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Many countries will not issue visas to passports within six months of expiry. Guess youll just have to click the button to find out. Thus, with 90 days in pocket, you can divide your time between the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies more evenly than in years past. Are you most comfortable as part of a rally, with a buddy boat or as a lone wolf? Suva aside, the rest of Fiji is as remote and gorgeous as youd expect the Pacific to be. The principal difference between an adventurer and a suicide is that the adventurer leaves himself a margin of escape. Tom Robbins. Close. The 3,000-mile passage from the Galpagos to the Marquesas will probably be the longest of your sailing career. Kidding aside, I strongly believe that with good preparation and training, anyone can learn to sail and cross the Pacific Ocean. 100 Lighting Way Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000. And then let the shenanigans begin. Not too shabby. Commercial diver slash editor slash taco connoisseur - yep, thats Indigo! Sailing Routes Across the Pacific(and how long they take), Oh, the Places Youll Go (during your Pacific passage), When to Jump the Pacific Puddle (so you dont die), What You Will Need to Cross the Pacific Ocean by Sailboat, Final Thoughts on Sailing Across the Pacific. You will also avoid the cyclone season of the Caribbean. If you take the east to west passage across the Pacific, chances are youll end up in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Maybe you added crossing the Tasman Sea to your growing list of sailing achievements. Next, list every country that you may wish to stop in and those in peripheral waters. Rather than see food as a cumbersome challenge, think of it as a means for innovation. Play to your strengths and be accepting of others and your own weaknesses. You cant expect to know this series of islands intimately in just one visit. Nostalgia hasnt rose-tinted all the memories, though. Does the voyage rely on a financial structure subject to change? But if push came to shove, you would learn real fast to mend your sail. What is this forgotten essential of the backpacker-life? Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Not only was the cruise down the Ecuadorian coast fascinating, the passage to the Galpagos from Salinas provided steadier winds than had we departed directly from the canal. Sailors have done it before and theyll damn well do it again!The biggest challenge is making sure you get enough sleep while maintaining good watchkeeping. Each boat will have different capabilities when it comes to storage and fridge capacity, so fresh food may last better on some boats than others. If I ever end up on the run, dont go looking for me (or my mermaid look-alike) in the Cook Islands! The view from the hills surrounding Savusavu, on Vanua Levu, Fiji, is breathtaking. But, there are still vague targets and timelines that guide your Pacific Crossing. With a little initiation into the trials and tribulations of boat life, a cornucopia of experience awaits the adventurer who sails across the Pacific. I was going to answer this glibly we sail across oceans because land life got boring haha.But I think for every sailor who leaves port there is a different reason as to why they are doing it. Still, good fishing, chatty locals, and picturesque islands make it worth sailing through. (see link for requirements). A popular alternative is to pass south to a good cyclone hole on the Australian coast, such as Cairns or Port Douglas, and backtrack up to the Torres Strait at the beginning of the next safe season. Along with its own kingdoms and chiefdoms, the British stuck their nose in and left a muddy footprint on Fijian culture. Because the intertropical convergence zone (better known as the doldrums) is widest in the eastern Pacific, it is best crossed at the least oblique angle reasonable. Adequate sleep is a severely underappreciated necessity! Sailing Across The Pacific: The ULTIMATE Sailboat Adventure! Your trip can begin with a little visit to Panama, heading south to charge through the notorious ICTZ, and riding the south-easterly trades all the way to French Polynesia. Australia is less keen on embracing its geographical status as a Pacific or Asian country. If there were ever a sticky place to tempt my wandering feet to settle down, itd be New Zealand. CL example: This page was last modified on 22 August 2018, at 10:17. With good communication, sailing across the ocean with your partner can create an unshakable bond that transforms and solidifies your partnership. Check the visa requirements carefully because the devil is in the details, especially if you have a multinational crew. For many sailors veteran and greenhorn alike it is the ultimate, goldilocks cruising grounds. If youre not up to skippering your own boat, then kick back on one of the many catered charter boats on offer! I like to remember that a day spent preparing in the dock is worth a week at sea. Others soak up the rare opportunity to commune deeply with nature, and experience a rare solitude and reaffirming self-reliance, which I believe to be the core virtues of bluewater sailing. If you are considering this route, you need a boat that will be good upwind, and also be prepared to face large oncoming seas for most of the journey. The biggest hurdle to solo sailing is standing watches. There are many good books to read while travelling. You, your crew and your splendid craft have spanned the mightiest body of water on Earth. Vanlife has a reputation for making or breaking relationships. You can easily restock the cruising kitty for a season before continuing your sailing circumnavigation. Sailing across the Pacific