By DariaBlackwell - 18 Mar 2015
This is a report via the Bluewater Cruisers Association from someone who weathered cyclone Pam.
Randall Donofrio ?Liveaboard Sailboat
We already knew Friday the 13th of March was going to be a black day with talk of the Vanuatu Beast and Nuclear Cyclones having done the rounds for a week or so. As currently forecast, the eye was going to side swipe us by about 100 miles at category 5.
Our boat was already hauled, cottage cyclone shutters in place, big battery, inverter and lights for the cyclone itself and generator for the post cyclone power outage. It’s funny, after weathering cyclones on boats with only solar panels, we realized we needed a generator to run our fridge etc. Not so self sufficient as land lubbers. Plenty of food and drinking water in stock as well as charged phone batteries, kindle & laptop.
The morning of the 13th was spent doing a couple of last minute preparations and talking about strategies & contingencies with the Admiral. Our cottage is 4 metres above high tide mark and about 8 metres back from the water on a lagoon. The winds were forecast to come straight across the lagoon at us then veer to the southwest as the eye passed, so we were going to receive the full brunt of what Pam had to offer, with water thrown into the mix as well.
As the winds built we battened down and by lunch time we had 40 knots gusting to 60, nothing too dramatic yet if you have ever lived in Wellington NZ. By early evening it was really starting to boogie and we stood by to lose power at any moment.
Around 1900 we received an updated warning that the system had changed track and was heading more or less directly for us. We had been concerned about losing the roof and what we would do so we had built a small bunker out of 2 very strong tables, covered with a tarpaulin and sheltering our important papers, mementoes etc. with barely enough room for us. After the latest update we decided to enlarge the bunker with a king size bed base supported by the 2 tables and 2 chairs with the mattress underneath for us to sleep on, all kept cozy with the tarpaulin covering the whole lot.
We’ve both lived and worked on the windiest place on Earth and experienced what Antarctica can show but NOTHING prepares you for 130 knots of sustained winds for a few hours. The wind skipped through the “shrieking” phase and went to the “moaning” very quickly but we were so exhausted we actually slept for some time.
The devastation we awakened to on the Saturday was mind boggling. Our cottage proved her worth as an old school colonial building and was almost completely untouched. We were one of the few lucky ones with rooves, trees and assorted debris blocking every street and road.
The clearing effort started immediately and when we were able to get to the harbour we were confronted by about 90% of the moored boat fleet either damaged, sunk, semi submerged or tossed up on shore like a toy boat. Unconfirmed news was reaching us of 3 yachties dead. The coastal trading fleet were lying like a row of tipped over dominoes on Iririki Island with some small boats crushed in between them.
One 90’ steel dive boat had managed to cut a swathe through the moored boats, sinking some, holing others and breaking moorings. Derelict vessels that Marine & Ports had done nothing about broke their lines and holed other boats.
In amongst it all were a few yachts that had survived by some miracle, including an old classic Bass Strait sailing cray boat. None of the owners had expected to have a boat in the morning so the 5 yachts that survived were truly blessed.
We had one boat listed for sale by an absentee owner which ended up with her mast poking through the Waterfront Bar & Grill (for those that know Port Vila). I contacted him yesterday to see if he had insurance, the answer was “no” and he had resigned himself as early as last Wednesday that he had lost his boat. The chainsaw starts tomorrow to remove it.
All this is the devastation from one small part of Vanuatu. Google a map and understand that this system passed the whole length of the island chain, most of which we still have no communication with. Spare a thought for the people of Vanuatu and make sure you come here this year if you are planning to, the country needs yachties like never before.
This is an amazing country with amazing people, I have not seen a single outward show of grief yet there is plenty to grieve about. Some of the first businesses to re-open were the nakamals where people go to enjoy a relaxing shell of kava. We sat around, expats and ni-Vans talking about how lucky we are.
For the person that asked, the lagoon east of the main harbour is barely navigable at the entrance but will allow a 6’ draft to enter at high tide but is actually around a very nasty weather point to approach so has never really been used. (This is the lagoon we live on).
Oh BTW, our yacht “Nightcap” survived the onslaught but, despite being tied down, 8 props and being in the lee of the worst wind managed to fall over gracefully and is now lying on her side. One day I’ll post how to properly prepare a keeler for the strongest storm in recorded history for this part of the world.
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By DariaBlackwell - 18 Mar 2015
Information for Immediate Release
Contact:
Daria Blackwell
OCC Press Officer PR@oceancruisingclub.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17th March 2015
Sailors band together to get relief to cyclone stricken Pacific Islanders
Dartmouth, Devon, United Kingdom – On Thursday the 14th of March, Cyclone Pam devastated the South Pacific island nations of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, leaving death and destruction behind. In Vanuatu the emergency has been big enough to trigger International Aid so whilst the job is massive, many planes are already arriving with supplies. Temotu (North East Solomon Islands) has been affected as badly as Vanuatu but, as fewer people live there, it has not triggered an International Aid effort, leaving them with little help. Members of the Ocean Cruising Club, many of whom have visited these islands and made friends among the residents, have asked how best to reach out with assistance that will have the most beneficial impact on the lives of those most affected.
