Mustang Sally’s current position at Loltong Bay on Pentecost Island is “15:32.71S 168:08.84E”

 

We left Ranon early on Friday morning (16th August) as we are up for at least 30NM before we get to out next anchorage and it is preferable to get in when the sun is high so that you can see the coral.  We were hoping to stop for a few nights at Batvanine Bay, which is about 2/3rds of the way up Pentecost Island however, when we arrived it was very rolly so figure it is best to head straight to Loltong Bay in North Pentecost which is a very protected anchorage – luckily we left early as we are now up for 38NM but still arrive in good light.  The bay is quite small but really pretty.  We are greeted not long after our arrival by the resident dugong who did a bit of a drive by at the back of the boat.

 

Pentecost is  a  long skinny island which runs south to north and is also the home of Land Diving.  Unfortunately we are too late to witness this as it is only done between April to June each year which is apparently when the vines used and at there best – by this time of year they have gone a bit soggy so perhaps not the best thing to be using when jumping off a tower!

 

Saturday and we head ashore to the yacht club to see what goes on in Loltong which is supposedly the main village on Pentecost.  We are met by Matthew who is the yachtie relations manager in these parts and also runs the yacht club.  He takes us for a village tour which was quite comprehensive and lasts for the best part of 3 hours.  The village seems to be half French and half English but they all seem to get on quite well in these parts!  We get to find the local baker which is always important for player comfort levels on board

 

Matthew is also the tour organiser so we have booked in to see some Kastom dancing on Sunday afternoon which will be followed by a meal at the Yacht Club which we are looking forward to.  During Saturday afternoon a huge 58ft Catana cruising cat turns up so we are now sharing the anchorage with a monster and again the friendly dugong did a drive by not long after there arrival so figure it must be part of his routine for all new arrivals.  We are hoping that not too many more yachts show up as it is going to start getting a bit tight in the bay.  We are hoping to get out and do a bit of snorkelling over the next few days as the bay is surrounded by coral reefs and there are also plenty of bommies to explore as well.