is made easier with good supplies and a creative touch in the galley! But anyone with a little preparation and a bit of know-how can leave themselves a margin of escape. And there is a certain appeal in the solitude of a long passage its the ultimate growth at the edge of your comfort zone. On from Tahiti, sailors have many choices when deciding where to go next. Albeit increasingly expensive, cruising permits are normally obtainable upon arrival, but check the cruising websites and forums for current and accurate information. An EPIC bucket list adventure if I ever dreamed of one! Although Norfolk Island is not a fully protected anchorage, many vessels that find themselves west of the rhumb line with foul forecasts to the south will shelter here until conditions improve. Your email address will not be published. Regardless of ones plan for the western Pacific, this route passes by or through the Galpagos Islands, the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (Tahiti). Nevertheless, those planning to sail directly through Torres Strait into the Indian Ocean cannot afford to dally. An adequate crew may look like just you, yourself, and you. You can rent one of over 30,000 boats. There are countless permutations of a westward passage, but the path dubbed the Milk Run is the most popular. As you approach the Marquesas and settle into the trade winds, you will need good downwind sails and systems for handling them. Leaving as early as late January might technically put one out into the Pacific during the official cyclone season, but the statistical chances of a storm developing this far to the east are slim. Keeping up your health and sanity when youre halfway between nowhere and nowhere is a far bigger hurdle in my opinion.If you can heave-to during a storm, know how to fix the worst of what can break, and eat plenty of citrus you should be on the right track! Why not start learning a new language while sailing? Sure, you can be prepared and sure, the beaches will be nice. So, the Direct Route has the disadvantage of it being primarily upwind. Sailing solo for long passages like that which is required to cross the Pacific is not unheard of. . I would recommend downloading podcasts, music, and books GALORE. For Wikipedia you can use the Wikipedia template & for the Wikivoyage the Wikivoyage template. Itd be a bit awkward if you got halfway across the Pacific only to realise this whole boat life wasnt for you. Long night watches, daily face-offs with the elements, fixing the umpteenth broken thing it is no easy feat! Keep in mind that it is an open roadstead vulnerable to dangerous swells. But I wouldnt want to leave port without: Something sailors veterans and newbies alike tend to do is underestimate the consequences of danger. For European and East Coast sailors, the Pacific launching point is obviously the Panama Canal. The other advantage of this route is that it can be taken as a partial passage. Your friend might be a perfectly competent sailor. If you make it to New Zealand, pat yourself on the back! Eventually, most sailors have to move on. In addition, you need to be competent to undertake any repairs along the way, and then confident enough to be able to undertake them in a rolling sea. So, a successful passage across the Pacific depends on good winds. All is good when you do small passages with them. Unanimous acclaim for the beauty of the northern Tongan groups of Niua, Vavau and Haapai makes some time here mandatory, which harks back to my original advice to head out of Panama as early as safely possible. Extreme situations aside, there are safer times to cross the Pacific! Again, thank you! But if youve got a well-prepared boat and well-prepared crew it can be fast and exhilarating. If this section does not apply remove it. Being prepared to sail across the Pacific Ocean means knowing your boat at least as well as you know your smush buddy. One can expect winds from nearly every direction, starting with southeast trades on departure and potentially deep lows with strong southwesterlies shifting to northwesterlies when approaching New Zealand. Its a whole different kettle of fish down under, mate. There is one item every traveller NEEDS. Once sailors finish the Pacific crossing, having a spear gun or some fishing poles opens up a world of island adventures! These islands have been protected from rampant development by a crushing remoteness and therefore arguably remain the cultural heart of Polynesia. Those on the southern route can linger through Tonga or Fiji until well into November and still safely make New Zealand shores before any tropical depressions threaten. Gone are the whimsical days of letting the winds blow you where they may. We dont ask for money, but if youd like to find out how you can help the site in more organic ways, click the button below. Very few cruising guides discuss these routes, however World Cruising Routes (see References below), mentions 3 or 4 possible routes via the South Pacific Ocean in the section Routes from New Zealand. Suva will probably surprise first-time visitors its fewer palm trees and coconuts and more traffic and nightclubs. Glad you asked cause weve got the answers! You need to have a boat that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking, and more importantly (and more difficult to find) will be a crew that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking. Travelling to the Cook Islands (and briefly becoming a mermaid) may be just what you need to avoid travel burnout. Encompassing an area larger than Western Europe, the Tuamotus are the longest chain of atolls in the world. This tends to be a touch slower, with exacerbated rolling. Far less dangerous than driving a car or riding a motorbike. This route takes you up through South East Asia and into the North Pacific. There are variations on this Coconut Milk Run. Travelling to New Zealand is a very special experience that will have most sailors scheming about how to get back! Also, build in time to enjoy both the San Blas Islands, on the Atlantic side, and the Las Perlas Islands, on the Pacific side. So, to crew or not to crew? Thank you for your support . Its hard to maintain a constant watch and get enough sleep. Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure dont be daft! Whats important is that you keep your mind occupied. We love the knowledge that our content keeps you adventuring. Add in the challenges of cooking underway and fatigue and you are primed to get creative in the galley! I reckon the reason you dont see too many Australian sailors around the world is that they see no reason to leave their beautiful home. As you straighten course toward your chosen port of entry in the Marquesas, you should begin experiencing your best noon-to-noon runs because you will still have a southerly component in the trades. Tribal Bali: The Best Coworking Hostel in the World Has Opened Its Doors. But before one gets into the minutia of details, they should first step back and consider the bigger picture of sailing across the Pacific. The long but logical route from there is wheeling over the top of the North Pacific summer high and back south into U.S. West Coast waters. There are countless incredible adventures to be had in Australia! But we do it because we love it we love providing epic and free content. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. There are some great books and resources made by far better fishermen than me on this matter. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Depending on the sailboat, the route that is taken, the wind, and the current it can take anywhere between 22 and 40 days.When I crossed from Panama to the Marquesas (sans Galapagos Islands) it took us 26 days. On the third, my wife, Diana, put her sea boots down and demanded we stop. None of the above are pleasant cruising routes. Cyclone season in the North Pacific and the Caribbean is June through November. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Now, what does it take to sail across the Pacific Ocean? This will enable you to get some good northing into your passage before bashing endlessly into the trade winds. Fiji is a bit of a crossroads within the Pacific. Be sure to have clear doctors prescriptions for every drug in the ships medical kit. Some travellers dont even know they need it, but those travellers need it more than anyone. Many plan to hole up in Minerva Reef, getting a head start on the 1,100 miles to New Zealand, and depart there with the absolute latest weather predictions. Nothing is ever impossible, but youve got to have some patience with the winds to sail across the Pacific Ocean from west to east. Even with the best of modern navigational equipment and weather forecasting, they demand the mariners absolute vigilance regarding watchkeeping, entry and exit from atoll passes, and anchoring techniques. Packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for thereal adventurers these babies are a travellers best kept secret. If you can focus on the journey instead of the destination, it might also be the most memorable. Sailing through Fiji is a reminder that the Pacific is as complex as the rest of the world it just has more white sand beaches! A way to supplement your supplies and provide some entertainment is to fish while underway. The worlds best scuba diving, spearfishing, and lazy hammock days are your juicy reward for crossing the worlds greatest ocean! I think I powered through close to forty books in the first Pacific passage I was on. You need a sailboat that is stem to stern ready. For every system on the boat, you need tools to maintain and repair it. Read the Cook Islands Backpacking Guide HERE! Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. If the intention is to reach all the way to Cape Horn, then the route can be attempted in early summer or before -- perhaps as early as September. Sailo lets you do exactly that! Essentially, being prepared is about organisation and organisation is about lists. More information. Generally, it is an area of enhanced convection resulting in a frustrating mix of cloud cover, line squalls and calms. And thats where I come in! Because of course, they did. Remember, a days work at the dock is worth a weeks under way. The initial estimates might seem staggering, but once compared to the escalating marina and maintenance costs, and the many windward months and miles home, the horror subsides. Yachts can clear in at Hiva Oa, Ua Pou or Nuku Hiva. Its good to get lost sometimes, but its also good not to get too lost. Some will stop in and travel the Galapagos, others will charge on through. Once well clear of the Gulf of Panama, fashion a southwestward course with a pronounced southern belly toward the Galpagos group. The South Pacific convergence zone drifts with some seasonal predictability (more to the north from December to May and the south from June to November), but is also influenced by larger weather anomalies. All rights reserved. Aside from adequate supplies, navigation and maintenance know-how, you need to have an adequately prepared crew. Usually, a system of radar alarms, twenty-minute nap alarms, and a dash of faith in King Neptune get the solo sailor to their next port. If you hope to further insure for damage and loss, check carefully the caveats relating to seasons and areas. As anchoring depths are prohibitive, deep moorings are available. You crossed an ocean. What might lines do next? Make very high-resolution