Wednesday 7 September Port Resolution, Tanna island

In 1774 Capt Cook arrived at the only good anchorage in Tanna and named it after his ship HMS Resolution. When he arrived the bay was deeper than it is today. Uplift from tectonic movement, silting and the peripheral reefs have reduced it to a long narrow inlet with 4m of water. Tanna is an island of volcanoes, all except one are dormant and we'd come to see the live one, Mt Yasur.
The anchorage and the island is pure National Geographic and I understand the island has been featured in documentaries on volcanoes of the Pacific. Looking up the steep cliffs surrounding us we could see steam rising from the within the trees and below this steam sea water where the hot spring fed into the bay. Up and beyond the trees we heard a tremendous roar and then saw a towering plume of yellow grey ash as Mt Yasur spat out it's latest offering. Unfortunately for us the offering of the Gods landed on the boat throughout our stay and every morning we were covered in black grit. It was like ground up black glass and had to be washed off each day. It also meant having hatches open wasn't advisable. One day we forgot and our bed had a fine sheen of ash over it.

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