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Pacific Planning Advice

Useful and informative planning advice for anyone undertaking a Pacific crossing.

Published 6 years ago, updated 8 months ago

Planning Advice for Crossing the Pacific

Having passed through that symbolic gateway – the Panama Canal – the whole Pacific Ocean is suddenly beckoning, a vast area that covers one-third of the globe. In spite of the long distances that lie ahead, with careful planning this could be the most pleasant part of a long voyage. Below is an outline of the most important criteria that anyone planning such a voyage should bear in mind.

Possible Schedules for a Pacific Crossing:

As the safe sailing season in the South Pacific is well defined and the weather is usually fairly benign in the eastern part of this vast ocean, the most critical decision concerns the time of arrival in the first tropical island group. Most boats transit the Panama Canal before the onset of the hurricane season in the Caribbean (June to November), with the busiest time for Canal transits in February and March.

Those who plan to sail all the way across to Australia in one season need to reach the Marquesas (French Polynesia) not later than May, although an April arrival is better as it allows more time to sail the remaining distance. In French Polynesia, the cyclone season lasts, at least on paper, from late November until the end of March, but as the Marquesas are very rarely affected by tropical storms one can take a calculated risk and arrive there early in the season. This normally means transiting the Panama Canal early in the year (February) so as to have enough time for a stop in the Galapagos. From there, the 3,000-mile passage to the Marquesas can start early in March so that the Marquesas are reached in late March or early April.

  • See this useful report for info on passage planning from Panama to the Galapagos.
  • See this useful report for info on passage planning from the Galapagos to the Marquesas.
San Blas anchorage, Panama

Crossing to French Polynesia

One serious drawback of the above schedule is the need to leave the Caribbean at what is the best time there, so an alternative is to stay in the Caribbean until the end of the safe season (June), then cruise leisurely through those places that are not affected by hurricanes (Venezuela, ABC Islands, Panama’s San Blas Islands). Having transited the Panama Canal one can sail to mainland Ecuador where Puerto Amistad and Puerto Lucia provide a safe and convenient place to leave the boat while visiting the interior of South America or to just wait until the time comes to sail to the Marquesas.

This timing also allows the option of not sailing the traditional route to the Marquesas, but make a detour to Easter Island and Pitcairn so as to arrive in French Polynesia via the Gambier Islands. As in the case of the Marquesas, those islands should not be reached before the end of March and the start of the safe sailing season in the South Pacific.

From French Polynesia to Fiji

The onward passage to Fiji can be sailed any time during the safe season. Its timing will depend on your onward plans once you leave there. There are many interesting island groups to explore en-route: to the north the northern Cooks, then either Tonga or the Samoas; to the south the southern Cooks, Niue and Tonga.

Note:  In January 2022 Tonga was devastated by a large eruption and subsequent tsunami from the Hunga Tonga Hunga-Ra volcano.  The eruption was one of the biggest in recent years, coating the islands in ash and the resulting tsunami destroyed many facilities, communities and homes.  See this news item for details and useful links for further information.

Palm tree, beach, sea and sky on the island of suwarrow in the south pacific
Cook Islands, Suwarrow beach

As most yachts sail to the Cook Islands from the east, a good time to plan one’s passage is after the 14 July celebrations in Tahiti are over, as the first week of August is the time when the Cooks put on their own festivities around Constitution Day. Most of the action is in Rarotonga, but the other islands can be visited afterwards.

From Fiji to New Zealand or Australia

Once you reach Fiji it’s decision time: to head to New Zealand or Australia for cyclone season; or continue to Vanuatu, the Torres Strait and beyond to the Indian Ocean. If circumnavigating and taking the Cape of Good Hope route, it’s important to pass through the Torres Strait by early September, giving sufficient time to reach South Africa by early November (before the start of the cyclone season in the Indian Ocean).

If however, your desired route is to the northern Indian Ocean and SE Asia, then passage through the Torres Strait can be delayed until October.

 

Vuda Point, Fiji.

Weather for a Pacific Crossing:

Most boats follow the traditional route across the South Pacific that sweeps in an arc from Panama to the Torres Strait. Favourable south-east trade winds are a usual feature of this route during the winter months. However, normal weather conditions can be affected by various factors, such as the El Niño or La Niña phenomena (warming and cooling of the ocean surface across the eastern and central equatorial Pacific).

The last El Niño episode occurred between 2014 and 2016 and between July 2019 and March 2020 sea surface temperatures were neutral, meaning that neither El Niño or La Niña prevailed.

La Niña conditions began again in 2021 and according to New Zealand’s NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), peaked in the equatorial Pacific during January 2022 with a 75% chance that La Niña would continue into the first quarter of 2022.

