Noonsite Ocean Outlook
by Noonsite 31 Aug 2022 12:43 UTC
Solomon Islands © Noonsite
Pacific:
Are you cruising with your dog on board but reluctant to take them across the Pacific because of the onerous pet regulations? Dutch cruisers Sanne and Marijn have their dog Heros on board and found the process to import their dog into French Polynesia lengthy, but very straightforward. They encourage other dog owners to do the same and have shared their experience with Noonsite.
Next month sees the departure of World ARC (WARC) from Darwin, Australia after a three-year postponement due to closed borders. If you and your boat can reach Darwin by early September, a late entry is still possible subject to boat size and type. The 2023 edition of WARC has proved so popular that for the first time ever World Cruising Club are offering two starts: one for circumnavigators in early January and the second for yachts heading into the Pacific 6 weeks later. Find out more at the WCC Summer Update.
International cruisers in Fiji can enjoy Fiji Regatta Week next month, now in its 38th year. Join more than 100 international yachts for a week of fun, sailing and entertainment in Musket Cove.
From the Solomon Islands, Hilde Larsen of SV Amiga who has been cruising Isabel and Western Province for 3 years, reports that Noel Hudson who ran Liapari Marina and was well known to many cruisers, died in February 2022 but his wife Rosie and dog Sasha are still there to greet sailors. The marina has new owners who intend to keep Liapari running as a safe marina and anchorage for sailors from around the world. Hilde also reports that the port of Noro is getting a new marina with travel lift and other services planned. Hilde has a website and is happy to assist sailors heading to the Solomons: bluewater-sailing.de
For Pacific cruisers planning where to go next as the end of season approaches, the Down Under Rally and Scarborough Marina are holding a free Sailing To Australia Information Session in Noumea, New Caledonia in October. If New Zealand is your chosen destination then look into the Kia Ora Rendezvous, organised by C&OC, which gives cruisers resources and tools to make the passage from the South Pacific to New Zealand and culminates with festival events in Opua and Marsden Cove in November.
Yachts on passage to Australia via Papua New Guinea should research carefully where is safe to stopover as certain areas should be avoided. SY Screensaver, while stopping over in PNG on passage to Australia recently, were boarded by armed men in Kandrian, New Britain, PNG, and badly injured.
Indian:
If on your way to South Africa, remember that MN4-22 of 4th May 2022 issued by SAMSA and Department of Transport stipulates that ALL small craft entering South Africa from international waters MUST register online through osasa.org.za for pre-arrival authorisation before entering the first Port of Entry. See Noonsite's South Africa Formalities for full details.
Any cruisers wanting to join the WhatsApp group "Sail to South Africa 2022" run by OSASA should send their boat name and phone number to . OSASA report, "It looks as if we will have a full season for 2022/3 - both the Oyster World Rally and the continuation of the World ARC are planning to make extensive stops in South Africa at the end of 2022, the Cape 2 Rio leaves again Jan 2023, and the Ocean Race arrives in Cape Town in Feb 2023. The Golden Globe does not call, but passes through a "media gate" off Cape Town, sometime in December."
Caribbean Sea:
While many yachts are heading to Trinidad for boat work this month there are some cruisers concerned about the security risks. Jesse James, long-time supporter of the cruising community in Trinidad, addresses those concerns and gives Noonsite an update on security and safety issues for yachts visiting Trinidad. Plus Tera and Pieter Houting who plan to haul-out for the hurricane season in Trinidad provide the latest on the process and procedures when checking into the country.
Cruisers visiting Grenada should note that there are currently only 2 ports of entry: one on Grenada and the other in Carriacou. Full details at Grenada Formalities. Clarke's Court Bay in the south is a popular meeting point for yachts heading to Trinidad and the Cruisers Net at 0730 on VHF Ch. 66 is a good place to find buddy boats.
Denise Simpson, cruiser contact in the Dominican Republic, strongly recommends all cruisers who passage in the Caribbean obtain WhatsApp for at least initial contact with land locations. Its works Caribbean wide, via cell or WiFi, and the majority of locals use this app to communicate. Denise also shared a free hurricane checklist, compiled by cruisers in Luperon, DR, who pooled ideas about how best to prepare boats in anticipation of a hurricane.
A number of security incidents have been reported to the Caribbean Security and Safety Net this month by yachts who have suffered theft from their boats of items that were unsecured (including fuel cans on deck, fuel cans from dinghies, fishing gear and even shoes). Keep your gear safe and out of sight.
Atlantic:
Orca activity continues in the waters off the western Iberian peninsula and sadly this month a yacht sank after taking on water following rudder damage by a group of juveniles. The orcas were encountered at night, off Sines, in southern Portugal. If you are transiting this coast, reference our new Orcas and Yachts page in cruising resources which contains all the news and reports posted to date on Noonsite concerning Orca interactions, plus has a number of links to useful online reporting sites. Be sure to know before you go and understand fully where the orcas are prevalent at the time of year of your transit and the recommended advice of what actions to take. Read the classic "Last Voyage of the Lucette" about the Robertson's yacht which was also sunk by orcas in the 1970's. The family survived 38 days in the Pacific before being rescued.
Yachts heading to Brazil should follow the Brazil Task Force WhatsApp group which includes all coastal volunteers.
Mediterranean:
Reports from members of the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation (RCCPF) are that Turkey is getting busy with popular bays getting taken over by noisy party boats (day trippers) and Gocek Bay in particular "overrun with yachts".
They also report that while EU law may have stated that any UK boat in European waters on Brexit day effectively has EU VAT paid status, this does not appear to be recognised by the majority of officials in Italy and Greece, who still insist in issuing a transit log to these boats (in Italy a Costituto).
The RCCPF welcomes feedback to help keep their guides as up to date as possible. Anyone can do this online at rccpf.org.uk in the publications section. Feedback is forwarded to the author(s) of the relevant publication(s) and then posted as Cruising Notes. Free correctional supplements for many RCCPF books are also available on the website.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com