Vanuatu

Item Posted:07/07/2016

Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu was the latest pacific island to be invaded by Dolphins when last year’s Team Samoa: Ros McLean, Jan Sayers, Maree Tuff, Kim Dewar, Jenny Baillie and Peta Harvey, plus token bloke Michael Sorensen, spent a week there in June.

Headquarters was Aore (rhymes with Cowrie) Island Resort, just across the Segund Channel from Luganville, Santo's capital. It is a fabulous location, with accommodation in thatched bungalows with large balconies; just perfect for 5pm drinks. The new owners, expat Aussies Lisa and Brad were a little bemused at how much eating, drinking, and laughing we could do, and still maintain our status as “elite athletes.”

We spent the first weekend doing very little, apart from Michael who was apparently up at the crack of dawn walking or cycling before breakfast. We managed some paddle boarding, a bit of swimming, some nana-napping (apologies to those who aren’t), and a guided walk to the top of the island. We also squeezed in a trip to Luganville for shopping (not much – it was Sunday), sightseeing (even less), and lunch – steak sandwiches washed down with a delicious local beer that is ordered by politely saying: “Mi wantem Tusker”.  Face aches all around after a weekend of much fun and laughter, and the beginning of a reputation for being noisy. Go figure! We also met our tour guides Suanne and Paul from Ocean Swim Safaris, and some of the other swimmers staying at the Resort.

Monday was a group swim from Champagne Beach, out to the reef, and around to Lannoc Bay, followed by a very tasty lunch in the local village. The Welcome Dinner that evening was at DecoStop Lodge in Luganville. The food was fabulous, as was the view back across the Channel to Aore Island.

Tuesday was a swim free day, so we decided on a half day snorkeling trip with a BBQ lunch on the beach. This turned out to be a little disappointing. The coral was ordinary compared to what we’ve seen before, and lunch was salad rolls and fruit, but the trip there and back was quite a challenge and a great core workout for those of us up the front trying to stay in the boat. The plan for an early night was abandoned as we indulged in some serious pre-race preparation that cannot be detailed here. “What happens on the trip stays on the trip.” However it was agreed I can divulge a very descriptive new word accidentally created by Michael who was trying to insult us (but failed miserably) when commenting on our ability to consume vast quantities of food and alcohol while remaining fairly tidy. Sloppy became “slompy,” and suffice to say it was used frequently during the week.

Wednesday was official Race Day – a 3.2 Km swim from Luganville, across Segund Channel to Aore Island Resort. Weather conditions were great, visibility was good (“Just head for that island over there”), and not too much current to take us off course. Everyone enjoyed the swim and there was a buffet lunch and much celebrating throughout the afternoon. It was quite a social event with many the locals turning out to watch the start. The field of 38 swimmers included several expats who compete annually. Michael is now an honorary Santo Pirate but you will need to ask him for details.

Results: Peta       5th overall and 2nd female Michael  7th Kim        10th Jan        13th Maree   15th Jenny    17th Ros         25th

Great swimming everyone!

On Thursday we took a boat trip to the very exclusive Ratua resort for a delicious buffet lunch, some not very successful turtle spotting, and canoe trip to the Malo Blue Hole. We did our own paddling and I’m fairly sure nobody is switching sports in the near future. Unfortunately there are no photos of the fabulous synchronised swimming exhibition led by Ros; possibly the first and last time the blue hole will be the venue for such an event. At least our tour guide hopes so!

On Friday there was quite a long drive to Port Olry for another group swim to a small offshore island and then back for a seafood lunch. Conditions were a little more challenging for this swim, but swimming back in was lots of fun. The Farewell dinner was at The Espiritu in Luganville. It was a great night of wining and dining, and our group was singled out as being lots of fun and one of the reasons the week was such a success.

The journey home on Saturday was quite a trek with plane delays and stopovers, but it was a great trip that we all agreed we’d do again. Fortunately there were only some minor injuries – Jan scratched her leg on our Sunday walk, I head-butted a roof truss but managed to avoid concussion, Maree had some of the worst jelly fish stings I’ve seen in a while, Jenny managed to get an infection from a brush with some coral, and something has been eating Kim’s leg but she thinks it’s now under control.

The warm weather, fabulous location, and great company all contributed to a fantastic and memorable trip. Oh – and some very enjoyable swimming.

Peta Harvey