Henk posted this as a reply in another thread yesterday... just in case you didn't see it: "Have been traveling a few days. Thanks for the supportive messages! Just received an e-mail message from Laurent, the owner of "Latitude 17.14 South", the small French boat yard in Port Vila where our own sailing vessel "Rivendel II" is dry-berthed. Apparently, the phone lines in Port Vila are working again. The eye of "Ivy" passed by within a very short distance from the yard with winds up to 200 km/hr. Laurent's own sailing vessel fell off it's cradle and is badly damaged. Also, two Taiwanese fishing trawlers sunk right in front of the yard and are currently blocking cruise and container ships from berthing in Port Vila harbor. Miraculously, however, "Rivendel II" which Laurent and his staff tied up to ground anchors and nearby trees appears not to have suffered any damage other than being covered in flying debris. With a little luck, she should be able to carry out her 2004 sailing schedule for Project MARC. Alas, there is still no news about the fate of the villages in SE Malakula, the Maskelynes and North Ambrym, nor about that of the aid posts, clinics and schools supported by Project MARC. However, we were able to communicate with Norsup Hospital in Central Malakula which was a little further away from the center of "Ivy" and has been spared. Nonetheless, they do report extensive crop damage in their area and appear to have received an urgent request for more medical supplies from our Shell Beach clinic in SE Malakula. Wednesday evening we will try to reach our clinic manager by telephone in order to learn about the situation there. Besides the reported lack of medical supplies, the biggest short-term threats are likely to be food shortages due to massive crop damage. Flying Dutchman "
