Another loud explosion. We looked at each other with a mix of excitement and worry. What would we see up there? We were walking towards Mount Yasur on Tanna, one of the few very active volcanos in Vanuatu which was considered ‘kind of ’ safe to view up close. It was still a two hour hike ahead but the noises were already worryingly loud.
As we walked, I reflected on how we got here: I sailed the islands of Vanuatu in 2007 with my wife and daughter and we had very fond memories of the people, nature and the culture. So, the expectations were high. But what we found made us fall in love with the people and gave us a rare insight view of their unique way of life.
For this SUP expedition, I had asked Starboard team mate, Trevor Tunnington to come along. He didn’t need much convincing and was directly on board. “A SUP expedition, to one of the most friendly but also most dangerous countries (in terms of national disasters) on earth, what is there not to like?” replied Trevor the same day.
We were travelling light with two Starboard inflatables (Touring 14’ x 30” and IGO 11’2 x 32”), 3-piece paddles, a tent, sleeping mat, basic navigation gear and just an emergency ration of food and two water bags. The IGO has a double chamber which brings extra safety for crossing far at sea. Vanuatu consists of thirteen main islands and many small ones and apart from the main island, it is remote, so remote that many villages rarely see tourists. Vanuatu is one of the least visited countries in the world. After a short flight on a tiny plane looking over the shoulders of the pilots, we landed in Tanna. We found a 4x4 willing to take us to Port Resolution, a village on the other side of the island two hours away over a muddy, barely doable road.
It is custom in every village in Vanuatu to go first to the village chief and ask for his permission to visit and stay in the village. You should bring gifts. We brought t-shirts, lycras and hats, which were much appreciated. After we talked to the chief, he gave us permission and a great spot to put up our tent on a cliff overlooking the bay.
This story is from the Early Summer 2019 edition of SUP International.
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This story is from the Early Summer 2019 edition of SUP International.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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SHADENFREUDE
TEST REPORTS
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