Jim Thomsen, s/v Tenaya, responded, “There are many international organizations that will be helping Vanuatu. One organization, Sea Mercy, has their own sailboats and focuses on reaching the remote islands that are usually the last to receive aid.” Sea Mercy is now preparing to send her Disaster Relief Fleet (DRFleet) to join the Disaster Relief & Recovery efforts in Vanuatu, providing the care needed for the less populated and often forgotten remote islands during such difficult times.
Chris Bone of Oceans Watch responded that it would be best to have a larger impact in Temotu than a small impact in the whole of Vanuatu so they are currently concentrating efforts there. They can also help the smaller northern group of Islands in Vanuatu if it looks like they will miss out on aid assistance. Jim Thomsen reports that remote Tanna may have been the hardest hit island in Vanuatu.
OCC Member Tom Partridge and his partner Susie have been living in Vanuatu for 4 months while his yacht Adina was tied down in a cradle in the Port Vila Boatyard. They were fortunately in New Zealand when Cyclone Pam struck. Late yesterday they received the news that Adina was undamaged and that all yachts in the boatyard were unscathed. They are returning to Vanuatu at the weekend and have offered to stay on to coordinate relief efforts on the ground.
Cyclone Pam has left a huge amount of damage in its wake. Some lives were lost, many houses were damaged or completely destroyed. Fruit trees are gone, gardens washed away or covered in debris, and just root crops left in most instances.
Chris Bone reports, “To date we have used donated funds to pay for an assessment of Fenualoa Island, where we have a good knowledge of all villages. They need ~60 tarpaulins and emergency food. They also need chain saws to clear fallen trees from houses and gardens. We are going to provide some emergency food. We hope World Vision can supply the tarpaulins (they do not provide food) and we have ordered two chainsaws to be loaned to villages and we will be providing fuel. We shall supply a chainsaw mill, too, so that bigger trees can be utilised for building supplies, and are delivering vegetable seeds for planting. OceansWatch is a registered charity in New Zealand, the US, the UK and the Solomon Islands, with 8 years’ experience in the Pacific. We are seeking guidance from our Solomon Island directors as to where our efforts are best placed. We have raised NZ$3,000 so far with more promised. But our greatest need is experienced skippers and crew to sail our boats from New Zealand to the islands as soon as possible after cyclone season.”
The Ocean Cruising Club commends the strategy of these two organizations to reach those hardest hit and least likely to receive immediate international aid. OCC Commodore John Franklin says, "these two organisations, along with assistance from OCC member Tom Partridge in Port Vila, seem to have in place the infrastructure to make a real difference to the plight of the islanders - please support them."
Sea Mercy
http://www.seamercy.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=20
OceansWatch
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/cyclonepamrelief
Contact Chris Bone directly for additional information chris@oceanswatch.org.
For more information about the Ocean Cruising Club, please visit the OCC website at www.oceancruisingclub.org.
[attachment=209]VanuatuMarinaVila.jpg[/attachment]
Photo credit: UNICEF Pacific
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By DariaBlackwell - 18 Mar 2015
Noonsite has added our information to theirs here: http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Vanuatu/vanuatu-relief-efforts-2013-how-you-can-help/
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By DariaBlackwell - 18 Mar 2015
BBC Report shows the path Cyclone Pam took.
http://m.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31917913
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By DariaBlackwell - 25 Mar 2015
Just in from Tom in Vanuatu...
www.yachtadina.co.uk
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you – internet access is on and off. Anything you can do to help is great. Nails and hammers are a good idea to help people re-build homes. Then clothes, plates and food. Seeds would be welcome.
We’ve encouraged people to make donations to their favourite charity or give us a donation and we will spend it and ensure it gets to villages and villagers. So many people have lost their homes and the situation is getting worse as crops were washed away. We already have a pile of stuff ready to go and will spend more. Our plan is to visit the outer islands like Erromango which will get less aid than places like Efate and Tanna.
People also fear tourists won’t come and I’d encourage every cruiser to visit – it’s a beautiful place with the nicest people.
Adina is undamaged having been in a cradle and in a boatyard. We’re getting her ready to launch as soon as we can.
Thanks for getting in contact and hope to see you along the line.
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By DariaBlackwell - 26 Mar 2015
Sea Mercy is in need of additional vessels to deliver supplies. If you have a vessel in the Pacific and wish to assist, please register with Sea Mercy here: http://www.seamercy.org/node/125
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By DariaBlackwell - 26 Mar 2015
Hello everyone,
Darramy greetings from the UK. At present we are back in the UK for a couple more weeks. and have been following the sad news of Cyclone Pam decimating Vanuatu especially the outer islands.
Vanuatu is our next group islands to visit, and we understand that the people are every bit as lovely as the people we met in Fiji last year. The people make places special especially on the more remote islands.
We get back to Darramy in Fiji, mid April and will set out for Vanuatu as soon as the boat is ready. Over the years we have had some fantastic times visiting these wonderful places, and feel we would like to put something back and we will be offering to help with the relief efforts before we head to Australia. It will take a long time for these people to rebuild their lives.
There are various relief agencies around, but a couple stand out as they are small voluntary organisations which seem to get to the heart of the outlying areas. there are also members of the OCC (Ocean Cruising Club) who like ourselves will be offering assistance.
