Mioko Island July 2009

15 miles NE of Rapopo Resort is Duke of York Islands. Passing between the Credner Islands we encountered strong currents and had to take care about the reefs surrounding them. The bay in the southern part is a magnificent sheltered place with crystal clear water and tremendous landscapes. We saw many dolphin swimming in the bay.

On the Mioko Island lives a community that welcomed us, and in company of a guide we could visit the place.

The kids were very joyful. The place is very well maintained and walking thru the bush we could see ruins from earlier foreign settlements.

As on many of these Islands water is a big concern, we were asked to contribute for the purchasing of water tanks, what we did with great pleasure.

We spent the week end there and went back to Rapopo’s place to make our self ready to continue our adventure.

Japanese Tunnels, beginning of July 2009

Rabaul was occupied by the Japanese during the WWII form 1942 to 1945.

It was an advanced base for them to progress in the Pacific. They were regularly bombed by the Allies stationed in the Vanuatu. The bombers could just make it to Rabaul, and for the survivors to get back.

The Japanese used local people (slaves) and prisoners to dig 6m of tunnel per day per team to get sheltered from these bombings. More than 300km were hollowed out in this time.

Again thanks Rod we could join Sarah’s family for a ride and Rod brought us to unbelievable places. First we went to the hospital place close to the beach.

Locals brought us thru galleries crossing each other on multiple levels coming together at a point. You could easily get lost. Looking at the walls they did a very nice digging job.

The second part was quite exiting. Rod drove us up the hill; we past the observatory, stopped in the middle of no were and walked thru the bush to get to a small entrance we had to crawl in.

Ones inside, we made our way to find the stairs bringing us up to an observatory place sheltered from the bombing and get to the exit.

They were stiff, about 45 degrees. At the beginning the ground was soft and you had to dig in your nails not to slip.

Later we found concrete steps to walk our way up. It was much easier.

From the top we have nice over view of the harbor form the bunker a tight tunnel brought us out the hill.

Ones again thank you Sarah and Rod for letting us shares with you this other magnificent journey in your company.

On another occasion we went to the barge tunnels. Along the shore close to the hills, tunnels were hollowed out to shelter up to 4 barges.

These barges were used to carries supplies from the ships to the shore; they were put on rails and pulled into the tunnels.

Ralamanmkia walk end of July 2009

Rod invited us to join Sarah with her parents Robin and Cherry and her daughter Brigit from Australia for a walk close to the Tavurvur volcano.
When you arrive on site, the landscape is breath taking, and the roaring of the volcano gives you an idea of his temper.
The air is thick and ash falls around you.

It’s like a snowy day in winter time at home, just colors and temperatures don’t match.

Sam, a local guide with his assistants joined us for a walk up the hills. We stopped at the edge of an extinguished volcano. 5 km away we could feel Tavurvur’s activity. The walk was not easy, some times the ground was fragile and your foot would disappear up to the knee is the ash.

We made it slowly but surly up the hill and sat for a while looking around. One of the local went down the crater of the extinguished volcano to immortalize the event in the ashes.
The way back was quite fun, you could ski down hill if you had a set. Divers take theirs equipment with them, may be you can take your skies.
People will look strangely at you at the airport for sure!




Opposite the active volcano is Matupit Island (less than 3km away). That's were Sam leaves. The Island is a village; just a little bay separates then from the foot of the volcano.
After the 1994 eruption the government relocated the people leaving on the Island. The new location being too small, some of them came back and settled again on the Island.
The last time the volcano erupted in 2006, they had many earthquakes the day before and the inhabitants of the Island had time to leave the place and get shelter in the hills behind Rabaul. They lost everything under the ashes. I asked Sam if they have an evacuation plan, how it is organized. He didn’t give me an answer . . .


When we came back, we were covered with ashes. Avoid light colored clothes. Be careful with medical glasses, mine got stained, and I can’t get if off.

After the volcano walk, Rod drove us around and we went up the hill to the observatory. From there your have a nice over view auf Rabaul.




On the left side at the edge of the bay is what is left from Rabaul after 1994’s eruption. Center and right is Rabaul today. In SE winds, the city gets covered with ashes.















These two pictures taken before and after the last eruption gives an idea what the volcano spits out when he gets angry, and this is just ashes.

Thank you Sarah, thank you Rod for letting us shares with you this magnificent journey in your company.

Complementary info about clearance in Rabaul

If you arrive from East, there is in Honiara Solomon Islands a PNG consulate to get a visa. If you clear in Rabaul from over seas without a visa you will be asked to pay visa fees of 200 PGK for the captain and the same amount for each crew on board the yacht. It is also said that: “yachts staying longer than 2 month are required to loge a security on their yacht equal to the duty on the yacht’s valor”.

PNG Rabaul June July 2009

Arriving in Rabaul, we anchored in 10m of water very close to the beach beside the jetty crowded with people fishing. From there I called Port Control on VHF who asked me to clear in Rabaul. I was not interested to go there because the Tavurvur volcano is active spitting ashes in the air over Rabaul in SE winds.
Because they where busy clearing in 3 cargos, and ourselves having already cleared in PNG, we where told to go and see them on departure.

Left Rapopo Resort and Beach




We moved to Rapopo Resort Plantation 1.6 mile east from Kokopo and anchored next to the MV Barbarian who called us on arrival and invited us to join him.


We met Rod the owner of Barbarian, and two lovely ladies Daisy and Lillian who work on Barbarian.

Rod organizes dive charter and is familiar with the place, and much more.

Visit his web side at http://www.niuginidiving.com/.




We discovered the surrounding with Daisy. 15 minutes walk from the beach, there is a super market Papindo very well furbished. It’s also the bus stop to Kokopo. Take bus number 8 to go to town, he will drop you off at the market place, cost 70 Toea each.
On the way back you ask the driver to drop you off at sea view, its 200m from the place you left the dingy.

Next to the market are the post office, pharmacy and bank. ATM’s are available.

As usual, the market is color full and well furbished every day.

Other super markets offers (sell) you plenty of western goodies. Mostly coming from south; Australia.

There is a petrol station close to the beach. You can anchor the yacht before the apparent wreck in 5 to 10m depths coming from east. Don’t anchor in front of the petrol station there are sunken wrecks under, and get the fuel with the dingy.


Kokopo is a young city.


When the Tavurvur volcano erupted in 1994 it covered with ashes half of Rabaul.

With the heavy rain falls it collapsed lots the houses.

Since, administration moved to Kokopo, but Rabaul being a natural harbor, there are still activities going on there.

That’s why you must clear in Rabaul, but at departure you can go and see the authorities in Kokopo.



You can fill your gas bottle in Rabaul by Origin close to the waterfront. The people there are very friendly and helpful. It’s the third road on the right after the coconut mill. Take bus number 1 at the Kokopo’s market if you are anchored around Kokopo.

Kavieng to Rabaul June 2009

We had a nice passage in light winds (5 knots) and did the 168 miles trip in 2 days with 29 h motoring.

On the passage we tried to catch some fish. Dozens of tunas where jumping meters hi out of the water around the yacht.


No one toke interest on our lure following us. Even with advertising they didn’t take the bite.
To our defense, the yacht was only doing 3.3 knots of speed, its far to slow for them.





It’s the best lure hand made, no cost. They just don’t know.

21.7.2009 Editon Problems

Dear friends and relatives,

We are still alive and well, just having problems to add new messages into the blog. We are at the present in Honiara Solomon Island, waiting for the SE to ease so we can head to Vanuatu.

As soon as possible more will be edited.