Pacific Ocean outlook - September update

Pacific Ocean © noonsite.com

Cyclone Season: Every year, hundreds of boats transit the South Pacific and by the end of the cruising season, each boat has to decide where they feel safe to weather out the South Pacific cyclone season. The most common strategy is to reach New Zealand or Australia by the end of October or early November. If this is your plan, don't miss the Marina Biosecurity NZ webinar on 22 October to learn about some of the marine pests that NZ are most worried about. Register here.

See more about Biosecurity requirements for NZ here.

While sailors from some countries, notably the French, have been staying year-round in the South Pacific for decades, the idea is catching on with a growing number of cruisers from other countries. Choosing this option gives more time to cruise the islands and avoid facing the potentially challenging passage down to NZ, however understanding the timing of the cyclone season is key to working out an itinerary that keeps you safe. If this is a plan you are considering, here are some useful articles examining the risks of keeping your boat in the tropics during cyclone season.

The new 4th edition of the Pacific Crossing Guide is going to be published on 8 October, 2024 and features as our book of the month at the end of the newsletter. The guide devotes an entire chapter to pacific itineraries and covers staying inside the cyclone belt.

Yacht Rescue: In a joint mission, the US Coast Guard and US Navy rescued a woman, her daughter, a pet cat and tortoise from their yacht after they were caught in weather conditions generated by Hurricane Gilma about 925 miles east of the Hawaiian Islands at the start of the month. Read news here.

Mexico: Just last week, Mexico was under a barrage of weather from two tropical storms with TS John battering the Pacific Coast and TS Helene the Caribbean coast (later makikng landfall in Florida on the evening of 26 September).

French Polynesia: From early 2025, the number of spots available in some of the more popular anchorages in French Polynesia will be severely restricted with the implementation of a new booking system. This will mean that yachts will need to secure a place in advance of arrival or risk not finding anywhere to anchor/berth.

Fiji: Fiji Revenue and Customs are reminding foreign yachts that there are strict duty-free allowances and any excess (i.e. boat stores of alcohol) are subject to import duty. Read this news item about a yacht that recently arrived in Savusavu with a large quantity of undeclared alcohol on board.

Cruisers arriving in Savusavu this month warn that it is taking 3 days to get the cruising permit - needed for cruising around the islands.

A cautionary tale from the southern Lau Group, eastern Fiji, from cruiser James Coomer who warns it pays to maintain safety protocols with your boat, dinghy, outboard and belongings everywhere you visit, never mind how safe a community it may appear on the surface.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.