Yep this is where I actually ask you to consider sending a small donation to them.
So without further ado, check out these sites and see if you can help.
http://www.seamercy.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=20
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/cyclonepamrelief
Please pass these sites on to your friends and colleagues
Take Care and thanks
Brian and Sue
S/V Darramy
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By DariaBlackwell - 27 Mar 2015
Photos of before and after Pam show extent of devastation:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/shocking-photos-show-vanuatu-before-and-after-cyclone-pam/47893/
Tomnod has requested assistance from the public in identifying damage:
http://sendy.tomnod.com/l/wuhtl892jEzwj1LVGtJ763OvJA/ea4wG6UQUHZGAHGVgrT4Ag/wLMldcyAc9j892Vo3gG9763w0w
M4.8 Earthquake 173km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu
Event Time
2015-03-27 07:55:35 (UTC)
[url=http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10001r4q#general_summary[/url]
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By DariaBlackwell - 29 Mar 2015
This just in from Sea Mercy:
Thank you for the promotion of our program and how people can help. It is still chaotic as the local and international aid organizations try to coordinate all the NGO 's and international aid assistance to those in need. We hope to relieve the concern for the remote islands and citizens that have not received a great deal of aid attention due to a lack of delivery vessels.
Current Update:
• We have three vessels (s/v Salsa, s/v Lil Explorers, and s/v Chez Nous) standing by in Fiji to begin operations in Vanuatu once our paperwork has been cleared (we hope to have this approved by Monday, March 30th). We have additional vessels moving toward Fiji & Vanuatu with arrival plans from April through June (m/v Buffalo Nickel, s/v La Quilta, s/v Baies Du Monde, s/v Sea Angel, others standing by).
• Our Disaster Response Coordinator, John Ivey, arrives in Nadi, Fiji on March 31. While there he will be purchasing and organizing aid packages for the DR Fleet to carry as they depart the first week of April (food, medical supplies, tools, shelter, etc.). Nigel Skeggs, Managing Director at The Port Denarau Marina in Nadi has donated temporary storage facilities for staging of our in-kind donations prior to our vessels departing. If you have local members who would be able to donate supplies, please have them contact Nigel or us for drop-off instructions (nigel@denaraumarina.com).
• John Ivey will then fly to Vanuatu on April 1 to begin coordinating the arrival and scheduling of our DR Vessels with the NDMO and MOH operations for delivering aid and services to the remote islands.
In addition to the medical staff and supplies being sent, we are negotiating to have a commercial (heavy duty) watermaker shipped to Fiji and installed on our lead vessel Dragonfly (add to her existing low volume watermaker) to provide her with the ability to generate additional emergency water for the remote island villages at each stop. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will help us to provide the care and services to the remote islands that are often in the greatest need, but are generally the last to see international aid delivered to them.
If possible, please share our Disaster Relief for Vanuatu fundraising page (http://www.seamercy.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=20) with your professional and personal network and encourage them to make a donation to support Sea Mercy 's efforts on the remote islands (or to donate to other international aid organizations supporting the disaster relief efforts in Vanuatu). I have attached a few items to help explain the programs and services we provide our island nation partners in the South Pacific and the impact they are having there. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.
Please feel free to share the above information with your members and community. We are constantly encouraged by the hearts and offers of assistance from the international sailing and boating communities. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
All the best to you,
Richard Hackett
President & Founder
Sea Mercy
www.seamercy.org
info@seamercy.org
541-935-5846
Follow us on:
Facebook
Twitter
[attachment=212]VanuatuReliefFlyer.pdf[/attachment]
[attachment=213]SeaMercyBrochure2015.pdf[/attachment]
[attachment=214]2014-AYearofImpact.pdf[/attachment]
[attachment=215]AugustNewsletter2014.pdf[/attachment]
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By DariaBlackwell - 30 Mar 2015
Humans of Vanuatu is reporting from on site and posting updates and photos on their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/HumansOfVanuatu?fref=photo&sk=photos
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By DariaBlackwell - 1 Apr 2015
Daria,
Thanks, I sent out an email blast asking our readers to contribute to WorldVision, who is on the ground now with help. They will need a lot of help for a long time. One of my readers is a doctor who works with them. He says 100% of the funds sent for a particular event go to that event.
Bob Bitchin
bob@cruisingoutpost.com
530-589-7979
www.cruisingoutpost.com
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By DariaBlackwell - 11 Apr 2015
Hello All
Quick update from Adina in Vanuatu. We are now in Havannah Harbour preparing to sail to the Shepard Islands and Epi to help wherever we can. We are laden down with building materials, tarpaulins, food, basic first aid, and clothing.
Please keep in touch if you need any help. There are too many unfounded rumours about customs etc. being bounded around whilst we have had nothing but kind help. And I 'd also encourage people to please spend aid money in Port Vila as it is well stocked and that money goes to the local economy. The government is assisting by making building materials VAT free.
For us, it 's just wonderful to see friends changing sailing plans to include coming to Vanuatu. Good luck with all your efforts.