photocopies of your passports and ships papers. They organise yo packing and minimise its volume too so you can pack MORE. As an admittedly stubborn form of protest, I sailed right by them on two different occasions. For those on the southern route, the four- to five-day passage to Aitutaki or Rarotonga offers a predictable beam-to-broad reach right on the rhumb line. Import duties, brokerage costs and currency exchange rates must be factored into this strategy. Not to be a contrarian, but I have made this passage more than a half-dozen times and believe it is better to hold to the east as far as wind and waves allow because if that southwest change does not occur, you might find yourself on the wrong side of North Cape, New Zealand, with contrary winds and confused currents. I reckon you could get lost in the Tuamotus for a lifetime as long as the freshwater doesnt run out. But every mammoth task is made up of smaller puzzle pieces that come together. Lets face it, theres nothing quite like fresh ceviche! Does a westward passage commit one to a circumnavigation, or are there strategic exit points? I guess you have to have a certain cognitive dissonance to cast off and not see land for over a month! You crossed the Pacific freaking Ocean fuck yeah! Ascertain if the year of passage has been deemed an El Nio or La Nia year because these phenomena can affect the above. This page has been accessed 85,222 times. Or, yknow you can stick to ziplock bags. A veteran voyager shares route information and tips for sailing across the Pacific Ocean. That fortunate discrepancy you will notice between your speed on the log (i.e., through the water) versus the GPS speed (over the bottom) is compliments of the South Equatorial Current, which fortifies with the steadier trades. Crossing an ocean by sailboat is no small feat. When transiting from the Galpagos to the Marquesas, by first heading south-southwest down to 3 to 4 degrees south latitude, one should reach the upper limits of the southeast trade winds, albeit possibly sporadic at this point. Here's how to add a credit card surcharge, A Floriade river cruise grows in the Netherlands, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Papeete, Society Islands, French Polynesia, Royal Caribbean Group scraps Covid testing requirement for short cruises, Busy cruise pier in Skagway closes due to rockslide risk, FAA proposes long-awaited rule requiring second cockpit door on new planes. The southern contingent usually drifts south toward Nukualofa, the capital, until it likes the long-range forecast for the passage to New Zealand. Throughout the Cook Islands, a slow tempo to living is the norm. You have immersed yourself in millions of square miles of salty solitude and self-reliance. Yes with several caveats. Another who pickled their own foods. But if you can hunt around for the right latitude, its downwind sailing (yay)! And now, as only a seasoned mariner can, you truly understand why they call it the Big Blue. If the early Polynesian navigators can do it, though, so can you and your tin can. Typically trolling while underway is the method cruisers go for. Although the majority of the South Pacific islands would remain unexplored, Tahiti is the earliest cutout for those needing to return to North America because its easterly location allows for a viable starboard tack through the southeast and northeast trades to Hawaii. Your first port of call after the big crossing is likely going to be the Marquesas. Niue is a raised coral atoll and geographically rare in the South Pacific. Whatever your plan from here, through a combination of wind and will, you have done it. So lets get into it lets get you ready to cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat! Ultimately though, you need to be flexible. Try your hand at skippering a sailboat bareboat (without captain or crew) so you can stress-test yourself as a sailor. And more comfortable times too. You can release your wild side but youve insured its dumb ass! Just you in your tiny boat-universe traversing the sea and the stars. This is all good when you can leave the bar and have a break from them. Although the official window for departures from Panama extends from February all the way to June, the trade winds tend to stabilize and strengthen as the year progresses. I had a captain who learned to make his own yoghurt. . When on land you notice that they chew with their mouth open and sometimes like to rant about how the world is going to end in the next ten years. All rights reserved. The CDC dropped its Covid cruise rules. They are all lush, high and ringed by azure seas. Sailboat life is essentially vanlife without the ability to go for a hike and ignore your partner for a while. The main disadvantage of this is that it is the longest route across the Pacific, covering the most ocean miles. Crossing the street and driving a car is dangerous, but we all do it every day. It is a series of islets whose inhabitants can all be traced back to one man William Marsters. (2022). The three main options for sailing from west to east are: Ok, I lied I would love to do the Roaring Forties passage! In addition this ensures that the cyclone prone regions of the South Pacific will be reached after the end of the cyclone season. Those in a hurry to reach Tahiti tend to pass through the wider channels at the northern end of the chain, perhaps visiting Ahe, Manihi and the main center of Rangiroa. There are dreamy island paradises scattered across the great blue spectacular and hefty continents on the other side. Danger is a relative concept. Crossing the Pacific Ocean can be dangerous, but you can mitigate those risks. The other disadvantage is that it is a long way from landfall, any assistance, and involves long passages at sea, perhaps upwards of 40 or 50 days. Even going on to travel Southeast Asia, or India, are not out of the question for the brave circumnavigator. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Plus, the diving is pretty great. It is something quite spectacular to crack a beer on the other side of the Pacific knowing that those nautical miles were earned. Y cuidado con los monstruos! Its the first voice youve heard in over nine days that didnt originate from you or your crew. This route can be fast, but also tiring and damaging to both boat and crew. Next is the paper chase. After adding up the extras, are budget airlines the lowest-cost option. The crushed peach sunsets and clear, stargazing nights will reward you tenfold. Can advisors add a surcharge to cover credit card fees? Things like lemons that keep well for weeks become a godsend. Ferdinand Magellan may have been a bit optimistic when he named a body of water that encompasses nearly one-third of Earth Mar Pacifico (peaceful ocean), for, like all oceans, it depends. After travelling Panama, or elsewhere in the Americas, youll likely arrive in French Polynesia. One can only hope to draw a thin line through this scattered nation. Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island, CDC eliminates Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships, CDCs new cruise guidelines: Vaccination and testing are recommended, not required, Carnival Corp.'s Arnold Donald: Ending the CDC cruise program is a milestone. No one can take away the fact that you did it. Youre guaranteed to find something suitable and have a splashing good time in the best places in the world to sail. It is indeed an adventure of epic proportions. Climate and weather conditions will be the same as for the Trans Pacific ("Puddle-Jump"). There is no way for me to write a succinct list of all the tools you need to sail across the Pacific Ocean. The British chose the rainiest place in the Pacific as the capital of their colony Suva. Having said that, we do have our favorites. The modern cruiser must be prepared in advance to face a host of legal requirements. When you walk around your boat, ask yourself: how likely is this to break, and if this broke, could I fix it? You must press on to the Tuamotus and Society Islands for that. Most sailboats tend to be dry while underway, so there arent too many opportunities for drug bending entertainment. A freshly caught tuna sizzles in sesame oil. Avast and fair winds, fellow sailors. Maybe this is part of a larger circumnavigation and youre fresh off a season in sailing the Caribbean or an Atlantic Ocean crossing. Is it heresy to suggest that another option is to ship the vessel back home? But, when youre in a small sailboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you may not want to hear about the apocalypse for the twelfth time in as many days while watching food entirely miss their mouth. First, ensure that every crewmembers passport is as current as possible. Luckily, these seasons are quite well known now. Sailing Totem: Downsizing Your Life To Live On a Boat, Engine Maintenance: Top Ways to Keep Your Exhaust Systems Water Out of the Engine, Sailing Totem: Favorite Instant-Pot Recipes for Cruising, How To Get the Most Out of Your Spinnaker, Connecting to the Natural World Through Rare Shells, The VOYAGE 590: Best Charter Boat of the Year, Cyclone Area: south of 10 S; west of 140 W, Distance: Panama to Australia 8,000 nautical miles, Cultural Areas: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia/New Zealand, Atlas of Pilot Charts South Pacific, DMA/NOAA, Southbound Evening Net: 6516 kHz at 0100 UTC, Namba/Sheila Net: 8101 kHz at UTC plus 11 hours, Gulf Harbor Radio: 8116 kHz at 0715 local New Zealand time, (There is a host of smaller and temporary VHF and SSB nets throughout the Pacific. But this region is a hot destination for other reasons. Expect to chat lots with strangers, explore uninhabited islands, and wonder why youd ever return to normal life. Some choose to slow down and spend a season working or exploring New Zealand. There are people that want you home in one piece. She can always be found somewhere between the ocean and the land, lifting her laptop skyward for a WiFi signal Australia-born and New Zealand-based, Indigo preens The Broke Backpacker's destination guides, updating the old, bringing the new, and tagging that alongside scoops from the life of an aquatic traveller. Required fields are marked *. The dangers that you will face can be mitigated with good preparation.Storms are the easiest to prepare for. Hola amigo, cual es tu posicion? What might be an over-the-counter medication in one country can be highly prohibitedin another. If the wind even hints at going west, as it occasionally does, get out immediately. Is the dream and determination shared equally, or will the plan unravel with the first gale? The farther west one heads, the more easterly the trades become until you are eventually running dead downwind. On one side is the Americas, and somewhere over there is Australia and New Zealand. Even between fixing and tinkering things, there is a lot of time when you sail across the pacific. Even with all the modern navigational conveniences, plotting a course through the Tuamotus requires extra vigilance and care. To cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat represents an accomplishment that no one can take from you. En route to Niue lies one of two opportunities to experience the eeriness of anchoring in the middle of a featureless ocean (the other being the Minerva Reefs between Tonga and New Zealand). My missus travels with all her clothes in ziplock bags:dont be like my missus. Dammit New Zealand, youre pretty freaking sweet!