Mission Log

Without supporters the work of PYM would not exsist. Businesses in Luganville have been especially supportive of this work in the past. This year is no exception. Pacific Petroleum Pty Ltd has again provided fuel to help get the yachts to where they are needed, and Lo Chan Moon has provided food at discounted prices. A special thank you is extended to Daniel (Pacific Petroleum P/L) and Richard (Lo Chan Moon Store) for this willing and valuable support.

Team 1 members flew out over the weekend after working at two different locations. Their first week was on the east coast of the western penisula that forms part of Big Bay on the island of Santo. Their second week was on the western end of Malo Island. All four yachts working in northern Vanuatu were involved with the team to some extent.  Over the two weeks the team treated 109 medical patients, 78 dental patients,  removing 101 teeth, and assisted 78 people by providing glasses for reading or eye protection where Pterygium or other similar eye conditions existed.  This is a really good start to the year and the team’s work was much appreciated by those attending the clinics.

 Now the yacht crews are preparing to meet Team 2 members on Pentecost Island on August 9.

A vibrant team of young volunteers assembled in Luganville of the morning Sunday July 8. They departed on a ute with their gear to join two yachts waiting for them in Bag Bay on the Island of Santo. The yachts took them to the west side of this large Bay where they started work on Monday. Reports are that the work went well in the village of Jerivu and they have since moved to a village near Wora Point. We will give more details of the work and its results in the next update.

Four yachts are already working in Vanuatu and a fifth is on its way. ‘Drumbeat’, a large catamaran with a smaller catamaran ‘Just Another Angel’ arrived around the middle of June. ‘McDiver’, a third catamaran arrived in Vila in late June after an eventful trip. A broken boom and steering problems were fixed in Noumea, New Caledonia. ‘Windango’, the only monohull and baby of the fleet at 32 feet (Metres) arrived in Luganville on June 30. The vessels all met in Luganville in time for the arrival of the first team on July 6. A fifth yacht, ‘Siddiqi’, also a catamaran is currently rounding the bottom of New Caledonia on her way to Port Vila. She will join the others in September when ‘Drumbeat’ leaves. After a yachtless season in 2006, it is wonderful to have a number of vessels to help this year. Thank you yacht owners (skippers) and crews.