Best Marinas in the Pacific

[undying dream]

Im planning a trip on a 36" vessel through the pacific, crossing the Panama Canal, visiting the galapagos and the Marquesas before continuing on to the Suez Canal.
I wanted to know which are the best marinas, mooring fields, etc to visit in terms of services and supplies? Prices are also a main concern.
Thanks

[solarbri]

Wow! A 36" vessel!
Is that a cheap way to cross the canal??

[Meridian]

Can't speak for the canal region, nor the Galapagos (though I doubt there are many marinas there!).
If you are going to make this trip, I'd heavily suggest you forget about marinas and moorings (you won't find many), and concentrate instead on your anchoring technique and ground-tackle. We crossed from Mexico to the Marquesas, on to the Tuomotus, french Poly, The Cooks, Niue, and Tonga before getting to New Zealand. Here's the skinny...
Marquesas...Anchor only, relatively few/ no services (some diesel).

Tuomotus...anchor only, almost no services (maybe diesel?)

French Poly...some moorings (Tahiti, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora), a few expensive marinas (Tahiti, Raiatea). Mostly anchoring. Some good, but expensive, services, mostly in Tahiti and Raiatea.

Cook Islands...Suvarov has only anchoring, no services. Raratonga has no anchoring, but a harbor where you med-moor. Few services (diesel, butane, not propane).

Niue...no anchoring, only 12 mooring balls. Diesel only

Tonga...Vavau group...Tons of good anchoring. Neiafu (main town) has several good moorings. Some services here

Tonga...Tongatapu group...mostly anchoring, and a med-moor harbor. Some services (don't miss Big Mama's Yacht Club on Pangimotu Island...the best cruiser hangout in the Pacific).

New Zealand...everything you could ask for, and more. And at killer prices, specially with the current exchange rate.

HIH
John

[undying dream]

Thanks a lot for the info, i kinda fugured that there wouldnt be any marinas. I guess i was hoping for just one island who had it all, so i could resupply instead of stocking up in Panama, before resuming the joy of sailing.

[Meridian]

If by "resupply" you mean laying in food provisions, then, yes, you can re-provision in Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas (limited availability), in Tahiti and Bora Bora in French Poly (very good availability but tres expensive), and in Raratonga (less expensive than Tahiti, and English spoken here). Tonga also offers limited re-provisioing supplies.
FWIW, booze is expensive throughout the South Pacific...if cheap in Panama, you might want to stock up...
John

[starfish62]

Fiji is loaded with good anchorages and a couple of good marinas. Vuda Marina is very well done and they have some stores and daily buses into Lautoka town, which has quite a bit of stuff. Musket Cove in the Mamanucas is legendary for grabbing folks for long periods. We didn't hit Savu Savu, but everyone we spoke to said that it was a wonderful spot.

[meyermm]

Marina Taina in Papeete past the Int. airport is great and you can anchor off between the fringing reef and marina, use marina facilities, snorkel at anchor etc. Best super market in Papeete is just a walk up the road, use the shopping trolley, they pick them up from the marina, cheaper than down town. Muscat Cove, Plantation Island, Fiji is not to be missed. They have a Marina and anchoring buoys which you can rent for $15Fiji per day which allows full resort useage. They cater for cruisers and have a very well stocked store and Cruisers bar and evening BQ. DO NOT MISS this stop. Very nice marina in New Caledonia, Noumea, right beside city markets, very clean and has a Brasserie also next door easy walk to supermarkets etc. You can anchor just outside marina wall if you do not want the expense. Do not go near Tonga Vavu without a good supply of meat if your a meat eater. All you can buy is NZ reject which they appear to dump on the poor Tongan's. Swiss chef at restaurant does great smoked fish and chicken vacuum packed which we can thoroughly recommend. French Polynesia and New Caledonia are very expensive that you cannot avoid. Happy cruising!

[NoTies]

Yep, Fiji is the best bet for down the line resupply & work. Denarau has onsite services for just about anything you could want, Vuda is a nicer marina but doesn't have the range of services that Denarau does. (They're only about 1 hour sailing away from each other). Forget Suva and most of the other marinas are great for drinking and socialising but short on everything else.

[meyermm]

Agree about Suva

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by undying dream

so i could resupply instead of stocking up in Panama, before resuming the joy of sailing.

Ummmm you want to stock up in Panama.

Cos their ain't nuthin so cheap or good in the whole wide world as a supermarket in Panama!

There is a marina in Colon at the Yacht Club and taxi there to the supermarket s $2 <---- that wont break the bank! Nicolle was buying dresses for $1.49 each and is still wearing some... I bought cotton shirts and cotton shorts for $2 each... and still wear the shirts.

In Panama city there is the Balboa Yacht Club -- its all moorings but 2 free water taxis operate 24x7.

The supermarkets there are huge... let me rephrase that HUGE!

I seriously suggest you stock up for your next 2 or 3 years as you will never ever ever find anything anywhere near as cheap till afte the Pacific and after Australia and New Zealand.

The next time we are in the carr\ibbean we will make the 1,000 mile journey to Colon just to go shopping. Its that worth it!

Now, did I tell you about the Chillean wine? Sensational stuff and the cost of a great 2 litre cask... $2.



Mark