARC Pacific 2023: Leg 6 - Fiji to Vanuatu

Once our guest had left, we headed from Nadi on Viti Levu to Musket Cove on Malolo Lailai to re-join the ARC fleet ready for our departure on the next leg.

Whilst there, we had a relaxed few days soaking up the sun, wandering around the island and catching up with our friends. We even managed a trip out to a floating bar called Cloud 9. I felt very old, as it was full of people young enough to definitely be my children, if not my grandchildren!

Our time in Musket Cove was bitter sweet as several more of the boats were leaving us here for other destinations. Their departure was marked with a Fijian celebration: great food, cold beer and an evening of singing and dancing.

Saturday 2^nd December was the start of the next leg – Fiji to Vanuatu. The wind was predicted to be light, so we made an early start, leaving a couple of hours before most of the fleet.

Leaving Musket Cove, required careful navigation. The nearby islands were fringed by several reefs. These were tricky to see and, once again, we were pleased to have the technology on board to enable us to navigate safely.

Once in the open sea, we had winds of Force 4 (11-16 knots) and a pleasant sail of about 6 knots. The wind was kind to us and, apart from a couple of overnight squalls, it remained like this for almost all of the passage. We arrived in Vanuatu in 3 days after a sail of 454nm.

The people of Vanuatu are proud and do not want charity. They do not take our gifts without giving something in return. Their exchange gifts to us did not cost them much money, but were given with time and care: Woven hats and bags, homemade feather dusters  and banana leaf baskets full of local vegetables. Perfect.

On the day of the gift exchange, villagers from all around turned up to take part and the afternoon had the feel of an english village fete. Families were relaxing on the grass, chatting and watching their children playing. There was, of course, great food and plenty of singing and dancing. These people love to party!