Read more about El Niño and La Niña at the World Meteorological Organization website.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai, Fiji

Even at the height of the winter season, consistent winds are only encountered at the two extremes of this route, between the Galapagos and Marquesas, in the east, and in the Coral Sea, in the west. Between these two extremes, sailing conditions are often a matter of luck, with long spells of steady trade winds in some years, or an alternation of short periods of two or three days of steady winds followed by a spell of unsettled weather with squalls, thunderstorms and variable winds.

A constant feature that affects weather conditions throughout the tropical South Pacific is the South Pacific Converge Zone. The SPCZ stretches in an ESE direction from about 5°S, 155°E to 20°S, 150°W, and can influence weather conditions all the way from the Solomons to Tahiti, although its effects are particularly felt in the area between French Polynesia and Tonga.  The location and movement of the S.P.C.Z. are monitored by the Fiji meteorological office.

Santiago Island from Bartolome Island, Galapagos

Galapagos Interlude:

The Ecuadorean authorities have tightened up conditions for stopping in this archipelago over the last few years. All visitors arriving on their own yacht must have a pre-arranged permit (Autografo), which must be organized at least 60 days in advance of your visit by an agent. The Autografo permits a stay of up to 30 days with a possible extension of an additional 30 days. Yachts wanting to explore outside the major ports will need to have a licensed guide on board at an additional cost. Shortstops for fuel and water or in the case of an emergency are permitted at the discretion of the Port Captain. An extended stay here means you will definitely leave with incredible memories.

See these reports from cruisers who detail their experiences entering and visiting the Galapagos:

Cruisers must be careful to follow the rules, outlined on the Galapagos Formalities page. Yacht agents have reported to Noonsite that cruisers are starting to arrive in Galapagos without a permit (Autografo) and then wandering ashore in the National Park without permission. There are very strict rules for all tourists coming to Galapagos, in particular yachts, and these must be adhered to or you risk arrest and causing problems for those following in your wake, as stricter controls will be brought into play. In 2023, one cruising yacht did not follow the rules to confine their pet on board during their stay and instead chose to take the dog for a paddle board along the shore. Consequently, yachts with pets on board are now banned from coming to Galapagos.

green shoreline with thick forest rising to a dark cloudy peak behind and in the foreground still waters with several boats at anchor
Hiva Oa, French Polynesia

Staying in French Polynesia (FP):

To really see these South Pacific islands properly, many cruisers choose to spend two winters here.  Some leave the tropics for the cyclone season, sailing south to NZ or Australia or north to Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. Others remain in the tropics for the summer finding shelter in one of the safe harbors or all-weather marinas (see cyclone shelter notes below).

The length of stay for EU yacht crew is now 18 months (as long as the visa or visa extension permits this length of stay). This is renewable after an exit from the territory of 6 months minimum. Non-EU citizens will need to apply for a long stay visa prior to arriving in FP if they wish to stay for more than the given 3 months. Foreign boats can only stay 24 months now in French Polynesia before having to pay 7% import tax. Find out more at French Polynesia Formalities.  Useful information is also available on the following Cruiser Blogs:

During the Pandemic a great many boats became stuck here and FP’s well known welcoming reputation became tarnished with reports of abuse against cruising boats. Many new rules have been introduced restricting anchoring options and the Society Islands in particular are suffering with over-crowding and limited yachting facilities for the current demand. As Papeete (Tahiti, Society Islands) is the central base for repairs, provisioning and travel connections, an understanding of the current situation is important if planning on visiting FP.  Read these reports for more details:

The only other centre with extensive repair facilities is on Raiatea, where two charter companies have their base. Facilities are on a par with Tahiti, or even better, and have the great convenience of being grouped together.

Cyclone Shelters in the South Pacific:

For those prepared to stay in the tropics during the critical cyclone period (mid-November to May), there are a number of hurricane holes conveniently spread out across the South Pacific. Only some of them are fully fledged hurricane shelters and because of the large distances that separate the various island groups, running for shelter if a cyclone is predicted may not only be a hazardous affair, but one may also find that there is no space left when one gets there. The best tactic is either to stay close to a chosen shelter, or cruise on the edges of the cyclone belt, so as to be able to possibly sail out of danger, for example by sailing north from the Marquesas towards the equator.

Looking at those shelters from east to west, the Galapagos and Easter Island can be dismissed at they are not affected by cyclones. On rare occasions, a cyclone has reached as far east as Pitcairn or north-east to the Marquesas, although the latter are very rarely hit by a full cyclone. The outer island groups of French Polynesia (the Gambier and Austral Islands) can be affected but the risks are lower than in the Tuamotus, which are not only more exposed but their unprotected lagoons provide no shelter in a cyclone.

