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Old 18-10-2019, 17:16   #1
Heg
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Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Hey there
We are currently in Fiji and planning to set off to the Marshall Islands next week weather permitting.
We will make stops at Tuvalu and Kiribati on the way , planning to arrive in Majuro in early January.
Has anyone here done this trip?
Anyone got any tips on anchorages or ‘must see and do ‘ in the area?
Great dive spots?
Places to avoid?
Thanks so much
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Old 18-10-2019, 17:55   #2
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

We’ve been there twice, ‘15-‘16, ‘18-‘19 seasons.
Took same route as you. Hit Apaiang, Kiribati just twenty miles north of Beto on the way up. You’ll need a permit, easy to get.
Provision with what you need in Majuro for groceries. Has U.S. post office to receive anything you need from states.
We have visited Majuro, Maloelap, Ailuk, Likiep, Wotje, Rongrik, Bikini, Aur.
All recommended. Check Soggypaws for anchor coordinates.
Passes are easy, arrive with good light overhead, Google Earth sat images a must.

Cheers
Currently on the hard at Vuda
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Old 18-10-2019, 20:53   #3
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Awesome info- thank you. Are you still at Vuda? Heading up there tomorrow to catch up with friends....



Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom45 View Post
We’ve been there twice, ‘15-‘16, ‘18-‘19 seasons.
Took same route as you. Hit Apaiang, Kiribati just twenty miles north of Beto on the way up. You’ll need a permit, easy to get.
Provision with what you need in Majuro for groceries. Has U.S. post office to receive anything you need from states.
We have visited Majuro, Maloelap, Ailuk, Likiep, Wotje, Rongrik, Bikini, Aur.
All recommended. Check Soggypaws for anchor coordinates.
Passes are easy, arrive with good light overhead, Google Earth sat images a must.

Cheers
Currently on the hard at Vuda
Sv Free Spirit
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Old 18-10-2019, 21:09   #4
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Still in Vuda, will be here all week....

Chuck
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Old 19-10-2019, 12:08   #5
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

did that trip, bring plenty vegetables, plenty fuel,get rid of fijian currency,bring some aussie dollars and the rest american. U.S. post in majuro not as good as it used to be stuff can take a while even if you pay "overnite" rates. anchored in saweni, stop over and chat after you get fleeced in vuda.

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Old 19-10-2019, 12:42   #6
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doug cusick View Post
did that trip, bring plenty vegetables, plenty fuel,get rid of fijian currency,bring some aussie dollars and the rest american. U.S. post in majuro not as good as it used to be stuff can take a while even if you pay "overnite" rates. anchored in saweni, stop over and chat after you get fleeced in vuda.

doug on renegade
Hi Doug
Thanks for the reply. Might well see you before we set off. What month did you leave Fiji for Tuvalu?
Cheers
Jo
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Old 19-10-2019, 12:55   #7
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

I was there in 13-14 spend some time cultivating the Gov office and get a permit to study the sailing canoes impressive and mostly in the least populated atolls but you need (or used to ) specific permits for specific atolls The diving best where less people
Take plastic squid lures blues and reds SS fish hooks and most of all "Spam" and Children's Clothes for the remote atolls. Good Will / Salvation Army ref Hawaii will sell you a compressed bale of laundered and repaired kids clothes -- A Mountain of them in a 12 X 12 X 48 inch bale . Be prepared to fix Motors You will be a hero Take a can of Spam with you when first going ashore and you never hungary again. They are good people Mike Pope ex Summer Vatican. No believe local seamen their canoes only draw 16"
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Old 20-10-2019, 09:37   #8
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

I suggest you read the book "sex lives of cannibals" funny, i informative, and relevant.
Have a great sail! And please tell us all about it when you get there.
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Old 20-10-2019, 10:17   #9
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Did that trip early 90's. Wallis, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshalls. On the way up we stopped at every atoll with a pass north of the capital(Funafuti, Betio). We approached the minister of tourism in Tuvalu and Kiribati to obtain a letter of permission which we showed the atoll policeman. On the way down the next season we stopped in every atoll south of the capital that had passes again receiving permission from the Minister of tourism. They remembered us from the previous year. Some of the atolls had not seen a cruising boat in 20 years. It was the highlight of the 6 year SP cruise as the people were so friendly and welcoming.

Expect light winds until north of Butaritari when you get into the trades again. Luckily Jacaranda loves light air.

Enjoy

Chuck
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Old 20-10-2019, 13:33   #10
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

lsft fiji in early oct. stopped funifuti and tarawa en route got there early dec. water is also an issue make sure you have a big watermaker. if you runout in funifuti there is a cistern under the church by the police station but you gotta ask about it. water in majuro sucks.
the ice plant on the pier in tarawa as R.O. water and let us fill our jugs. get ready for plenty of squally sailing.

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Old 20-10-2019, 13:59   #11
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doug cusick View Post
lsft fiji in early oct. stopped funifuti and tarawa en route got there early dec. water is also an issue make sure you have a big watermaker. if you runout in funifuti there is a cistern under the church by the police station but you gotta ask about it. water in majuro sucks.
the ice plant on the pier in tarawa as R.O. water and let us fill our jugs. get ready for plenty of squally sailing.

doug on renegade
Yep ,we've got a watermaker. Just perusing the weather now to see when we can get away.....
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Old 20-10-2019, 16:40   #12
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Great fishing in the Funafuti lagoon. Also off Arno (out of Maj) but very reefy.

