The Sine Saloum Delta in northern Senegal, just north of The Gambia, is a vast mangrove wetland with clean waters, low population, and a peaceful atmosphere. Nicola Barker, who explored this UNESCO World Heritage site in December 2025, strongly recommends the detour - even for just a couple of days on or near the Saloum River.

Forecasters with the USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a below-normal 2026 hurricane season for the Atlantic basin. NOAA’s National Weather Service outlook for this year's hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 35% chance of a near-normal season, a 10% chance of an above-normal season and a 55% chance of a below-normal season.

NZ Customs are making changes as to how long visiting yachts can stay in the country. The changes, which will take effect from September 1 this year, include a new electronic form to be used by anyone wanting to apply for TIE for their vessel and a change to the maximum stay granted under a TIE.

Planning your next port of call? Make it smoother from the start. For a limited time, when you sign up for Noonsite Premium Annual Membership, you’ll receive a FREE limited-edition Formalities Wallet (US$30 value). Designed by experienced cruisers, it keeps all your essential documents organised and ready. Coupled with Premium membership it means you can focus on the journey, not the paperwork.

A recent report from the Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CSSN) details a serious assault incident in Portobello, Panama, in which a yacht was boarded by a group of armed individuals. The perpetrators reportedly assaulted crew members and carried out a robbery, highlighting ongoing security risks for cruisers in the region. This incident underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance, strengthening onboard security measures, and staying informed through timely reporting networks like the CSSN.

The word Dyneema is apt to conjure up images of high-performance, highly tuned racing boats hurtling round the cans with uniformed crew working furiously at the winches. It’s not just in the racing world that Dyneema has its place, however. It can be an enormously useful material on cruising boats as well. In this article, Jimmy Green Marine explain what Dyneema is and how it can help improve your cruising performance.

Clearing into Thailand proved more complicated than expected for this cruising family. Despite following guidance from yacht clearance officials when submitting their arrival paperwork, a misunderstanding led to a chain of issues that continued all the way to their next destination, the Maldives. Their experience highlights how complex clearance procedures can be, and why it’s worth double-checking requirements through resources like Noonsite or considering the support of a reputable agent. Here, skipper Brad shares their story.

Noonsite Regional Editor Megan continues her monthly Musings, covering cruising topics that are often overlooked, yet a major part of life on board. For the past 9 years, Megan and her family have called their Boreal 47 expedition monohull, SV Zephyros, home and in this latest installment, she continues her thoughts on why she continues to feel called to the cruising life as she discusses crew, community and the sailing bubble.

After cruising safely through 26 countries with 3000 nights at anchor or at sea, an experienced cruiser had an almost nightmarish time in Papua New Guinea which included being attacked while at a remote anchorage, dealing with over-zealous officials and battling with bureaucracy. He provided this cautionary tale for other cruisers who may be planning to visit the country.

Regular Noonsite contributor Luc Callebaut and his partner Jackie Lee have arrived in French Polynesia after making their way eastward from the Philippines. In his latest video diary and report for Noonsite, Luc covers leg six of their voyage from Tonga to the Cook Islands and what has changed in Aitutaki since his first visit more than 20 years ago.