After a glassy calm morning the breeze was perfect at midday for the start from Espirito Santo. The start line was an “Australian Gateway” formed by our twin Aussie Beneteaus, Storyteller and Southern Princess dressed overall with Don and Anne of Harmonie along to help. These three boats have now finished their World ARC 2008 rally, the Aussies to make their way home and Harmonie to spend more time in this beautiful part of the world before rejoining to go home with World ARC 2010. The fleet sailed off down the Segond Channel saying goodbye to the finishers on the VHF and wishing them well. Left in an almost deserted anchorage John Hunt said “Thank you and goodbye this is Southern Princess standing by on 77 because it’s become a habit.”

Last night on the island of Espirito Santo the fleet gathered at the Beachfront Resort for a supper of pizza and pasta. The weather having been glorious for a few days turned wet and blustery making for interesting dinghy landings on the beach, more than one crewmember showed up having had an involuntary dip in the choppy but warm sea. The holding is good however in the anchorage and conditions are forecast to improve by start time on Tuesday.

The Vanuatu Cruising Yacht Club was the venue for a lunch party today as the fleet met up in Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital before continuing their cruise of the islands. Ross Wilson, Commodore spoke welcoming the boats and mentioning the seamanship of the crew of Calli Due who double handed brought their yacht to safety with the rudder stuck at an angle. The French yacht Williwaw III were also commended for standing by Calli Due in some very rough seas to facilitate communication and provide moral support even thought attempts to board the yacht and help with repairs proved impossible.

Since arriving an air of excitement had hung over Port Resolution Bay, building with the arrival of each yacht, as villagers prepared for the formal welcoming ceremony of what was to be the largest fleet of yachts to visit at one time. Already on Monday special palm covered enclosures had been built to house the feast that was being readied for the special night. Even on the way from the airport on the same day we (as Rally Control) had stopped in several places to get supplies for the feast, the last being two huge sacks of rice, because not only were the participants the ones to be eating but also the whole village community making a total of about three hundred!

Having now left the beautiful remoteness of Port Resolution in Tanna, the fleet have sailed North to the island of Efete where they are moored in Port Villa. The distance from Tanna to Port Villa is roughly 120Nm and the conditions for the leg were exciting. It was a gusty downwind passage with a large swell running causing a lot of motion however the wind was strong and powered the boats along.

The fleet’s time in Tanna is now coming to a close, after a few very surreal and magical days. Participants have visited Mount Yasur by pick-up truck and witnessed the shear power and beauty of it, one remarking “God’s very own fire work display”. This active and most accessible volcano is a short truck ride away from Port Resolution and is an opportunity not to be missed.

After a fast and bumpy sail from Musket Cove Fiji, the World ARC fleet are now arriving into Vanuatu’s Tanna. This unique exciting island holds some of the world’s most natural beauty, the main being Mount Yasur the most accessible volcano in the world. The fleet will visit the Volcano during their time in Tanna to experience one of the most awe inspiring sights of their lives. They will then be free to cruise north to Port Villa where a function will be held on the 13th July to wish farewell to the departing yachts.

Start day here at Musket Cove almost looked like it was going to be a light airs motor-sail across the line heading towards Vanuatu. Skippers came to check out and get any last paper work sorted before their departure in shorts and t-shirt expecting a sunny windless day when what appeared to be a dark squall arose from the North.

Particpants enjoyed another very good complimentary dinner put on by World Cruising Club with the help from the friendlt staff here on Malolo Lailai. A Pig on a Spit had been turning all day above a wood fire, slowly cooking away ready for the influx of hungry yachties.

Another lovely day here in Musket Cove on Malolo Lailai as the World ARC boats continue to arrive and reunite with each other after some fine cruising. It has been a real luxury for many to be able to come alongside a dock and simply walk on and off their boat without having to launch their dinghy. Being together has also encouraged a great sense of community within the fleet, something that has grown stronger and stronger over the last few months as the participants have got to know one another much much better.

