S.Pacific horror

Comment by Marty Peters on March 24, 2015 at 1:56pm

Absolutely devastating. I heard today that the Tiki 46 Sanyasin was completely destroyed in Port Vila along with 90% of the other yachts. Luckily the owners and their small son made it ashore safely after having to jump overboard and swim to shore. They have now lost their home and all their possessions and made it to shore with only their passports.

My heart goes out to everyone involved as the devastation ashore has made thousands homeless. The carnage wreaked by this super cyclone is unbelievable and I hope that I never get to experience anything close.

Comment by Thomas Hembroff on March 24, 2015 at 2:30pm

This photo is from Pt Vila, and the Wharram does appear to be in 46' range, but is a classic design I think. There seems to be enough of  a boat to salvage....Sad to hear about the Sanyasin's demise, but glad the family is alright. 

  Piggy is presently moored in Whangarei N.Z., and we had plans of sailing north to Vanuatu.  Maybe, I should hold off for a season.

Comment by Marty Peters on March 24, 2015 at 3:21pm

Yes this isn't Sanyasin, its not a tiki46. I heard that Sanyasin was completely destroyed and smashed to pieces from friends who knows the owners. They must be heartbroken to lose everything but at least they are alive. I don't have any details just a Facebook post from my friends who own a catamaran called Moonwalker in pahia, bay of islands.
If you are up near pahia you should check out their new venture building tenders - http://www.octenders.com. They are super nice people who circumnavigated and used their experiences to design a better tender as they were very disappointed in whats available..

We nearly bought Sanyasin when she was in Thailand back in 2008 but my missus had just became pregnant so we decided against it.

Maybe you should think of going to vanuatu anyway, load up the boat with supplies and I'm sure you would be welcomed with opened arms. From what I read probably the best thing for cruisers to do is to go and spend their money as i'm sure that this storm will have serious effects on their economy and cruisers are a valuable source of income. Check out www.oceanswatch.org and see if you can help. It could turn out to be an experience of a lifetime..

Marty

Comment by Thomas Hembroff on March 24, 2015 at 11:51pm

Cool..we met Russell off Moonwalker several times when we were up that way..what an awesome boat that is...I'm not sold on their tender though...I love inflatable ribs.

We do have lots of time to consider a venture to Vanuatu and I agree with you about the effect of cruisers on their local economy.  I'm sure there will be a number of cruising yachts heading that way this season.  There's over two hundred laying over the cyclone season here in NZ. 

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