Kind regards
Tom
www.yachtadina.co.uk
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By DariaBlackwell - 12 Apr 2015
We shall have 3 OceansWatch project yachts headed from New Zealand in May and another later in the season. In addition we have support yachts travelling from Australia and Fiji. We shall liaise closer to the time with NDMO Vanuatu to see what is the best way we can help. We are working closely with communities hit by the Cyclone in Temotu. We have fundraised and have a volunteer there now with a good range of chainsaw equipment clearing fallen and dangerous trees. Bigger trees are being milled to provide timber for rebuilding. We have employed a local liaison person to give us detailed assessments and ensure our help is appropriately utilised. He is in Honiara right now buying seeds and garden tools. Our yacht teams are focusing on longer term recovery and resilience and shall be refurbishing and resupplying Clinics and First Aid posts.
Cheers, Chris
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By DariaBlackwell - 16 Apr 2015
Very good summary article about progress made in Vanuatu appears in Practical Boat Owner.
http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/sailors-continue-to-help-cyclone-stricken-pacific-islanders-20885
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By DariaBlackwell - 18 Apr 2015
Update from Yacht Adina
Hello All,
We thought we would write a quick update on Adina 's progress on getting the aid out that we are carrying from various kind donors, as a few of you have asked for updates. This email is mainly aimed at sailing friends/cruisers who are planning to come to Vanuatu and want to bring aid. It is our personal view of what to expect/how to help etc, based on our experiences to date.
Please bear in mind, we are sending this using our sat phone so while we welcome replies, remember to start a new email and not reply to this one.
WHERE WE 'VE BEEN SO FAR:
We chose to head north from Efate where the capital, Port Vila, is situated and we had been based for the cyclone season. Our first stop, we anchored in Sulua Bay (17°02.974 'S, 168°22.300 'E) on the island of Emae, one of the Shepherd Islands. After this we had planned to continue north and stop on the south of the island Epi, but with strong trade winds and heeding local knowledge we were advised it wouldn 't be safe to anchor. So we headed to the south-west of Epi and anchored at rolly Ivo/Nelson Bay (16°45.747 'S, 168° 09.157 'E). Here we did a quick assessment of two local villages who had been less impacted by the cyclone so hired a 4WD to take us to the village of Votlo on South Epi, knowing that village needed help.
We chose these areas based on advice from Port Vila local charity ProMedical, Sam and Jess of Kaleva Yacht Service and a report on Epi compiled by chiefs kindly given to us by David and Lynn of the Butterfly Trust.
Considering the islands worst affected by the cyclone, our thinking on sailing north from Port Vila was defined by the fact that we know Tanna and Erromango are getting help from current aid efforts and cruisers arriving from New Zealand and that the Shepherd Islands close to Efate, within reach of local day boats, are similarly getting aid. The anchorage on Emae is 38nm to the north of Havannah Harbour in north Efate and beyond the reach of small local boats. Epi is 22nm north from there.
OUR EXPERIENCE ON EMAE:
On arrival in Emae we took a few supplies and went to the village of Tapakoro where we spoke to the chief, Usamoli Samuel (phone: +678 7741702). Their village has been very badly damaged from the cyclone. The majority of houses were lost, their crops were destroyed, water tanks damaged and they lost some cattle. They had harvested some crops before the cyclone and are still eating those now; they have replanted some of the crops that they saved and already have island cabbage (like spinach) growing.
They seemed a very well organised and harmonious village. There are 11 families, around 40 people. Typically positive, they have been clearing up (using 2 chainsaws from the government) and rebuilding what they can with what they have got. They have very limited materials to work with.
Asking them what they need, building materials and food were the biggest request. They have implemented a community project of planting quick-growing crops. No-one is starving but they were very grateful of anything and estimate it will be 3 months before crops are growing sufficiently that they will be able to feed themselves.
We arranged to meet at the beach the next morning and in advance we asked the chief if he would help in ensuring our small aid was fairly shared and to invite another village. The next morning people from both Tapakoro and Veima villages came down to the beach and carried the supplies to Tapakoro where it was placed in a communal hall. The chief kindly thanked us for coming to help saying it was a complete surprise and in turn we did a quick speech saying the goods were from donations from friends.
Our goods were taken to a central point and each household had a bowl into which all food was divided, fair and square. Then all the kitchenware, plates, bowls, toiletries etc. were shared out too. Even the clothing was equally shared and caused much amusement for the man trying to distribute it. They went to the extent of sharing the nails out one-by-one and even took the 600m of rope and worked out each household got 37.5m. All axes, hammers, saws and things like tarpaulins became communal property.
Susie ran a basic first aid clinic treating around 20 people with various cuts, sores etc.
The things they have asked for and we agree they need quickly are more building materials, food, water and seeds to replant crops.
OUR EXPERIENCE ON SOUTH EPI:
When we arrived we visited two villages. While we saw some damage in the form of damaged huts/roofs had been sustained, it was not at the same level as Emae. Crops have been damaged but we could still see the likes of tarot growing (a common root vegetable). While it was a tough call, we decided to stick to our original plan and asked a villager if we could arrange transport to get to South Epi to the village of Votlo. A bumpy, fun ride on poor roads, 1h30min later we arrived. It was immediately evident that they sustained a lot more damage. Most houses were flattened. They have some tarpaulins, have planted new crops but food and water are still in short supply. The school is closed due to damage. Water is hauled from a distance off. With time short for our hired truck, in the presence of the chief and all the people of the village we handed over the aid, explained it all, walked around the village and offered basic medical help but the chief said everyone was well. It was a shame we had to leave after a short while but people were again very appreciative.
