Leaving Port Vila, Sydney Bound
There’s a common convention when it comes to filling up your tanks with fuel. It applies down at the local servo as it does when heading out to sea. It’s all about paying before you leave.
We were reminded of this yesterday when confusion between Return Voyage Skipper Bob and myself over who was actually going to pay Yachting World, (where we have kindly been hosted at no cost during our regular stop overs here in Port Vila) resulted in Chimere leaving the fuel dock loaded down with 1300 litres of diesel without paying!
At least we now know what happens … the wharf boat races off after you !
By the time of Chimere’s departure from the fuel dock, Mike Clarke and I were up north, at the village of Paonanigsu, talking with the elders of the church, watching the installation of the solar panels and electrical system and making a mud brick stove with the bricks made a week before at the Supporters Tour demonstration.
Skipper Bob’s frantic phone call broke into all this … and went something like …
“DIDN’T YOU PAY FOR THE FUEL !!?”
reply …
“Hi Bob, the line’s breaking up, I thought you were paying for the fuel with the cash in the ship’s folder?!”
reply…
“THEY’RE CHASING US IN THE FUEL BOAT AND SAY WE HAVEN’T PAID, I THOUGHT I SAID THE CASH IS IN THE FOLDER FOR YOU TO PAY !”
reply…
“I thought you were going up to the office to check out the conversion rate if we pay in Aussie dollars. I didn’t see the folder, is it still there with the cash in it … how far did you get before they caught up with you ….?”
reply…
“THE PHONES BREAKING UP AGAIN … FOUND THE CASH … ALL GOOD … NO PROBLEMS … SEE YOU IN SYDNEY …”
reply…
“Safe trip, all the best, I’ll drop in tomorrow and explain the confusion with a box of chocolates, CHEERS”

In addition to the solar panels, Mike spent some time demonstrating the operation of the new projector to the local teacher and church member Toara Kaloris with some complimentary DVDs off Chimere thrown in for good measure.- Lion King, Finding Nemo, Jurassic Park, Chicken Run, Bass Strait Fury, Ice Age 1& 3 and Incredibles

Elder Roger’s earnest and heartfelt thanks to the members of the Supporters Tour, to Morinda and to Mike and myself made an emotional end to a very successful day.
From our side, it was just amazing to have the solar system installed just 3 days after the departure of the Supporters Tour by I man found pretty much by chance after making a few phone calls, whose wife happens to come from the same village, is a member of the church and who would do the installation for free.
Sleep came easily upon our return and with just a day or two to go before our return Mike and I are making a list of all the things that need to be done … it’s getting longer!
Smooth seas, fair breeze and remember to pay for your fuel before you leave.
Rob Latimer
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