The Society Islands attract fewer cyclones than the island groups further west, but should perhaps be avoided during the critical period. The few marinas are full with local or charter boats, so the only possible shelters in Tahiti are the landlocked lagoon at Port Phaeton on the south-west coast, which has a small marina and good anchorage, or the anchorage behind the reef at the Tahiti Yacht Club in Arue, east of the capital Papeete. On the island of Raiatea, boats can be left on the hard at one of the two boatyards, but during a cyclone, several boats have been blown over and suffered extensive damage.

The Cook Islands are best avoided during cyclone season.

Neiafu Harbour in Tonga’s Vava’u group is very well protected and experiences fewer cyclones than Fiji and there are several operators who rent cyclone moorings for that season which conform to insurance standards. Some will also provide an excellent, reliable caretaker service.

Vava’u escaped relatively unscathed from the January 2022 Tonga earthquake and tsunami. The ash clouds didn’t quite reach the island which only got a light sprinkling of ash fall. The Tsunami also had no effect on Vava’u’s sheltered water ways.  The Boatyard Vava’u provides dry dock storage over cyclone season.

Neaifau, Tonga (c) Maria Wadsworth SV Jamala

In the Samoas, traditionally the best cyclone shelter is at Pago Pago in American Samoa.

More secure places are to be found in neighbouring Fiji, where several cyclone-proof marinas have been built, although these do fill up quickly with local boats so early bookings are advised. As a result of this many sailors have been persuaded to spend the summers in Fiji.

On the island of Vanua Levu, Waitui and Copra Shed marinas at Savusavu have laid down a number of strong moorings, all of which have performed very well when cyclones have passed through.   The newest marina at Nawi Island has berths that have been designed and built up to a category 5 cyclone resistance rating.

On the west coast of Viti Levu the marina at Lautoka, Vuda Point, offers good protection in a circular basin that can be entirely closed off by an anti-surge barrier. For added protection, boats left on the hard at this marina have their keels dropped into a trench. Port Denarau Marina has a natural cyclone protection area in the mangroves adjacent the marina. A cyclone shelter has also been created in a land-locked basin at Musket Cove on the island of Malololailai.

Even further west, the land-locked natural harbor of Port Vila in Vanuatu offers adequate protection in a cyclone as does Port Moselle Marina at Noumea in New Caledonia. In the Solomons, the best shelter is reported at Tulagi opposite the capital Honiara.

The above list is by no means exhaustive and there are small sheltered spots in most island groups that may be known to locals.

Health Issues in the South Pacific:

Keep an eye on the World Health Organisation website to check for any health alerts in the countries you are planning to visit so you can prepare you and your crew accordingly. It may be that certain vaccinations are required and certificates carried, or that restrictions are in place at ports of entry if coming from a country with an epidemic and further health paperwork needs to be carried by all crew.

COVID-19

In March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries closed their borders, including Australia and NZ. The only two Pacific countries that remained open (with restricted entry) were French Polynesia and Fiji.  All countries are now open with little or any Covid-19 restrictions.  You can read reports on the history of the Pandemic related to cruising yachts on our Covid-19 page.

Measles

A number of Pacific Islands suffered a measles epidemic in 2019 and increased measures were put in place preventing anyone from entering if they had not had the MMR vaccination. See news item for details.

Dengue Fever

There are on-going Dengue Fever outbreaks in the Cook Islands, Guam, Kosrae and Yap States in FSM, French Polynesia, Palau, RMI and Wallis & Futuna.

See the Health sections on all country/Formalities pages for further details.

Health Documents

To be on the safe side, the following health-related documents should be kept on board should they be needed:

  • Past itinerary and previous ports of call (up to 14 days prior).
  • Recent crew member and passenger travel history.
  • Temperature and health diary (daily) for all crew throughout passage from last port.
  • Health clearance from the last port.
  • Crew medical records.
  • Crew immunization cards.
  • Crew vaccination certificates (including COVID).
  • Crew testing certificates (if required).

Read this report from an Australian couple who experienced an unexpected medical emergency while sailing in Tahiti. Tahiti:  Coping with an Emergency in Paradise (August 2021)

Family Healthcare while cruising

Trading Goods in the South Pacific:

Trading is a great way to engage with the local people living on many of the islands in the South Pacific. In the more remote islands trading with yachts has become a way for islanders to source supplies they need but can’t access. It is also a way for yachts to source fresh fruit and vegetables.  These reports from cruisers offer some valuable guidelines for what to trade and how to manage the process.

