Hurricane Holes in South Pacific

[NorthPacific]

Due to late departure, New zealand would be a rush and an ordeal to reach in 4 months from BC. Has anyone any information on Hurricane holes in the South Pacific?

[david samuelson]

Not good seamanship to be passage-making south of 10 degrees south at this time of year.

[NorthPacific]

Sorry should have explained, Not planing to leave until July 2013. No worries I would not make it far from the North Coast even now?? Let along hit the Cyclone belt!

My Mrs is from Phuket. You that side or i the Gulf?

[donradcliffe]

Vuda point, Fiji--store your boat in a hole in the ground or in a marina which was designed to be cyclone-resistant.

[daddle]

Come to Palau. Or Pohnpei. Or any of the other equatorial paradise spots. No need to do the dreary dash south to the Lands of 'No'.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by daddle

Come to Palau. Or Pohnpei. Or any of the other equatorial paradise spots. No need to do the dreary dash south to the Lands of 'No'.

Good suggestion. Other side of equator. NZ is a bloody long way south.

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. Unfortunate that you can't afford the time to make it to New Zealand. Actually, cyclones occasionally make it down here like Wilma did in January of 2011 and the infamous Bola back in the 90's. Most of the time it's paradise. Hopefully, something will change and you can adjust your schedule. All the best. Sail safe. Cheers.

[SimonV]

Heading for NZ for the season is the normal way to go as repairs and stocking are great, but you will get hammered on the way there and on the way back, unless you are very lucky. Most of the local boats in Vanuatu cross the equator and hang out on the northern pacific islands. facilities are a bit short.

[NorthPacific]

Originally Posted by matauwhi

G'day, mate. Unfortunate that you can't afford the time to make it to New Zealand. Actually, cyclones occasionally make it down here like Wilma did in January of 2011 and the infamous Bola back in the 90's. Most of the time it's paradise. Hopefully, something will change and you can adjust your schedule. All the best. Sail safe. Cheers.

Second full season I will be NZ. No rush, eventually will end up in Thailand. Well maybe?

[NorthPacific]

So my boat was built in France. I have an EU passport, can my boat and I stay in the Marquesas Islands for 10 months? My wife being Thai would have to leave for a while then come back? It would save a big time rush and also give time to gradually move west.

Anyone know for sure. Seems the regs change frequently.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by david samuelson

Not good seamanship to be passage-making south of 10 degrees south at this time of year.

yes and no--- seasonal weather exists in all locales and those familiar with the weather patterns are able to know when to and not to sail despite location.

[delmarrey]

I plan to make the trip too, from the Puget Sound. But not all in one season.
I'll leave here mid June to July & head for SF. Then lay over until Oct. and head for HI.

Lay over in HI until Jan. and head for the Marshall's or Guam. Pick up supplies and some R&R and then off to P.I. and get there after the Oct-May tropical season ends.

As for going to NZ, SF to the Tahiti/Fiji/Cook area is best done between Nov. & May. Then from there to NZ Mid-Oct to Mid-Nov is best. One just needs to follow the weather patterns and not be in a hurry to make a decent trip of it.

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by SimonV

.... facilities are a bit short.

From the South Pacific, we went North of the equator instead of seeing AU or NZ.

While there are few haul-outs in Micronesia / Palau, one can ship almost anything from the US via US Postal service. We shipped all new standing rigging, turnbuckles, mechanical fittings, toggles, wire to Palau, for a very reasonable price. The USPS post offices in Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, will hold your packages ("General Delivery"), very similar to American Samoa. If you only need parts, not a competent boatyard, Micronesia is as easy as being in the US and wait for your USPS shipment, usually less than 2 weeks, often less than a week. And, you are a bit off the beaten path, a good thing, I think.

There is a marine railway in Yap, and then there are some haul-outs and yards in the Philippines, if your are coming this way.

Dirk

[ice]

Originally Posted by NorthPacific

Due to late departure, New zealand would be a rush and an ordeal to reach in 4 months from BC. Has anyone any information on Hurricane holes in the South Pacific?

You can haul the boat and leave it in Raiatea (Polynesia), where they rarely get cyclones or in Vuda point, Fiji where they do get regular cyclones.

There are really no hurricane holes in the Marquesas but they are pretty hurricane safe - not sure what the formalities would be.

There are some possible 'hurricane holes' in Vavau Tonga, but you would be taking some risk.

As mentioned, you could stay or go just north of the equator to various island groups

[Mexdon]

Matauwhi, what is the name of the bay in the photo you posted?