June 2005

The Travel Bug - Issue 1

New Swim Events at Santo and Iririki islands

The Inaugural Espiritu Santo Aore Swim took place on Tuesday 28th June 2005, with participants swimming from Luganville's Unity Park on Espiritu Santo to the beach at Aore Island Resort, a distance of over 3 kilometres.

Ocean Swims are becoming very popular around the world and this new Espiritu Santo Swim comes on the back of the successful Vanuatu Ocean Swim in Port Vila, the fourth edition of which was held on Saturday 25th June, where around 170 swimmers hit the water for the 3.2 Km from the famous Rossi Restaurant around Iririki Island and back to the Rossi.

The Espiritu Santo Aore Swim will become a world class event, a rewarding challenge and achievement for all participants and has already attracted a few overseas swimmers who have extended their trip to the Vanuatu Swim on to Santo, to experience the Swim and the many tours, dive options, adventure and cultural activities available on Vanuatu's Big Island. The swim is also likely to attract some of the large group of local swimmers to be seen practicing almost daily in Port Vila and Espiritu Santo.

This inaugural Espiritu Santo Aore event is expected to attract around 20 overseas and local participants and organizers are expecting significant growth over the next few years with swimmers taking in the Vanuatu Ocean Swim and then extending their trip to participate in the Espiritu Santo event. The swim across the channel will be a major sporting event for Espiritu Santo and all swimmers with the ability and condition to make the distance are welcome.

The major prize, courtesy of Air Vanuatu is a return ticket Vila-Santo. There is also a prize for the first Ni Vanuatu finisher, trophies for top age group finishers and spot prizes. The event is organized by South Pacific Sports Promotions and the Santo Tourism Association in conjunction with the Vanuatu Tourism Office and with great support from local business groups in Santo.

Race Start is 10.00 am on Tuesday 28th June at Unity Park. Swimmers will be required to pre register and attend final Race Check-In and Briefing from 9am on 28th at Unity Park. Entry Forms will be available shortly for further details contact the VTO (678) 22685, or Paul McCoy on 53558. (Source: SPTO & South Pacific Sports Promotions Press Release 25/05/2005)

Hot-mail at Volcano Post Box (Vanuatu)

Well, you've heard of Vanuatu's underwater post-office, where divers can dip in and mail a letter. Now, Vanuatu Post is going to the other extreme, by placing a mailbox on the slopes of Mt. Yasur, an active volcano. The volcano post box, known affectionately as 'hot mail', is the second in a series of "extreme" post boxes to be launched by Vanuatu Post. Thousands of people have already visited the underwater post-office, and Vanuatu Post is hoping the volcano post-box proves as much of a drawcard. To read more on this article visit the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1373376.htm (Source: SPTO & Pacific Beat News 20/05/2005)

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