September 2017, MSM Vanuatu Mission 4 Since its inception MSM has encouraged Ni-Van workers to be involved in mission, and is delighted this year to be working alongside Vanuatu MOH dental colleagues on the National Oral Health Survey 2017. MSM Mission 4 to the Banks Islands had five Ni-Vanuatu staff in the medical team, including […]
27 October 2017 As Chimere continues her return voyage from Vanuatu to Australia we hear from Dr Jeremy Duke … yes, son of the famed, 9-time Vanuatu volunteer, Dr Graeme Duke … but carving his own path on Mission 4 of the recently completed MSM Vanuatu 2017 mission. In his own words, Jeremy looks back […]
23rd Oct 2017 Hi there Family and Friends, Well if yesterday was special then today was magnificent to say the least. We arrived at Chesterfield Reef at about 0830 – look it up on GoogleEarth. It is a vast reef arrangement about 67nm long by 38nm wide containing a huge lagoon about 45m deep pretty […]
Monday 2 October 2017 Waterfront seawall, Port Vila A series of tacks between Malekula and Ambrym Islands through the night, then a long tack to get into the lee of Epi in the early morning, then saw us on a steady course to Efate and our eventual destination Port Vila. The wind held from […]
Sunday 1 October 2017 At sea, between Luganville and Port Vila After yesterday’s excitement, the still, sunny warmth of the morning saw each of the crew emerge in their own time. Unusually there were six other boats anchored around us off the Beachfront Resort, making it a delicate procedure last night to pick our way […]
Saturday 30 September 2017 Asanvari, Maewo Having made our promise to assist Chief Justin with the evacuation of his list of 28 people from Lolowai (Ambae Island) to Luganville (Espiritu Santo Island) – a journey of around nautical 55 miles – we first had to make it to Lolowai. The agreed pick-up time was […]
Friday 29 September 2017 Asanvari, Maewo The day began very slow and sleepy aboard Chimere; Asanvari is that kind of anchorage. Having arrived just on dark last night there was no chance to go ashore to meet with any of the village leaders, but around 7:30am the first canoe could be seen heading our way […]
Thursday 28 September 2017 Asanvari, Maewo [sailmail thought it was snailmail and took over a day to arrive] After a gloriously still night on the mooring at Aore Island Resort, with the lights of Luganville across the Segond Channel, it was an easy departure around 6:00am. No need to winch aboard the chain and anchor, […]
(back at) Sola, Vanua Lava Sunday 24 September 2017 A bit over 2 weeks ago four volunteer sailors, six medical volunteers, plus five local Ni-van medical folk – 15 people in all – came together for the start of Mission 4. Talk about an eclectic group. But despite our many differences, we each shared a […]
Saturday 23 September 2017 Vureas Bay, Vanualava Things are winding down. Our last official clinic and Oral Health Survey session for Mission 4 was yesterday at Ureparapara. So today was a big sleep-in day. Instead of getting away from the anchorage at 6:00am, it was a very sociable 8:00am by the time we were making […]