Cruising- Gizo to Choisuel Bay - Jan 2008

10 Jan 2008

We departed Gizo on 10th Jan knowing that we would have to motor until the wind changed. So we motored 35nm to Vella Lavella (Solomon Is) where we overnighted. The next day we sailed and motored to the beautiful Choisuel Bay (Solomon Islands close to Bouganville PNG) where we spent 4 pleasant days with our friends from sy Keturah. 

Choisuel Bay

The highlight was a trip to the Parasi Falls on the Sui River.The falls were amazing as they fall at a 45 degree angle so you can walk along the side and sit at the top. We reached them after a picturesque long trip up the river in one of the local banana boats. It was a fun filled day!

Hang on to that Hat Fran!

The Narrow River

Fun at the Falls!

Gizo - Solomon Islands Dec 2007

The anchorage in Gizo was beautiful, it had a large protected bay within site of a volcano and the sunsets were glorious, However, Gizo is like a shanty town now especially since the Tsunami (April 2006) but despite this we spent 7 weeks there. Unfortunately, our pal Dr Jim had to leave us here and return to Australia.

We met lots of locals and expats, had fun at the Gizo Yacht Club and PT109 Bar and enjoyed Christmas and New Year with other boaties. The diving was very disappointing because of the depletion of the reef (over fishing) and the devastation of the Tsunami.

We also visited Kennedy Island. This is the island where Kennedy swam to after his Torpedo Boat PT109 was run down by a Japanese destroyer during WWII. We met an ancient local man who claimed to have been there at the time. His story is probably true as he was being interviewed by the BBC for a documentary on WWII.

Besides site seeing  and taking photographs of many boats around the town we also watched the war canoe races and attended the Solomon Island Independence Day Celebrations. We would both love to return to Gizo!

Dr Jim and Tom enjoying farewell drinks

The nearby Volcano 

The beautiful Gizo Anchorage.


Hamamas and Keturah  in the distance with local boat  in the foreground.


The Shanty Town

Francesco, Miki and Tom 

Christmas Celebrations.

Racing War Canoes

There were lots of motor boats

Traditional Boat

Our friends from Keturah paddling over for a visit

While there we hired a 4 wheel drive taxi to show us around and to take us up into the hills to see the camps. The coastal people had taken to the hills during the Tsunami and were living in makeshift huts and under tarpaulins. They were squatting on Government land and there was a lot of political nonsense going on about ownership but they refused to go back to their village on the shoreline. It was a most interesting but sobering few hours.

One of the young boys who showed us around had lost most of his family in the Tsunami. He told us that the only reason many of the villagers had survived was because some Australian surfers who were staying in the village as they were surfing the "big surf break" at that time, yelled to everyone" to run to the hills' as soon as they felt the quake.

Apparently the quake was very strong as one of the expat told us his story. He and his family lived on a hill overlooking Gizo and he  was outside with his grandson when the quake hit and immediately they tried to run back to the house where the rest of the family was. But the quake was so strong they had to sit on the ground and wait til it was over.

Meanwhile, his wife and other family members ran outside but they also had to lie on the ground, each group were within metres of each other while the quake lasted. When the Tsunami hit all they could do from their safe high vantage point was to watch as the shoreline villages and Gizo itself were destroyed and the terrified villagers ran for the hills. He said it was an horrific experience.

Our 4x4 on the muddy road to the hills.

These lads are living in temporary accommodation in the hills.

Temporary Village in the Hills

Cruising - Misima to Gizo (Solomon Is) 2007

21 Nov, 2007

Finally we had a weather window. So on 21 Nov 2007 we set sail for Gizo in the Solomon Is. It rained on us all the way and we had the usual variable winds and confused sea making for a wet rough trip except for the day 3 when we had good sailing. We had to slow the boat down and wait for a heavy rain shower to pass so we could see the leads into Gizo. 
We arrived at 3.30pm on a Friday afternoon (23 Nov 2007) and didn't expect to be able to clear Customs but luck was with us and were cleared in without any hassels.

We awoke the next day to beautiful sunshine and wonderful views of the magnificent harbour.There was still evidence of the tzusami damage. The fresh food market was wonderful and was open every day. We were excited to find that we could even buy fresh bread!

Also there were two other yachts in the anchorage. These were the first we had seen since leaving Townsville in early Nov! So you can imagine how excited we were and how anxious we were to meet them.

Fran at  the colourful Gizo Market