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14-02-2016, 13:35
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Torres Strait Routes
I found these shipping routes but I'm wondering if there is a more direct route through the strait coming from east (Vanuatu) going west to Darwin for smaller boats. Or is this what most people do on smaller private sailboats? And if so what's the difference between the top and the bottom...
Thanks,
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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14-02-2016, 13:43
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
You're actually better to stay out of the shipping channels for obvious reasons. Navigation through the Torres Strait is made a bit more difficult due to strong tidal currents which need to be considered when route planning. Plenty have done the trip though, so you should receive the advice you want.
Sent from my SGP521 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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14-02-2016, 15:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 53
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Greetings,
Check out Ken Hellewell's "Torres Strait Passage Guide".
Ken's route brings you on the Barrier Reef at Raine's Island, then it is an easy passage to Thursday Island with safe anchorages along the way.
Cheers,
Roger
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14-02-2016, 15:30
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 53
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
theway,
I am in the Marshall Islands, planning on departing here in May for the Torres Straits. In my opinion Ken's route appears easier than the Bramble Cay, or northern route.
If you can not obtain a copy of Ken's book let me know. I wouldn't copy it without sending Ken some money but we can work that out.
Cheers,
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14-02-2016, 15:43
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 30,561
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharki127
Greetings,
Check out Ken Hellewell's "Torres Strait Passage Guide".
Ken's route brings you on the Barrier Reef at Raine's Island, then it is an easy passage to Thursday Island with safe anchorages along the way.
Cheers,
Roger
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Once you close you will get regular fly overs.. the first radio contact will be to get all the info about boat and crew.. planned route and destination.
If you anchor along the way before clearing in DO NOT be tempted to launch the dinghy to walk a desert isle.. you'll be busted.. as it is.. that close in you'll get a lot more attention..
Have a safe crossing whatever way you choose..
__________________
It was a dark and stormy night and the captain of the ship said.. "Hey Jim, spin us a yarn." and the yarn began like this.. "It was a dark and stormy night.."
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14-02-2016, 18:29
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Torres Strait Routes
Thanks all, I'll see what I can find on Kens route and look for Pandoras and Bramble.
If anyone with Kens can maybe do a general mockup on a chart or google earth I would appreciate it.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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14-02-2016, 19:12
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 53
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
theway,
To get an idea of Ken Hellewell's route draw a straight line from Raine Island Entrance to Thursday Island. He provides about 45 way points between those two points.
By all means notify the Australian Authorities in advance of all your specifics and your intentions. Visa in advance, mmsi no., call signs, photo of your boat, ETA. They want to know when you are arriving, who you are, where you are going. No fresh fruit or vegetables.. their rules are all online. None of this is a problem. You will be clearing in at Thursday Island.
Roger
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14-02-2016, 21:23
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Moreton Bay
Boat: US$4,550 of lead under a GRP hull with cutter rig
Posts: 2,135
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Point your browser to:
Queensland Tide Tables (Maritime Safety Queensland)
and then look for the link to the 2016 Queensland Tide Tables (PDF, 3.49 MB ).
After saving the pdf, look at page 82 for the Tidal Stream Predictions for Hammond Rock.
In the predictions you'll see the times (in Local = UTC +10) of slack water and maximum set. For example, on 20 Feb at 0531 you could expect a set of 7.13 knots to 080 degrees while at 2349 you could expect a set of 4.75 knots to 260 degrees.
Al
__________________
“Fools say that you can only gain experience at your own expense, but I have always contrived to gain my experience at the expense of others.” - Otto von Bismarck
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15-02-2016, 00:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Boat: Island Packet 40
Posts: 6,415
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Come a bit earlier, clear in at Cairns, do a leisurely cruise up the coast day sailing. pass through Albany passage anchoring at Turtle Bay, slip around the Cape to Seisia, pass over the shoals W of crab island - there is plenty of water for small boats, across to Gove then another leisurely coastal cruise to Darwin.
Do not believe all the horror stories you hear, I have been cruising the eastern, northern and western Australian coasts since 2002 and other than coast watch flyovers have yet to be even approached by any authorities.
I have a set of the 800 series charts for pretty well all the sections of coast I cruise but seldom pull them out anymore as I have found the CM93 charts I use with Opencpn to be accurate enough.
Stay out of the recommended shipping lanes as much as possible, the things that use them are monstrous and travel like bats out of hell, in the close waters they don't need you getting in their way and you don't need close shave experiences with them.
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15-02-2016, 01:30
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#11
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
If you've got the time, I second RaymondR's comments.
If not, then take the northern route - you do need to roughly follow the path of "Two Way Route", but in most areas you can and should stay a fair way outside it in a small vessel.
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16-06-2017, 17:49
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 24
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Hi guys!
We are just about to leave the Solomon Islands and I am trying to find Ken Hellewell's book as an ebook so I can pay and download it. Does anyone know where I can find it? Does anyone have the waypoints I need to do the entrance by Raine Island and then find my way to Thursday Island?
Best regards
Daniel
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17-06-2017, 05:20
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#13
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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18-06-2017, 00:29
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 24
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Gordmay -
Thanks but we are leaving tomorrow and I dont have time to order the actuall book!
Anyone that has useful waypoints for the trip: Reine island to Thursday island?
//Daniel
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17-02-2019, 21:17
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 10
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Re: Torres Strait Routes
Hi All,
Apologies if this is a silly question but, are there any passages through to the Arafura Sea which are more northern than the shipping channels near to Thursday Island, closer to PNG? Does anyone have any experience of taking a more northern route or is it impossible?
Won't be clearing in to Aus as merely transiting to Indonesia/E. Timor.
Thanks in advance for any info.
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