Having now sailed around many different islands in the pacific, the World ARC fleet are now arriving here on Mololo Lailai for their planned rendezvous. Situated just a few miles from Fiji’s capital, Nadi, Mololo Lailai is a quiet and beautiful island offering many facilities that the sailors are greatly appreciating. Electricity has been available on the dock; some yachts found this a luxury, as they have not plugged in for about 2months.

The majority of the fleet were not here for last Sunday’s church services but now most are safely gathered in and many dressed up in their finery this morning to go to church.

World ARC yachts are now safely tucked into the landlocked bay of Port Refuge of the island of Vava’u in Tonga. With weather front passing through most people are planning to stay here for a few days before starting their cruising leg of Tonga and Fiji.

Yachts arriving in Vava'u this Sunday morning were in for a special treat.  The strong and beautiful voices of the choir and congregation could be heard clearly across the water as we arrived. Into the Blue were among the crew lucky enough to have arrived on Saturday and were able to attend the service itself.

The residents of the smallest democracy in the world turned out on Tueday night to welcome the participants of World Arc to their island. A special evening of traditional entertainment was held in the village of Alofi where the fleet are moored. The event was attended by some members of the Government including the Premier Young Vivian who made an emotional speech about the “historical event” of the world ARC visit. Keith Vial the commodore of the Niue Yacht Club also spoke.

Another victim of cyclone damage this winter was the exposed Island of Niue where the majority of the visitor moorings were destroyed. The Niue Yacht Club have been carrying out an extensive repair programme during the last few months in preparation for the start of the busy season for transient yachts, marked this year by the arrival of the World ARC yachts. The 20 visitors moorings laid in up to 35 meters in places are maintained to a high standard by Niue Yacht Club for the convenience of visiting yachts for a small nightly charge. To support this facility for the benefit of all future cruising yachts visiting Niue, World Cruising Club has sponsored the supply and laying of two of the moorings for the 2008 season.

After a wonderful beach party based around the superb fish pasta cooked by the crew of Onelife a tour of the more remote islands of the atoll was planned for Wednesday. The beach party had started early so the cooking could be done in daylight which was just as well, as after the supper all were entertained until late by singing and guitar music from Gerry of Northern Sky and Will from Cleone with a guest appearance by John Samuela.

All the World ARC boats that took the start from Bora Bora are now anchored in the idyllic lagoon at Suwoarow one of the Cook Islands. The fleet is temporarily divided with some yachts heading to Rarotonga, capital of the Cooks and the others taking the opportunity to visit one of the most remote and unspoilt islands in the Pacific. The island is had a population of just 6 inhabited for only 6 months of the year by the caretaker John Samuel, his wife Veronica and their 4 boys. The family have only been here for a few days of this season and are still settling in but gave the World ARC yachts a fine welcome. All were offered a coffee when they visited the hut to "check in" and John has been very helpful in suggesting the best places to snorkel, dive or fish.

Saturday 17^th May brought another beautiful day in the ‘Pearl of Polynesia’ Bora Bora. The main activity of the day was the annual Yacht Club Dinghy Race. This small fun event kicked off at 1400 as teams from World ARC yachts Into the Blue, Kealoha 8, Andante of Mersey, Cleone, Tallulah Ruby II all congregated on the YC dock with their superbly presented dinghies. Also competing was YC owner Teiva Tepare and myself, Kieran Higgs, on our own surfboards.

Now beginning to arrive at the anchorage just outside Bora Bora yacht club, the World ARC fleet are reuniting with each other and getting ready for their next leg to Suwurrow. After a beautiful cruising leg from Papeete in Tahiti, the yachts took some time to visit other more remote pacific gems on their way to Bora Bora. A few nights at Moorea, Raiatea and Huahine were all talked about and certainly went down well with the yachts that spent time there. The fleet will celebrate their arrival in Bora Bora on Friday night with a sunset BBQ put on by the Yacht Club owners, Taiva Tapare and Jessica Gow who have been very helpful throughout out time here.