The World ARC fleet sailed out of Musket Cove this morning bound for Vanuatu, ending a truly memorable month cruising around the spectacular islands of Fiji. With the incredibly welcoming nature of the local people framed by a stunning backdrop of luscious green hills and electric blue clear waters, many of the participants say it has been their favourite country visited so far on their circumnavigation.
The yachts crossed the start line at 10:00 local time under blue skies and a perfect 15-knot downwind breeze. Charm was first across the line, with Sky and Cabana following close behind. The weather looks to stay pleasant for the fleet’s 450 nautical mile sail towards Vanuatu, with 15-20 knot SE winds in the first 24 hours predicted to decrease gradually as they approach their next destination of Port Resolution on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu’s south.
This year’s World ARC visit to Musket Cove didn’t disappoint, and nearly the whole fleet have been berthed alongside each other down the main pontoons, just a stone’s throw from the island’s white beach and comfortable facilities of the resort. Customs officials were brought over from the mainland yesterday specifically the World ARC fleet, to complete their clearances out of Fiji, which was followed by a comprehensive briefing from the World ARC ‘yellow shirt’ team about the next part of their journey.
The next stopover on the Vanuatu island of Tanna will undoubtedly be one of the major highlights of the World ARC adventure, and the crews are very much looking forward to immersing themselves in the remote and deep cultures of the local tribes there. Tanna has the enviable title of being home to the world’s most accessible active volcano – Mt. Yasur – where participants can literally stand on the crater edge and look straight down into the red-hot bubbling lava less than a hundred metres below, which regularly spits out glowing fountains of orange and red in a spectacular display of the earth’s raw power.