We are planning to pick up a 64ft cruising yacht from Taiwan and sail her to Australia. Looking at your comments (on previous reports) we believe the Eastern route is preferential, down the Philippines and across to Palau, then to PNG and the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia etc.

We are looking at November onwards. This seems ok North of the line but what may we expect South of the line between December and January?

We are planning a 5 to the 8-week crossing, does this seem realistic?

We are experienced seapersons with Carribean and Atlantic crossings under our belts along with 8 or 9 UK to Med deliveries across Biscay etc. We have not, however, sailed the Pacific as described above.

Your comments, please.

Regards,

David Cooper

David,

That is I believe your best route, but the timing is not perfect as you may run into a cyclone south of 10 degrees S in December. Can you leave Taiwan a bit earlier so as to make it to New Cal by mid-November? This would be better and safer timing, as from there on you get excellent forecasts and can play the weather.

Regards,

Jimmy Cornell

Many thanks for your reply. We are of course purchasing Jimmy’s book but liked to have your comments in the meantime. Due to time we have altered our route and from PNG we will be heading for the Grafton or Palm Passages and after clearing into Australia we will sail down the coast to Newcastle via the Whitsundays.

Kind Regards,

David