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Old 29-10-2018, 20:01   #1
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Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

Looking for information about cruising Papau New Guinea during the cyclone season. Some insight would be really appreciated, thank you.

Are there any recommended areas considered cyclone and crime safe / low?

What is the consensus for sailing in this part of the world during the cyclone season?

Noonsite mentions that Rabaul used to be a popular cyclone season port, however now crime is makes it not recomend. What are some alternatives?
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Old 29-10-2018, 21:56   #2
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

Cyclones are very rare in PNG. only a handful of low intensity ones since 1969. I'm not concerned about them. It's actually a good time of year for cruising because the strong SE Trades are not predominant. I've sailed then entire North Coast and Milne Bay over Christmas/New Year at various times with no problems.



None of the major urban areas are "crime safe" but for cruisers it's not as bad as overseas press would have you believe. Just do it.
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Old 29-10-2018, 22:19   #3
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

StuM, based on the cyclone track diagram you have provided it looks like the best defense against cyclones in northern Australia might be to make a dash for New Guinea??
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Old 29-10-2018, 22:25   #4
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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StuM, based on the cyclone track diagram you have provided it looks like the best defense against cyclones in northern Australia might be to make a dash for New Guinea??

Yep, three days north of Cairns to POM and you are pretty well OK
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Old 29-10-2018, 22:36   #5
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

Only been a couple of times, never by boat always by air but flew over and around it in light aircraft, it's a truly beautiful place.
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Old 29-10-2018, 23:38   #6
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

A question StuM.

I notice you have been in PNG a fair period of time. I have only passed through a couple of times on business and the barb wire topped chain link fence and armed guard on the gate at the hotel in Port Morsby did not leave a good impression re criminality abounding.

Since you probably associate with other cruisers in the area and consequently am informed first hand from the horses mouth, what is your, and their, experiences regarding crime in PNG.
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Old 30-10-2018, 02:35   #7
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

When are you planning on going? Apparently visa on arrivals have been suspended until December as per noonsite. No reasons given. We are in Cairns working on Visa's in advance for our departure mid november. Unfortunately it seems that you can only get 60 days with one extension of 30 days, so not much time in country.
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Old 30-10-2018, 02:48   #8
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

Greetings and belated welcome aboard the CF, RJ.
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Old 30-10-2018, 04:16   #9
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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When are you planning on going? Apparently visa on arrivals have been suspended until December as per noonsite. No reasons given. We are in Cairns working on Visa's in advance for our departure mid november. Unfortunately it seems that you can only get 60 days with one extension of 30 days, so not much time in country.

VOA has been suspended because of the APEC meeting in November. Apparently they don't think they can handle the number of visitors expected if they have to process visas as they arrive.




(If you're checking in at RPYC, let me know when you are due to arrive )
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Old 30-10-2018, 04:35   #10
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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A question StuM.

I notice you have been in PNG a fair period of time. I have only passed through a couple of times on business and the barb wire topped chain link fence and armed guard on the gate at the hotel in Port Morsby did not leave a good impression re criminality abounding.

Since you probably associate with other cruisers in the area and consequently am informed first hand from the horses mouth, what is your, and their, experiences regarding crime in PNG.

I've been here for over 30 years and and have traveled all over the country for work as well as sailing around a lot of it


Like many places, there are no-go areas and you need to be security conscious. That said, it's a great destination to visit and away from some urban centres, the locals are very welcoming to visitors.


(BTW, anyone else having problems with CF pages loading very slowly and posted replies failing? Recently, I'm having to try several times to get reply through- this is my fourth attempt on this one. It doesn't happen on any other sites I visit )
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Old 30-10-2018, 09:53   #11
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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A question StuM.

I notice you have been in PNG a fair period of time. I have only passed through a couple of times on business and the barb wire topped chain link fence and armed guard on the gate at the hotel in Port Morsby did not leave a good impression re criminality abounding.

Since you probably associate with other cruisers in the area and consequently am informed first hand from the horses mouth, what is your, and their, experiences regarding crime in PNG.
Certainly the barbed wire and armed guards should make one exercise some caution. I must admit, sadly, that there are many places in the U.S., and around the world, that have problems and no-go areas too. When I was in New Orleans for business many years ago, the hotels (even in the "nice" areas) all had barbed wire on their giant walls. The staff warned me about the no-go areas. I took their advice, kept my eyes open, listened to the locals, and had a great time after work. Interestingly, the Hurricane that devastated New Orleans was actually a good thing in many ways. It certainly cleaned up the bad areas a lot.
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Old 30-10-2018, 10:30   #12
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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I've been here for over 30 years and and have traveled all over the country for work as well as sailing around a lot of it


Like many places, there are no-go areas and you need to be security conscious. That said, it's a great destination to visit and away from some urban centres, the locals are very welcoming to visitors.


(BTW, anyone else having problems with CF pages loading very slowly and posted replies failing? Recently, I'm having to try several times to get reply through- this is my fourth attempt on this one. It doesn't happen on any other sites I visit )
Echo the above. But want to add what a wonderful place this is. Believe the offshore islands North of the mainland are very safe. Had a very nice time in them particularly Hermit.

I would be amiss if I did not add a comment about security though. We only saw one other boat out there and they had their dinghy stolen. Also and I hesitate to add this as our visit was some time ago shortly before we visited, and we were there for quite awhile, a couple were killed on the mainland in their boat. It is disingenuous to argue that there are security problems everywhere. Of course that is true. But some of these infamous places get thousands of visitors. It is quite clear why there are so few problems in for example a place like the Sula archipelago. Hardly any one dares to go there. Nor would we. This could also be said for PNG, at least when we were there ten or more years ago. I hope it is better there now.

Would we go back if we were not languishing in Florida? In a heartbeat. But we would carry pepper spray and have it available all over GAIA. As we did most places we visited including PNG.

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Old 30-10-2018, 11:35   #13
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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.


(BTW, anyone else having problems with CF pages loading very slowly and posted replies failing? Recently, I'm having to try several times to get reply through- this is my fourth attempt on this one. It doesn't happen on any other sites I visit )
Not sure if you are still having issues but it is working OK for me.
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Old 30-10-2018, 11:38   #14
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

Quote:
BTW, anyone else having problems with CF pages loading very slowly and posted replies failing? Recently, I'm having to try several times to get reply through- this is my fourth attempt on this one. It doesn't happen on any other sites I visit )
Stu, I have had it happen to me, and I've received a message that comes back it is not my server, it is the CF site. Jim has not had the problem at the same time, though, and I don't know if CF has been doing site maintenance. If it continues to be an issue, use the "Contact Us" button in the blue stripe near the bottom of the page, to report it to the site staff.

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Old 30-10-2018, 15:08   #15
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Re: Papau New Guinea - cyclone season, boltholes, safe areas?

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Not sure if you are still having issues but it is working OK for me.
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Stu, I have had it happen to me, and I've received a message that comes back it is not my server, it is the CF site. Jim has not had the problem at the same time, though, and I don't know if CF has been doing site maintenance. If it continues to be an issue, use the "Contact Us" button in the blue stripe near the bottom of the page, to report it to the site staff.

Ann
I thnk it may be Avast Web Shield choking on all the google ad etc links. I've turned it off temporarily and the site loads much quicker. I'll see if this reply goes through the first time.


Edit: Yep, the reply went through much quicker too!
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