Amazing Sight in the Pacific - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Brewmaniac · 02-02-2007, 03:24 PM

August 2006, the yacht 'Maiken' is traveling in the south Pacific when they came across a weird sight...

It was sand in the water, and floating ON TOP of the waves...

This is not a beach, it is volcanic stones floating on the water.

The trail left by the yacht...

And then this was spotted ... ash and steam rising from the ocean ...
And, while they were watching ...

A brand new island formed...

A plume of black ash...

In August 2006, the crew of the yacht Maiken, sailing out of the Vava'u island group, encountered a remarkable "stone sea." The phenomena they spotted were a series of pumice rafts resulting from a nearby eruption, one that was forming a new volcanic island in Tonga.

As Maiken crewmember Håkan Larsson reported in his blog entry for that day:
We left Neiafu and Vava'u yesterday after some tedious checking out procedures and set sail for Fiji, passing the north side of Late island as first way point. After five miles we noticed brown, somewhat grainy streaks in the water. First we thought that it might be an old oil dumping. Some ship cleaning its tanks. But the streak became larger and more frequent after a while, and there were rocklike brownish things the size of a fist floating in the sea. And the water were strangely green and "lagoon like" too. Eventually it became more and more clear to us that it had to be pumice from a volcanic eruption. And then we sailed into a vast, many miles wide, belt of densely packed pumice.

We were going by motor due to lack of wind and within seconds Maiken slowed down from seven to one knot. We were so fascinated and busy taking pictures that we plowed a couple of hundred meter into this surreal floating stone field before we realized that we had to turn back. Just as
we came out of the stone field and entered reasonably normal water we noticed that there came no cooling water from the engine. Not surprising, really. After cleaning the water filter the Yanmar diesel started again. Thank God! Without wind we would have been stuck in a sea of stone if the motor had failed. Next thing to check was the other water inlets. Some minor pumice particles but nothing serious. But the bottom paint were scrubbed away at places along the waterline, Maiken has an ablative paint so it was just doing what is supposed to do. Like we'd sailed through sandpaper. So, we headed back east to get away from the stony sea.

There are two active volcanoes south of Late island, adjacent to Metis shoal and Home reef. Since we didn't know which one had erupted, the extent of the eruption and it was getting dark the we decided to anchor in Vaiutukakau bay outside Vava'u for the night. The sky darkened fast from rain clouds over Vava'u and we sailed leaving the stone sea onto darkness towards a perfect rainbow ahead, like a big welcoming arcade. It was completely dark when we anchored close to land at 25 meters depth. In the morning we woke to birds song. Lot of birds nesting on the steep hillside next to us. After checking the motor and boat we set out again. We decided to go south of Metis reef to go clear of the stony debris. Just after leaving Vaiutukakau bay we encountered three whales, probably two males and a female, playing in front of us. They circled around the boat only meters away for a while, seemingly interested of Maiken, before swimming away.

A couple of hours ago we identified the active volcano as the one close to Home reef, and we are on our way there now to take a closer look. We are two miles from it and we can see the volcano clearly. One mile in diameter and with four peaks and a central crater smoking with steam and once in a while an outburst high in the sky with lava and ashes.

I think were the first ones out here so perhaps we could claim the island and name them(?)

I got this in an email and thought it was amazing and I checked Snopes and it's the real deal.

Can you imagine, what if the the boat died in that, they would have been toast.

Have any of you been anywhere near an active volcano?

What was it like?

Daoust · 02-02-2007, 04:14 PM

I've never seen a volcano before. I just wanted to say how amazing these photographs are. If this is legit, it's one of the most amazing things I've seen.

