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25-03-2016, 15:20
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
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Pacific first timers?
We have cruised the Caribbean for six months with our two children. We are now looking into spending five weeks in the pacific on a bareboat charter. Not keen on very touristy islands and don't want to sail massive distances. A little challenging is fine, such a the odd overnight sail. Where would you suggest to get a real pacific experience?
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25-03-2016, 16:49
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#2
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Boat: Van Helleman Schooner 65ft StarGazer
Posts: 10,280
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Welcome to CF.
If you are looking to give the kids a cultural experience, consider bare boating out of Phuket with approval to cruise to Langkawi (Malaysia) and return if you choose.
It is always a balance between logistics and tourism when chartering
http://www.sunsail.com/yacht-charter...al-information
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25-03-2016, 16:57
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NSW Australia
Boat: Traditional 30
Posts: 1,980
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Whitsunday Islands, Queensland Australia.
There are plenty of Yacht charter companies with a variety of boats in stock. Theres about 70 islands in the Whitsunday Group with excellent snorkelling in many bays as well as lots of quiet places to spend on the hook
__________________
Cheers
Oz
...............
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25-03-2016, 17:07
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,156
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Re: Pacific first timers?
A somewhat less populous Pacific island destination is New Caledonia. There are both mono and cat charters available, lots of good sailing within the protected waters of the reefs, and a few somewhat touristy spots... and a great many NON touristy spots!
In Noumea you have all the delights of a small French city, but within a very few hours of sailing northwards you can be in an isolated anchorage, all by yourself if that is what you crave. Over the years NC has become our favorite tropical cruising grounds.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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25-03-2016, 17:39
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#5
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Boat: Van Helleman Schooner 65ft StarGazer
Posts: 10,280
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Great suggestion Jim
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26-03-2016, 03:44
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#6
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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: 49,143
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Leopardstar.
__________________
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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26-03-2016, 06:13
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,983
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Re: Pacific first timers?
You might want to give Tonga a look
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26-03-2016, 06:46
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Singapore
Boat: Seawind 1160 Lite
Posts: 257
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
A somewhat less populous Pacific island destination is New Caledonia. There are both mono and cat charters available, lots of good sailing within the protected waters of the reefs, and a few somewhat touristy spots... and a great many NON touristy spots!
In Noumea you have all the delights of a small French city, but within a very few hours of sailing northwards you can be in an isolated anchorage, all by yourself if that is what you crave. Over the years NC has become our favorite tropical cruising grounds.
Jim
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Probable the best place in the South Pacific , was a Favourite for many years
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26-03-2016, 14:40
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,438
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leopardstar2002
We have cruised the Caribbean for six months with our two children. We are now looking into spending five weeks in the pacific on a bareboat charter. Not keen on very touristy islands and don't want to sail massive distances. A little challenging is fine, such a the odd overnight sail. Where would you suggest to get a real pacific experience?
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Do some reading first, see if you are attracted to any particular island groups. Also a good idea to consider what your re-provisioning stops would be, as the further from home you go the less like it the shopping is.
There is a lot more to see and do in New Caledonia than in the Whitsunday Islands, and between the two there are a number of other differences: NC soon gives you a greater feeling of isolation, but there's more great fresh produce in Airlie Beach. A circumnavigation of the whole of Grand Terre will keep you hopping to finish it in five weeks, if you want to stop and look at things. That said, there are loops you can do, lots of water sports involvements possible. There are lots of drift dives on the East Coast, which has a barrier reef. In the Whitsundays, you are confined to limited anchorages, not allowed to go out to the Australian barrier reef, so that the water is not as clear, due to runoff both from the continent and from the islands. Should you choose New Caledonia, in Noumea, there is a World War II Museum that was quite an eye opener to me, and the aquarium is, too. Many will speak to you in English--especially when you try out your school French.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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26-03-2016, 14:52
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cruising the world
Boat: Peterson Islander 40
Posts: 56
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Re: Pacific first timers?
G'day
French Polynesia is very expensive. They have little or no income tax. It's all sales tax. That's alright for the residents. but not so good for visitors. You can pay up to US$10 or more for a glass of beer. You need deep pockets to enjoy yourself.
Fiji is a good place to cruise, as long as you don't go there in the cyclone season!
James
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She howls like a Banshee
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26-03-2016, 16:30
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,156
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Banshe
G'day
French Polynesia is very expensive. They have little or no income tax. It's all sales tax. That's alright for the residents. but not so good for visitors. You can pay up to US$10 or more for a glass of beer. You need deep pockets to enjoy yourself.
Fiji is a good place to cruise, as long as you don't go there in the cyclone season!
James
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James, the OP is looking at a 5 week charter, not a cruising destination. Unless things have greatly changed, there are few charter opportunities in Fiji (which was a great place for long term cruising for us).
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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27-03-2016, 00:32
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Thank you for suggestions so far.
We had heard that the people in New Caledonia were not particularly friendly and it is similar to being in France rather then a pacific island?
We have been considering Tonga or Fiji so any info on those areas would be great.
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27-03-2016, 00:58
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Discovery Bay, CA
Posts: 1,183
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leopardstar2002
Thank you for suggestions so far.
We had heard that the people in New Caledonia were not particularly friendly and it is similar to being in France rather then a pacific island?
We have been considering Tonga or Fiji so any info on those areas would be great.
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A colleague of mine recently chartered in Tonga. He said the whale swim was one of the best things he's ever done.
__________________
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore"- Andre' Gide
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27-03-2016, 18:02
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Out of the Office
Posts: 909
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Although Tonga is beautiful I think 5 weeks in the very limited area you can go with a charter would be too long.
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28-03-2016, 05:01
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fiji Airways/ Lake Ontario
Boat: Legend 37.5, 1968 Alcort Sunfish, Avon 310
Posts: 2,749
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Re: Pacific first timers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DtM
Although Tonga is beautiful I think 5 weeks in the very limited area you can go with a charter would be too long.
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Great observation.
So far excellent suggestions. Whitsundays are beautiful, safe. New Cal and FP are French, are expensive. If you want the true "Pacific Island" experience, then Tonga is the place- but as stated, 5 weeks may be too long...3 at most, I'd say.
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