Very little supplies in Funafuti. Probably less on Betio. But there is on Betio a Chinese restaurant.

Maj has stores and fuel, $1 lunches as some gas stations. Reamers makes some nice food.
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Old 21-10-2019, 10:51   #13
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Enjoy ! I wish were were heading back up that way again. We have done the trip twice: once in 2016 and recently in 2018.


We did quite a few blog posts so I will not clog the thread with every post but


- 2016 starts here: https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2016/11/enroute-tuvalu-under-super-moon.html.

- 2018 starts here:https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2018...1-glad-to.html


A lot of the posts are done over the Iridium Go so no photos until we get to a spot with internet and then we try to catch up on the photos.


Using satellite imagery is very recommend in a lot of these areas as the charting is way off or cartoonish once you are outside the major ports. The charts for the main routes into Majuro, Betio and Funafuti are good though. I did a primer on one way (and not the only way) here: https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2016/11/using-satellite-imagery-to-assist.html



We loved the Marshall Islands and have spent almost 10 months there over two visits. My youngest has spent more time there than in his home country of Canada.



In 2016 we stopped for a month in Tuvalu and then for a month in Kiribati. Our stop in Butaritari was the highlight of the visit to Kiribati. Tarawa is an interesting stop for the history but otherwise not our favourite place to spend time. In 2018 we were late leaving Fiji and just wanted to get back to the Marshall Islands so we only stopped briefly in Funafuti to celebrate Christmas onboard and then straight to Majuro.



The outer atolls in the Marshall Islands are amazing if you like beautiful atolls, no crowds and friendly villages. If you are looking to share busy anchorages like Vavua or Musket Cove though you will be disappointed. We spent most of our time as the only boat not just in the anchorage but in the entire atoll. Majuro is a useful logistics stop - great to receive shipping from the US and decent grocery and hardware stores - but otherwise just average. The weather gets better as you go north of Majuro as Majuro sits just on or near the northern edge of the ITCZ. Ailuk (https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2019...s-beaches.html) and Rongerik (https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2019...-rongerik.html) were our favourite atolls.



Happy to answer specific questions otherwise I could ramble on for hours procrastinating changing my exhaust elbow ...
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Old 29-10-2019, 17:59   #14
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Hey Max
Thanks for the detailed post. Hope you and the family are well. Think we last saw you in Vavau (Jo and Rob ,Double Trouble)
We just arrived in Tuvalu yesterday , so will read your blog posts.
Now get back to that exhaust elbow
Safe sailing



Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluenta View Post
Enjoy ! I wish were were heading back up that way again. We have done the trip twice: once in 2016 and recently in 2018.


We did quite a few blog posts so I will not clog the thread with every post but


- 2016 starts here: https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2016/11/enroute-tuvalu-under-super-moon.html.

- 2018 starts here:https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2018...1-glad-to.html


A lot of the posts are done over the Iridium Go so no photos until we get to a spot with internet and then we try to catch up on the photos.


Using satellite imagery is very recommend in a lot of these areas as the charting is way off or cartoonish once you are outside the major ports. The charts for the main routes into Majuro, Betio and Funafuti are good though. I did a primer on one way (and not the only way) here: https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2016/11/using-satellite-imagery-to-assist.html



We loved the Marshall Islands and have spent almost 10 months there over two visits. My youngest has spent more time there than in his home country of Canada.



In 2016 we stopped for a month in Tuvalu and then for a month in Kiribati. Our stop in Butaritari was the highlight of the visit to Kiribati. Tarawa is an interesting stop for the history but otherwise not our favourite place to spend time. In 2018 we were late leaving Fiji and just wanted to get back to the Marshall Islands so we only stopped briefly in Funafuti to celebrate Christmas onboard and then straight to Majuro.



The outer atolls in the Marshall Islands are amazing if you like beautiful atolls, no crowds and friendly villages. If you are looking to share busy anchorages like Vavua or Musket Cove though you will be disappointed. We spent most of our time as the only boat not just in the anchorage but in the entire atoll. Majuro is a useful logistics stop - great to receive shipping from the US and decent grocery and hardware stores - but otherwise just average. The weather gets better as you go north of Majuro as Majuro sits just on or near the northern edge of the ITCZ. Ailuk (https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2019...s-beaches.html) and Rongerik (https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/2019...-rongerik.html) were our favourite atolls.



Happy to answer specific questions otherwise I could ramble on for hours procrastinating changing my exhaust elbow ...
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Old 29-10-2019, 18:37   #15
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Re: Fiji to the Marshall Islands - tips and tricks?

Ah ! I did not connect that the original post was you guys ! A long distance since we first crossed paths on Mercury Island, NZ. We were just discussing the rat eradication successes on Mercury with a park ranger here in Haida Gwaii as they are trying to do the same thing but without the same degree of public support (or funding)



Enjoy Micronesia ! We really enjoyed the Marshall Islands as I think we enthused when we met you.


Also in Kiribati we enjoyed our visit to Butaritari. Here are the links to our posts there: SV FLUENTA: Butaritari in Pictures - Thatch, WWII Relics and Kids., SV FLUENTA: Christmas in Butartari - Dancing and Singing, and SV FLUENTA: Butaritari in Photos - Adventures with Ari and Family


If you do go to Butaritari please say hi to Ari for us. We tried to email him when we were last sailing north to the Marshalls. We did not hear from him and we were short of time so we just passed by Kiribati.



Feel free to send us emails or whichever if you would like for info.


Cheers,


Max
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