Lucifer · 02-02-2007, 04:47 PM

Those photos are impressive. I've seen some amazing things in my travels, but never anything like that. However I have been on an active volcano and I've got the photos to prove it. Several years ago when I was sailing around the world, we were in the island group of Vanuatu, in particular on the island of Ambrym. There was an active volcano on the island, and a group of islanders offered to guide us to the summit. It was pretty impressive; I remember the hike started on the coast at about 5 am, and went on the 'lava highway'

through the jungle for hours, before we emerged on the 'blasted plain' and then up through the mountains (and dormant and active volcanoes)

to the one that we ascended. By the time we got to the summit, it was early afternoon, and we spent about an hour on the summit watching the pits of lava bubbling and boiling. I remember that the summit was cold and very sulphur-y. I'm the guy on the right watching the fires.

ngdawg · 02-02-2007, 04:57 PM

That first story-cool as hell, specially the floating pumice.
Lucifer, I'm envious. That second shot is beautiful.

Eh, only that explodes around here are the pizza rolls in the microwave...

Brewmaniac · 02-02-2007, 07:08 PM

Lucifer, that must have been an experience of a lifetime! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures!

Craven Morehead · 02-02-2007, 09:53 PM

Yep, did Kilauea on the big Island. Hiked through the crater (dormant) then back at the Hilo airport took a helicopter ride over the lava flow. Amazing to be hovering in a helicopter over the vent it was coming out of and feel the heat coming up at us. And that's with a huge 'fan' blade above us. Followed the lava flow (mostly underground) through a forest. The trees were buring from the ground up. Then further on down to the sea. Watched new earth being formed. A very awe inspiring experience. All the pictures I took are film, it was in 2000. I should scan some and post them. It was an amazing day.

Ourcrazymodern? · 02-06-2007, 12:14 PM

Our planet still lives and breathes...lucky for us.

Pip · 02-08-2007, 08:21 AM

I read about this in the Swedish papers back when it happened. I'm really dissapointed they didn't step ashore and claim this island for the King of Sweden. I'd have done it. Once in a lifetime opportunity and they missed it!!!1!!OnE!

Plus, we don't have any colonies since we sold Saint-Barthélemy to France back in 1878. It would've been awesome to have one again.

02-02-2007, 03:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	Amazing Sight in the Pacific August 2006, the yacht 'Maiken' is traveling in the south Pacific when they came across a weird sight... It was sand in the water, and floating ON TOP of the waves... This is not a beach, it is volcanic stones floating on the water. The trail left by the yacht... And then this was spotted ... ash and steam rising from the ocean ... And, while they were watching ... A brand new island formed... A plume of black ash... In August 2006, the crew of the yacht Maiken, sailing out of the Vava'u island group, encountered a remarkable "stone sea." The phenomena they spotted were a series of pumice rafts resulting from a nearby eruption, one that was forming a new volcanic island in Tonga. As Maiken crewmember Håkan Larsson reported in his blog entry for that day: We left Neiafu and Vava'u yesterday after some tedious checking out procedures and set sail for Fiji, passing the north side of Late island as first way point. After five miles we noticed brown, somewhat grainy streaks in the water. First we thought that it might be an old oil dumping. Some ship cleaning its tanks. But the streak became larger and more frequent after a while, and there were rocklike brownish things the size of a fist floating in the sea. And the water were strangely green and "lagoon like" too. Eventually it became more and more clear to us that it had to be pumice from a volcanic eruption. And then we sailed into a vast, many miles wide, belt of densely packed pumice. We were going by motor due to lack of wind and within seconds Maiken slowed down from seven to one knot. We were so fascinated and busy taking pictures that we plowed a couple of hundred meter into this surreal floating stone field before we realized that we had to turn back. Just as we came out of the stone field and entered reasonably normal water we noticed that there came no cooling water from the engine. Not surprising, really. After cleaning the water filter the Yanmar diesel started again. Thank God! Without wind we would have been stuck in a sea of stone if the motor had failed. Next thing to check was the other water inlets. Some minor pumice particles but nothing serious. But the bottom paint were scrubbed away at places along the waterline, Maiken has an ablative paint so it was just doing what is supposed to do. Like we'd sailed through sandpaper. So, we headed back east to get away from the stony sea. There are two active volcanoes south of Late island, adjacent to Metis shoal and Home reef. Since we didn't know which one had erupted, the extent of the eruption and it was getting dark the we decided to anchor in Vaiutukakau bay outside Vava'u for the night. The sky darkened fast from rain clouds over Vava'u and we sailed leaving the stone sea onto darkness towards a perfect rainbow ahead, like a big welcoming arcade. It was completely dark when we anchored close to land at 25 meters depth. In the morning we woke to birds song. Lot of birds nesting on the steep hillside next to us. After checking the motor and boat we set out again. We decided to go south of Metis reef to go clear of the stony debris. Just after leaving Vaiutukakau bay we encountered three whales, probably two males and a female, playing in front of us. They circled around the boat only meters away for a while, seemingly interested of Maiken, before swimming away. A couple of hours ago we identified the active volcano as the one close to Home reef, and we are on our way there now to take a closer look. We are two miles from it and we can see the volcano clearly. One mile in diameter and with four peaks and a central crater smoking with steam and once in a while an outburst high in the sky with lava and ashes. I think were the first ones out here so perhaps we could claim the island and name them(?) I got this in an email and thought it was amazing and I checked Snopes and it's the real deal. Can you imagine, what if the the boat died in that, they would have been toast. Have any of you been anywhere near an active volcano? What was it like? __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