A Guide to Pacific Marinas, Harbors and Boatyards:

French Polynesia

Tahiti:

Raiatea:

Bora Bora:

Marquesas, Hiva Oa:

Tuamotus:

Niue

Niue, Alofi:

Tonga

Neiafu (Vava’u):

Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu):

  • Big Mama Yacht Club: shore services provided for yachts in anchorage at Pangaimotu island.  Unfortunately, the Yacht Club and most everything on the island was destroyed by the tsunami and the subsequent ash cloud from the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha-apai volcanic eruption on 15 January 2020.
  • Nuku’alofa: the fate and/or condition of moorings in Faua Harbour is unknown following the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha-apai volcanic eruption on 15 January 2020.

Fiji

Musket Cove (Western Fiji):

Savusavu:

Lautoka:

Port Denarau:

Suva:

New Caledonia

Hienghene:

  • Marina de Hienghene: small marina on the NE Coast – more suitable for shallow draft vessels with basis services.

Koumac:

  • Marina de Pandop: small marina with basic services on the west coast.  Entry requires permission – call ahead.

Lifou Island:

Noumea:

New Zealand

Auckland:

Gisborne:

Gulf Harbour:

Opua (Bay of Islands):

Tauranga (Bay of Plenty):

Wellington:

Whangamata:

Whangarei:

Whangaroa:

Agents

Communications:

Weather Resources:

General: For a comprehensive list of weather resources see weather.

Also, check out these useful reports about weather in the Pacific:

Hawaii: WWVH in Hawaii gives storm warnings for the entire Pacific at 48 minutes past each hour on 5000, 10000 and 15000 kHz

French Polynesia: Weather forecasts in French are available from Meteo France, Tel:(689) 36 65 08, Fax:(689) 80 33 09, www.meteo.pf

Weather forecasts for the next 24 hours are broadcast every day on VHF channels 27 (Windward Islands) and 26 (Leeward Islands) at 1100, 1200, 2040,2100 local Tahiti time.

Mahina Radio forecasts for French Polynesia on 8803 kHz at 2100Z (also on VHF channels 26 and 27). Warnings at 0640Z and 1800Z.

Fiji: Suva Radio forecasts for tropical SW Pacific on 4372.9 and 6746.8 kHz at 0033, 0433, 0803, 1203, 2003Z

Fiji Meteorological Service http://www.met.gov.fj/

New Zealand: Russell Radio, located in the Bay of Islands, provides weather information for the Western Pacific and runs a maritime net on 13101 kHz (16:30 to 17:30), 6516 kHz (18:00 to 18:30), 4445 kHz (18:30 to 19:00) and 4417 kHz (19:00 to 19:30).

VHF Ch. 63 Marine weather broadcast at 08:00, 09:30, 13:30 and 17:50.

New Zealand and South Pacific weather: http://www.metvuw.com/

New Zealand Metservice: www.metservice.com

Taupo Maritime Radio (New Zealand) forecasts fort subtropical SW Pacific on 6224, 8297, 12356, 16531 kHz at 0903 and 2103Z

Other Resources:

Navigating Pacific Atoll Passes

Cruising Reports:

Cruising Blogs from the Pacific:

Other Useful Resources:

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  1. April 21, 2022 at 5:07 PM
    profile photo
    sue-richards says:

    Another useful article by CW magazine:
    Pilot Charts, GRIB Files and Wind Patterns: Understanding Weather Bulletins, Models and Forecasts Makes for Safer, Happier Cruising.
    After eight seasons sailing the South Pacific, the crew of Sparkman & Stephens 41 Pitufa have learned to embrace their morning rituals of coffee, convergence zones, and surface analysis charts.
    https://www.cruisingworld.com/how-to/pilot-charts-grib-files-wind-patterns/

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  2. October 29, 2018 at 11:34 AM
    Noonsite Team says:

    Useful article by Cruising World Magazine – September 2018
    Pacific Passage Planning: https://www.cruisingworld.com/pacific-passage-planning

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  3. September 2, 2013 at 3:41 AM
    Noonsite Team says:

    Most boats make the decision to visit New Zealand leaving Tonga or Rarotonga to avoid the cyclone season arriving about Mid October. Spend the summer season either cruising NZ or haul out for maintenance and repairs.

    They leave the beginning of the next cyclone free season for Fiji or New Caledonia or Vanuatu by various races departing from NZ at that particular time or cruise individually or join a rally to Australia Fiji New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Its double tracking going to Fiji, then to NZ then Fiji again New Caledonia or Australia or Vanuatu.

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