Ocean Outlook - Pacific
by Noonsite 8 Aug 2023 22:01 UTC
In French Polynesia, more no-anchoring zones have been created around Raiatea and Tahaa, to better-manage potential conflicts of use and protect essential underwater installations.
Also in French Polynesia, Clearance in Moorea is not straightforward, cruisers report. Afareaitu is the administrative center of Moorea and while it is listed as an official Port of Entry in FP Government Documentation, cruisers report being unable to find a Gendarmerie for inward/outward clearance here. Officials at Cooks Bay on Moorea, have also advised cruisers who have attempted to undertake clearance there, that they are not equipped to undertake clearance procedures. Current advice is to undertake clearance at Papeete (Tahiti).
On July 1st the Cook Islands government increased port clearance fees by 6% (the first increase since 2018).
Aitutaki, the second most-populated island in the Cook Islands next to Rarotonga (and the two being the only ports of entry in the Cooks open at this time), is undergoing major expansion works at the port. The Aitutaki harbor master has sent an outline of the planned development which involves dredging of the entrance channel to a 6m depth and widening to 15m with channel markers, to be completed by the end of August. Subsequent works include developing the marina for local fishermen, charter operations, and more space/moorings for visiting yachts.
We've talked about Niue a lot this year as it gets back on its feet post-Covid to welcome yachts this season. If visiting Niue is on your wish list, this great blog by Noonsite regular contributors Maria and Allen of SY Jamala about their visit to Niue at the start of July will give you a good perspective of all the wonders the island has to offer. Other cruisers that have visited recently have also posted comments on the Alofi, Niue page.
Last month we reported on a search and rescue in the South Pacific when rescue authorities were looking for an overdue boat and instead found a drifting single-handed rower. The good news is that the overdue boat, SY Yasuokole with father and son team on board, have finally turned up in American Samoa unaware that family and friends were concerned about them. They had departed La Paz, Mexico, on 14 April and 78 days later on 30 June, arrived in American Samoa after a very slow trip across the Pacific. Read the details here.
Recent feedback from cruisers who have cleared into Papua New Guinea are that there are safety concerns in Rabaul, New Britain. If you don't have to clear in at Rabaul, their advice is to head straight to Kavieng in New Ireland and check in there after anchoring at Nusa Island Resort, which is reported to be both beautiful and much safer (although some precautions should still be taken). Read the feedback in comments on the main PNG page.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.