Sailaway Cruises on Golden Wing trimaran

News source Sailaway Cruise: This announcement is to advise industry colleagues that Sailaway Cruises is back in operation, as per normal, following the dispute *Golden Wing*  had with cyclone Gene in Feb. 2008. The sailing trimaran came off second-best, but repairs have been thorough and it is now sporting a new paint job & reconditioned engine. During it's 1 year absence from North Efate waters, the corals & marine-life have flourished in the Hat Island area  (apart from over-collection of select colourful aquarium fish  & desecration of reefs by the Aquarium Trade). The soft-coral lined swim-throughs at Paul's Rock and the entertaining fish-life there, get  a thumbs-up from world travelled SCUBA divers and keen snorkellers.  This is a world-class dive site, they say.  It should be declared a Marine Reserve.
*Golden Wing* is now operating 3 days a week, usually Tuesday, Thurs/or Fri, Sunday, and other days on demand, with min. 6 pax. It sails from Havannah Harbour base into the wilderness area bounded by Lelepa, Hat Island (Artoka), *Survivor Beaches*, and Paul's Rock Seamount. The full-day cruise priority is for guests to enjoy a relaxing day  visiting 3 legendary dive & snorkel sites, with sailing between sites when winds are favourable.

Apart from the healthy corals & marine-life, recent sightings of bigger life have included 7 eagle rays doing above-water acrobatics, big maori wrasse, turtles, spinner dolphins  and a pilot whale heading South already, ahead of the pack.  There are now only occasional sightings of harmless white tip reef sharks that have escaped the shark-finning practices of longliners & local fishermen.  The days are long gone, of seeing large schools of curious dogtooth tuna coming in close to divers for a look-see. 

But Paul's Rock is a cleaning station for  Giant Trevally and Barracuda and the occasional giant cod, so pelagics are occasionally seen.  There is a Custom taboo to fish here. Now is the time to see the last of the big life and lush corals, before it is all depleted.  Sad but true, if the trend continues.

Sailaway's downtown Port Vila sales office is located across the lane from the Drug Store Gift Shop (opp. ANZ). Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:   www.sailawayvanuatu.com    and    www.divevanuatu.net Tel:  (678) 25155 (office);   23802  ( A. Hrs. or message). Host:  Peter Whitelaw.