Our overall experience is that the Shepherd Islands and South Epi still need more assistance.
WHAT TO BRING
Key requirements seem to be building materials and food at this stage.
- Bring building materials including nails (lots!), hammers, saws, axes, strong rope. Please buy cyclone proof style nails for roofs, these are readily available in the hardware stores in Port Vila (Wilco, Port Vila Hardware). More secure are cyclone proof screws, but these require a drill and as islanders do not have these or the power for them, get the twisted nails with round heads. The lengths of nails we understand used for traditional roofs are 6", 4" and 2". Traditional natangura used for roofs is expected to take one to three years to grow.
- For food, we supplied tinned meat and fish, rice, tea bags, powdered milk, Milo powdered drink and biscuits. Powdered milk was popular. A packet of biscuits gets a big smile. One man told us the rice we gave (approximately 3kg per household) would feed his small family for about 2 weeks. We bought everything in Port Vila from the Bon Marche Warehouse (you can buy in bulk here, by the box load).
- Kitchen utensils were mentioned as being in need - we supplied plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, cooking utensils, cleaning cloths, towels, buckets. These can be sourced from one of the many Chinese shops in Port Vila - we chose Uncle Bill 's in the centre of town on 'Chinese Alley '.
- Few were thinking about health and we supplied anti-bacterial soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. For anyone she treated, Susie gave extra antiseptic wipes, plasters, wound dressings etc. for them to use themselves for the next few days. She also reminded everyone to wash hands before cooking, after using the toilet and for children, to wash around their neck/upper chest, underarm and groin areas (based on advice from medics seeing children with rashes/infections in those areas) - this always got a giggle from the children as she stood demonstrating where to wash.
- People seemed to have recovered their limited clothing from the cyclone but any clothes will be greatly appreciated.
OUR ADVICE ON HOW TO APPROACH GIVING AID
- Think realistically about what/how much you have and who you can help. Far better to make a meaningful difference to one village than spread yourself thin over several villages.
- First and foremost ask to speak to the chief. Chiefs are friendly, helpful people and there are no formal ceremonies as in Fiji. If the chief isn 't there, many villages have elders who you could also talk to.
- Do try and reach out to villages beyond those at the anchorages. It 's not easy, but talk to a chief and ask him if he knows other villages that need help. You may need to hire transport.
- Try and do a self-assessment before you start giving things. Start with general chit-chat - what was it like, where did they stay during the cyclone? Ask how much damage was done? Look around the village, ask what aid they have received, what food they have, what crops they have/are growing? Ask about re-building efforts, what the community is doing? Try your best and just use common sense, none of us are disaster recovery experts.
- You 'll find people are getting on with life, making the best of things. You 'll probably be there when building efforts are well under way, and crops are starting to grow.
- You will find the locals a little shy in asking what they want so you may need to prompt them on their needs. You will usually find English is spoken by at least some of the village, and if not, try French.
- Once you have picked your village tell the chief what you can give and your plans. Tell him you want everything shared and ask him how he can help organise it. If time permits, return the next day as with our case in Emae, they planned themselves and were keen to show us they would share everything.
- Expect a small speech from the chief. In return, it 's good to stand-up and say a few words and explain where your aid came from and why you are there. This is normal and courteous throughout Vanuatu and you 'll get a healthy applause and a lot of smiles.
- Explain everything you have bought. In particular, explain any toiletries and any basic medical aid. Encourage hygiene as children have been getting sick.
- You will most likely get some small offering in return, this is Vanuatu culture. Typically some crop, perhaps a craft; if they give you food, pick a little thing and tell them they should keep the rest.
- Tell them what skills you have and how you can help. Cruisers have always been relied on to help fix things. Things will appear from non-functioning water pumps to broken personal DVD players.
- Try catch some fish - bring it ashore to share and expect a crowd.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If possible, please spend your donor money in Port Vila where there are plenty of supplies especially food and hardware. The hardware stores are well stocked with re-building materials and you can get them VAT-free if you explain they are for rebuilding after the cyclone. Most importantly, your money goes into the local economy.
Do download the free guide 'All Ports Lead to Vanuatu ' from www.cruisingvanuatu.info for everything you need to know about Vanuatu. A quality production.
For up-to-date advice, Port Vila locals and experts Sam and Jess of KYS are trying to co-ordinate cruiser help, together with Eric and Anne Simmons who produce the cruising guide and David and Lynn of the Butterfly Trust who know these islands well. All in cc on this email.
The longer you stay in an anchorage, the more you will be absorbed into the community and the harder you will find it to leave. Remember, after your efforts helping, in the more northern islands unaffected by the cyclone, things like land diving in Pentecost are still on in April/May/June. Please visit! We can assure you of the adventure of a lifetime with the nicest, friendliest people possible who will be so appreciative of your visit.
We hope this information helps you, please share it with others so that more can be done for this wonderful country blighted by a cyclone but determined to stand proud once more.