02-02-2007, 04:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Daoust "I'm sorry. What was the question?" Location: Paradise Regained	I've never seen a volcano before. I just wanted to say how amazing these photographs are. If this is legit, it's one of the most amazing things I've seen. __________________ I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

02-02-2007, 04:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lucifer Husband of Seamaiden Location: Nova Scotia	Those photos are impressive. I've seen some amazing things in my travels, but never anything like that. However I have been on an active volcano and I've got the photos to prove it. Several years ago when I was sailing around the world, we were in the island group of Vanuatu, in particular on the island of Ambrym. There was an active volcano on the island, and a group of islanders offered to guide us to the summit. It was pretty impressive; I remember the hike started on the coast at about 5 am, and went on the 'lava highway' through the jungle for hours, before we emerged on the 'blasted plain' and then up through the mountains (and dormant and active volcanoes) to the one that we ascended. By the time we got to the summit, it was early afternoon, and we spent about an hour on the summit watching the pits of lava bubbling and boiling. I remember that the summit was cold and very sulphur-y. I'm the guy on the right watching the fires. __________________ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. - Job 30:29 1123, 6536, 5321

02-02-2007, 04:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	That first story-cool as hell, specially the floating pumice. Lucifer, I'm envious. That second shot is beautiful. Eh, only that explodes around here are the pizza rolls in the microwave... __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

02-02-2007, 07:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	Lucifer, that must have been an experience of a lifetime! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures! __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

02-02-2007, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Craven Morehead Custom User Title	Yep, did Kilauea on the big Island. Hiked through the crater (dormant) then back at the Hilo airport took a helicopter ride over the lava flow. Amazing to be hovering in a helicopter over the vent it was coming out of and feel the heat coming up at us. And that's with a huge 'fan' blade above us. Followed the lava flow (mostly underground) through a forest. The trees were buring from the ground up. Then further on down to the sea. Watched new earth being formed. A very awe inspiring experience. All the pictures I took are film, it was in 2000. I should scan some and post them. It was an amazing day.

02-06-2007, 12:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	Our planet still lives and breathes...lucky for us. __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

02-08-2007, 08:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	I read about this in the Swedish papers back when it happened. I'm really dissapointed they didn't step ashore and claim this island for the King of Sweden. I'd have done it. Once in a lifetime opportunity and they missed it!!!1!!OnE! Plus, we don't have any colonies since we sold Saint-Barthélemy to France back in 1878. It would've been awesome to have one again.