I've only been there by Boeing, but no doubt you are aware that devastating tropical cyclone "Pam" went through
Vanuatu May 06, 2015 There was much damage to infrastructure. Im sure
repairs are still going on. It was the worst cyclone in the recorded
history of Vanuatu. I was there quite a long time prior to that and yachts were either on swing moorings or at
anchor in Port Vila Bay which appeared semi sheltered. If you plan staying at Port Vila or in that part of the Pacific for 7 months you will be in the cyclone season again. There have been bad cyclones in that general area including the
Coral Sea in the last year or so. Some of them have brushed past us in
Auckland NZ, though at much much reduced intensity, coming from either roughly the
Coral Sea or
Fiji direction. But with 100' of
steel under you, you would hardly notice a cyclone even if you ended up on the beach. But then you might stay in Port Vila more than 7 months.
Auckland NZ is a safe place to be even though we can get summer cyclones at reduced intensity.
Queensland Australia has also had its share of bad tropical cyclones. During one cyclone there a year or two back most of the vessels in one marina ended up in a heap on the shore when the tidal surge lifted them over their
mooring piles. It is a bit of a lottery though whether or not you get hit by a cyclone.