Kind regards,
Tom and Susie
www.yachtadina.co.uk
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By DariaBlackwell - 6 May 2015
Update from Tom Partridge, s/v Adina
We are sailing in Vanuatu at the moment and have been helping get aid out post Cyclone Pam and trying our best to give information to the many OCC members who are wanting to come and help. One member told me he had seen our piece providing advice on helping in Vanuatu on an OCC forum and promptly printed it out and had it posted up in Savu Savu and Vuda Marina. That 's the power of your forums.
It 's just been fabulous to be part of a club that genuinely wants to help. When we visited one village they had literally given up on the government and aid agencies and and couldn 't believe yachties who they see from time to time arrive wanting to help. And all credit to the villagers - my endearing image is of the man who sat counting each and every nail and sharing them fair and square. Very humbling.
I’m hoping to submit something to Flying Fish on Cyclone Pam aid.
All the best for now
Tom
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By DariaBlackwell - 18 May 2015
An Update from the RRCs for the Pacific...
John and David,
An update for the Commodore and RRC Liaison.
Having waited in Opua for a weather window that would give winds from
somewhere other than on the nose and in not too big a quantity we appear to
be off tomorrow, 17 May 2015, for Port Vila.
We have had some excellent support in our mission from the Butterfly Trust
(They have an interesting web site), based in Auckland who have specialised
over a number of years in assisting the communities in South Malakula and
the Maskelyne Islands. These are the some of the areas that we visited last
year and to which we wish to return. We have a boat full of good, clean and
sorted second hand clothes, household items, children 's books for the
schools, old sails, rope and a myriad of other bits and pieces that should
prove useful. We also have medical equipment from the Butterfly Trust that
we are to deliver. Most of what we have on board has been donated or
acquired at very little cost - the bags from a Chinese shop containing the
sorted clothes are probably one of the largest expenses to date but will
make handling down the line much easier. We are therefore in the happy
situation of having a reasonable amount of cash in the kitty in order to
purchase bulk food, tools and fixings after we have arrived in Port Vila and
cleared in.
Our port officers in Whangarei, Mary Berg, and Nina Kiff in Opua have been
very supportive and helpful. Mary and Dave 's boat was just along the
pontoon from us in the dock in Whangarei and they were a mine of useful
information. Nina appeared with a box of medical dressings obtained by her
daughter and which are expensive in New Zealand. I regret that I did not get
a photograph of Caduceus dressed overall with donated babygrows that we
laundered.
It should take us about a week to eight days get to Vanuatu. Allowing for a
few days in Port Vila entering and leaving we should be able to get three
clear weeks on the ground. We are getting a steady stream of information
back from boats that are already on station and who are sharing their
experiences. Tom Partridge has been particularly helpful in the planning
stages.
The other saga has been getting Elizabeth accredited by the Ministry of
Health to exercise her medical skills under the banner of the Butterfly
Trust. In addition to references from some eminent UK based surgeons we
have the GMC sending letters giving proof of good standing to the MoH. The
final twist two days ago was a new, as of this week, requirement to have
police clearance. Fortunately Elizabeth was cleared it the UK two years ago
when she volunteered to go into our local school to listen to children
reading; the school were able to produce the necessary information. And we
thought that it was just a matter of loading up the boat and going. We have
been on an interesting, frustrating at times and valuable learning curve.
Lynn of the Butterfly Trust has been working miracles on our behalf however,
several days ago she advised us that she felt we should give up trying with
the accreditation but she had not allowed for Elizabeth 's determination when
faced with a challenge.
I suspect that the actual operation on the ground may be easier than the
preparation.
Regards,
Martin and Elizabeth
Martin Bevan
Caduceus
Opua, North Island, New Zealand
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By DariaBlackwell - 28 May 2015
Update from Brian and Sue s/v Darramy -- I let them know that this post is linked in from the OCC Home page as well.
Hi Daria,
Wanted to update stuff on the Vanuatu situation. We are now in
Emai 17 '02S 168.22E
33% of the Sea Mercy 2nd fleet.
This is what I have sent out to fellow cruisers, and got it mentioned on the two nets that operate in this area of the Pacific. Southern Cross net 8191 at 20.00 UTC and The Vanuatu net 8230 20.30 UTC
Be good if you could put on Forum, my only concern with this topic, it is a fair way down the list of stuff on the Forum, is there any way it can be brought higher up again as there is a great need of support needed for these people. And there are now many new visitors (cruisers) coming through the area
Brian C Wallace
Hi Folks
Just a little update for you. We have now visited a couple of remote villages, and from a cruisers perspective have ascertained certain needs that all cruisers can possibly do to help.
Today we went about 8km to a village as we heard their boat was damaged. 6km by truck for which we gave them diesel and 2km walk as road still blocked with fallen trees.
Tomorrow we go back (although Sunday, we have been permitted to work) to this remote village of about 10 people. They have an aluminium dinghy for fishing. We are going to repair it. Mastic (5100) rivets screws. We hope to be able to get this boat in the water quickly so the village can catch fish for them to eat and also sell to other villages.
