June 5, 2009

Pegasus - day 4

Day 4 sees a slight change of destination. Still Vanuatu but we have decided to check in to the southernmost island of Villa, Port Resolution to be exact. We would be unlikely to go back south to it from Port Vila, and it has a live volcano to visit. Also a very traditional society which will be interesting.

For those who, like us, knew absolutely nothing about this group of islands before we started reading up -- it is now independent, but before the 1980's was administered jointly by the French and British. This 'Condominium' was known as the Pandemonium as there were two education systems, two police forces and two currencies. Presumably they drove on two sides of the road, but don't suppose there was too much traffic in those days. American forces were stationed there briefly during WW2; they arrived with huge amounts of equipment, and left much of it behind when they left. The inhabitants saw the 'big white birds', and also parachutes dropping supplies, and when they left as suddenly as they had come, many thought they had been sent by the gods. For many years there were 'Cargo Cults' who believed there would be a second coming; tins of Spam were reserved for special feasts.

We have made good progress over the last day, particularly through the night when we were flying 4 sails. We are now 40 miles ahead of Cat Coquette, so can only communicate through SSB. It is slowly getting warmer, and we have seen a few flying fish.

Position at 00.00GMT 26 55.215 S and 171 22.439 E 455 miles to go to our new destination.

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