Sailing the Atlantic coast of Morocco towards the Strait of Gibraltar avoids the Gulf of Cadiz and the ever-present threat of Orca interactions according to experienced cruiser Fabian Eder. It also gives you the opportunity to visit the vibrant city of Tangier and take in the sights and scents of the breathtaking Kasbah and Medina areas. In this report, Fabian recounts his experiences of Moroccan ports and marinas along the Atlantic coast as well as why he took this route to avoid possible Orca encounters.

Anyone who owns a boat and enjoys the cruising life knows that refits eventually need to be done, especially for larger, more complex boats. If you are doing a refit, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to do it according to US sailors Jim and Pam Yares. During the 2025/2026 southern hemisphere summer, they gave their 20 year old Catana 472 catamaran a much needed makeover. For anyone considering such a project, they highly recommend the port city of Tauranga on the east coast of the North Island for its vibrant maritime community as well as high quality boat builders, trades and crafts people.

The Noonsite Ports of Entry Map is back, giving Noonsite members an easier way to plan international cruising routes. The interactive map provides a global overview of official Ports of Entry, allowing users to search by port or country, view key clearance information, and quickly access detailed port pages with arrival procedures and guidance.

Sailing to the Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal that administratively belongs to India, is supposed to have become easier in recent times due to changes in regulations for private yachts and recreational vessels. Unfortunately this was not the case for a skipper who recently stopped here while heading eastward to Malaysia. In a lengthy comment posted to Noonsite, he reports on experiencing bureaucratic madness, paranoia and various forms of irresponsibility, making for a rather unpleasant visit.

Established in 1996, Topsail Marine & Leisure has spent three decades supporting the sailing and boating community with dependable, specialist cover across the UK and internationally. The company is recognised for their clear advice, competitive pricing, and tailored insurance solutions designed to reflect real-world boating and travel needs.

Exploring the Bijagós Archipelago, part of the west African country of Guinea Bissau requires some careful preparation and planning. But those adventurous enough to venture off the beaten path will find an unspoiled destination with empty anchorages, plentiful wildlife and a friendly welcome as Anja Bollinger recounts in this report.

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 discusses how the new Noonsite Formalities Wallet came to be and how she hopes it can help more cruisers to be organized and check in like the professionals.

Sailing the Mediterranean as a mixed-nationality crew has its challenges, especially if one crew is European and the other is non-European. In this report, Claudine who is French and Donovan who is American provide a useful report on navigating not only the Mediterranean waters but also the bureaucracy when checking in and out of Greece, France and Italy as well as dealing with Schengen visa rules.

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.