Many cruisers we have met in Fiji and here in Vanuatu want to know what they can bring to help. Well although we understand that all aid brought in would be taxed as an import. Realistically a bit of resin and fibreglass matt, and mastic could all be boat supplies, and a few kg of roofing nails won 't go amiss.
So although this is my own personal take on it, I suggest cruisers who want to help in the rebuilding of the lives in remote villages carry fibre glass stuff, mastic and some fishing line and hooks. These folks need to to get their boats back in the water. 100mm (4inch) twisted roofing nails are in need everywhere. Not expensive in Port Vila, but bloody useful in any village.
The only thing to watch out for is because of the cultural way the villages work, you can 't just give to a family. All stuff goes through the chief or the Community Disaster Committee. We have found in our short experience that they have many needs, but here are a couple that maybe a few of cruisers finding a need can help without putting the larger Aid organizations noses out of place.
Please mention this on the SSB and local VHF radio nets to make fellow cruisers aware of the needs. I can do a better update later, but would love that people heard our take on our short experience out here.
We all like to do our bit. These people are lovely and don 't expect a lot, but their faces light up when we visit. We don 't make promises we can 't keep. They have had many people with clip boards assessing and more following to check on the first assessment. The large organizations seem quite bureaucratic (and maybe they have to be), but we can fill a gap.
Any help is genuinely received, just accept their cultural differences. Hey isn 't that part of cruising.
Cheers
Brian and Sue
Darramy Part of the Sea Mercy Relief fleet seamercy.org for any donations
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By DariaBlackwell - 29 May 2015
Hello Sea Mercy Friends & Volunteers,
Special Request/Notice:
Because Fiji is a more recognized destination in the South Pacific, the majority of Sea Mercy 's Floating Health Care Clinic volunteers are opting to serve in Fiji, leaving the remote islands of Tonga in desperate need of assistance. To bring the same hope to these incredible remote islands and balance our rotations, we are reducing the Tonga rotation costs by $745 to encourage volunteers to join a 2-week rotation in Tonga this year. At only $1,250* (vs. the standard $1,995), this is an incredible opportunity to sail the South Pacific and share your talents.
* Our thanks to Captain David Lawn of Sea Angel who offered this price reduction
Click here to learn more about the special rate! There are only a limited number of volunteer slots available for this unique opportunity (openings in July through October), so Register Today to reserve your 2-weeks on our Floating Health Care Clinic (sailing catamaran Sea Angel) in Tonga. I know this is short notice, but even if you can 't go, please share this incredible opportunity with any friends or co-workers who you feel could help make a difference.
Disaster Relief in Vanuatu Update: We have three DR vessels working in the Southern Tafea Province and two more heading to the central Shefa Province. You can follow their activities and impact here (http://www.seamercy.org/node/172).
Thank you for your help and support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us right away via email or phone.
All the best to you,
Richard Hackett
President & Founder
Sea Mercy
www.seamercy.org
info@seamercy.org
541-935-5846
Follow us on:
Facebook
Twitter
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By DariaBlackwell - 4 Jun 2015
This is an update of the wanderings of Caduceus.
We arrived in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu a week ago after a 7 day and
1,100 nm passage from Opua in New Zealand. Despite earlier misgivings we
had absolutely no hassle clearing in with Biosecurity, Customs and
Immigration.
With the assistance of the Butterfly Trust and a lot of work by Elizabeth
she is now fully accredited by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to practice
medicine in the islands. The focus of our time here has developed from our
original somewhat vague ideas into the provision of medical aid and
assistance in various remote communities where there may be a nurse or they
may rely on what amount to locally trained first aiders. We will be running
clinics and have also been asked to perform school medical inspections so
that we can report back on the general health of the children. Elizabeth has
downloaded The Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine onto her iPad which has
become her bedtime reading; nothing like a good bit of clinical detail to
help you sleep.
We arrived with a boat stuffed with clothes, household goods and some
medicines and equipment that we had purchased in New Zealand. Through
contacts that we have made in the Ministry of Health, The World Health
Organisation, The Vanuatu Women 's Medical Federation, The Presbyterian
Church of Vanuatu and others we have subsequently put together a fairly
formidable dispensary that covers eventualities from malaria through
leprosy to pregnancy and obstetrics with a lot of general infections in
between. All of this has been achieved at little or no expense on our
funds, it has just taken a little time and patience.
This afternoon we visited to a lady running "Aid to Vanuatu" and who is
bringing in containers full of donations of all sorts of things from
Australia. From her semi-unpacked containers we acquired an eclectic range
of items from hand cranking torches to reading and writing course books for
schools to 200 tins of tuna and 90kg of rice. For those old enough but not
too old to remember them, we bear a strong resemblance to wombles. The boat
is now definitely at capacity and we require to distribute before we
acquire anything else.
Having got this far and made the contacts that we have, our original plan to
stay a month has gone out of the window. Our first trip out from Port Vila
is likely to be 3 to 4 weeks. Following an assessment of how that went we
will be better placed to plan a further round trip and also to make a
decision as to how best to apply the balance of the funds that we have so
generously had donated.
Life is far from dull, oh and whilst it is winter it is tropically hot with
a regular dowsing of rain. Tomorrow we leave Port Vila and head north. It
will be good to get on with the task in hand.
