Navigating the secluded island chains of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea via sailboat voyage
James Ashwell's Sailing Adventure Uncovers Remote South Pacific Cultures
James Ashwell's sailing journey around the world has taken him to some of the most remote islands in the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Traveling by sail has given him a unique opportunity to access places off the beaten tourist paths, where traditional cultures and rituals are still practiced in ways largely unchanged by modern tourism or globalization.
The journey began when Ashwell set sail from New Zealand in June 2023, accompanied by a crew of five. After crossing the Atlantic, they spent a year in the Caribbean and decided to go to the South Pacific via Easter Island and Pitcairn. Their first stop was Roderick Island, where a local man named John welcomed them with a traditional welcome ceremony, including decorating the beachfront and offering orchid necklaces.
As they sailed further, Ashwell and his crew visited Malakula, an island in Vanuatu known for its history of cannibalism. Here, they found a local guide who took them to a cannibal site deep within the jungle. The crew also made a stop at the Marapa Islands, where they found a beautiful anchorage on Paipai reef.
In Papua New Guinea, the crew experienced tribal culture at the Goroka Show, where over 100 tribes gathered to perform their songs, dances, and show traditional dress. However, the mood at the show suddenly changed, and the crew ran to a nearby university accommodation to lock themselves in a bathroom until it felt safe to leave due to gunshots.
One of the most remote and inaccessible places Ashwell visited was Simbai, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Upon landing, the crew was greeted by a small group of locals, and their experience in a remote mountainous corner of Papua New Guinea was a rare and genuine tribal celebration that Ashwell will treasure. The crew witnessed a festival marking the ascent of chosen boys into manhood, where they saw boys recovering from having spears pushed through their noses.
In the Solomon Islands, the crew navigated through a narrow channel between two large islands, but there was no data available about the depth, causing some worry. They also made a last stop at the pristine Marovo Lagoon, but had to rush through the Solomon Islands due to a closing window for heading over the top of Papua New Guinea.
During their travels, the crew also encountered acts of kindness from locals. For example, in the Solomon Islands, John and his family provided a meal for the crew, and John asked for nothing in return, only expressing his welcome after they had written to ask for permission to anchor on his land. The crew also scuba dived on John's mooring lines to check their condition and bought him building supplies to help him refurbish his property.
Covid struck in 2020, and Ashwell was stranded in New Zealand for almost two years, unable to leave due to lockdowns. However, he never lost his sense of adventure, and he is already planning his next sailing journey.
In conclusion, Ashwell's sailing voyage—slow, intimate, and based on local interaction—has opened doors to authentic experiences of traditional rituals in remote island communities of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. By anchoring in small island communities and spending time with local people, Ashwell has been able to witness and participate in ancient ceremonies, village life, and cultural exchanges that have enriched his journey and provided a unique insight into these cultures.
- James Ashwell's sailing adventure, immersed in remote South Pacific cultures, offered an intriguing blend of travel and adventure-travel as he explored the traditional rituals of island communities in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.
- As he delves into his next sailing journey, Ashwell will continue to pursue a lifestyle that merges a love for travel with a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures and traditions found in off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as the adventure-travel experiences he encountered in the South Pacific.