Our blog has a big hole covering our wanderings through New Zealand during
the period November 2014 to April 2015 but is up to date after that. The
period of September - October last year gives some detail of our last visit
to Vanuatu which prompted our return.
http://blog.mailasail.com/caduceus
Martin Bevan
Caduceus
Heading North from Port Vila, Vanuatu
We are again relying on satellite communications for email
Please do not hit reply and send us what we sent you and if possible
send your message as plain text to keep message size down
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By DariaBlackwell - 3 Jul 2015
An update from Darramy who sailed from Fiji to Vanuatu and joined Sea Mercy in delivering assistance to the cyclone ravaged islands.
https://liveicomgrshot.blob.core.windows.net/occfiles/Archive/media/kunena/attachments/780/DarramyontourNo25withPicturespdf.pdf
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By DariaBlackwell - 3 Jul 2015
OCC Member Tom Partridge has written an article about surviving the high winds of Cyclone Pam and provides tips on preparation.
http://forum.oceancruisingclub.org/topic1370-how-to-survive-strong-winds--accounts-and-tips.aspx
edited by Saltwhistle III on 9/9/2017
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By DariaBlackwell - 16 Jul 2015
> Attached is a summary document for our first trip around the islands
> that you may find of interest. The web site is currently up to date
> to our arrival back in Port Vila a week ago.
>
> http://caduceus+diary-747756@mailasail.com
>
> Best wishes,
> Martin and Elizabeth
>
[attachment=249]150630Junesummaryto10JulyCaduceusVanuatu.pdf[/attachment]
> Martin and Elizabeth Bevan
> Caduceus
> Port Vila, Vanuatu
> On a medical aid mission supporting the Butterfly Trust in Vanuatu
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By DariaBlackwell - 27 Jan 2016
I am sure you are aware of the considerable contributions made by OCC members to the recovery effort in Vanuatu after the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam last year. My wife, Donna and I were involved through the charity Sea Mercy and are now continuing their work as volunteer coordinators.
In addition to their ongoing Disaster Response and Floating Healthcare Fleets, Sea Mercy is launching a "Global Mercy Armada" program. This year the destination is the Lau Group Fiji. We are looking for volunteers.
Please see:
http://www.seamercy.org/GMA
Both the Island Cruising Association and the Seven Seas Cruising Association have offered their assistance and I would be most grateful if the OCC would consider promoting this cause through your newsletters and eBulletins.
Please contact me if you have any suggestions.
Yours,
Jonathan Robinson
s/v CHEZ NOUS
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By DariaBlackwell - 26 Feb 2016
Darramy on tour No 26: Vanuatu, Loyalty Isles, New Caledonia and NSW Australia
July 2015 – January 2016
ENJOY B)
Click on the file attachments below (BLUE)
www.oceancruisingclub.org/media/kunena/attachments/780/DarramyontourNo26PDF.pdf
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By DariaBlackwell - 14 Mar 2016
From PO Jess Bell in Port Vila:
Sorry we cannot make the Awards Dinner. It would be so lovely to come!
Our main business is supporting large yachts. As cruisers ourselves, we have always enjoyed the interaction with small yachts as well. When the cyclone hit, we became a bit of a gathering point for yachties wanting to help. There were a few of us; John Ivey and John Robinson of Sea Mercy, Anne and Eric Simmons from Tourism Vanuatu and Yacht Reflections and Dave and Lynn Colbert from Butterfly Trust and yacht Rireana.
We all quickly realised that lack of information and logistics were the two largest challenges we could help with. We worked together to form a network to share information and deliver goods and services to the hard to reach islands.
Sea Mercy focussed on Medical Assistance. We focussed on water. Butterfly Trust did a bit of everything. Each yacht that came focused on what their expertise was and all the yachts helped with the sharing of information and delivering of life saving and life helping items.
It was quite remarkable to see how the yachts could help. There were many large aid organizations here but they were really struggling to get accurate information and delivery of items was very expensive. The yachts were valuable because the same set of eyes were looking at different places so assessments of which areas were in the most desperate state could be submitted. We could then suggest to other yachts where to visit and what could be taken that would be of most use.
The other value of yachts is that the help continued over months. When a disaster hits, the recovery period is very long. Even now, one year post Pam, many villages still are without roofs, gutters, and crops.
We hope many more yachts will come this year, to both cruise our beautiful country but also to give a hand where needed.
Wita Aid came out of our desire to share information and provide fresh water. As we cruised the country just after the cyclone we realised there were very real water needs. We reported this information back to the WASH cluster which was the Water and Sanitation/ Hygiene Group. We quickly realised they were not going to be able to help with the immediate water needs. We made a proposal for a shallow draft, sturdy boat with some desalination units on-board. Our proposal as accepted by one of the large yachts that had visited and by July we were out delivering water. It was very much needed. We are still delivering water now, one year after the cyclone because of the very serious drought we have experienced. We have now delivered 2 million litres of fresh water.
It’s been a long and bumpy road but one that is very meaningful and rewarding. We have met so many lovely people in the process and seen so many beautiful parts of the country we didn’t know existed.
Hopefully that all makes sense. I’m happy to expand on anything if needed.
Kind regards,
Jess
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