sailing to Fiji from the Philipines

[Cacafuego]

Hey All,
My family and I are planing to sail our 45' mono hull from the Philippines to Fiji in the next few months.
Has anyone made that trip? Might they share their experiences with wind a current?
Thanks

[undercutter]

Like us, you are going the wrong way. The equatorial current sets westward and the winds are predominately east/ southeast. You might not be to bad coming out of the North. Did you look in Jimmy Cornell's world cruising routes?

[Hieuhuule]

I'm surprised anyone would want to sail to the Philippines right now with the current Political climate and security concerns

[Cacafuego]

Hieuhuule- if you read the post I said "from", meaning I am leaving.
Undercutter-Are you in the Philippines as well? yeah, i have read Cornell's book about it. He says that Jan. is the best time to sail east out of the Philippines, but I see that the wind is out of the north all the way to Samoa right now in November

[Hieuhuule]

Sorry bout that, my brain read them reversed!

[Cacafuego]

Hieuhuule- no worries. Just trying to stay on track

[JPA Cate]

Welcome aboard S*fire,

I am sure it can be done, but if you really mean the next few months, be aware cyclone season in the southern hemisphere begins next month, through about April. This will not be a problem till you're well south of the equator.

Ann

[Cacafuego]

Ann T- Our current plan would be to stay north of the equator until we are either north or east of Fiji and then tack south. Possibly tacking back and forth in between Png and the islands north and the Solomons.
When I say few, it is a loose term, dictated by weather

[navy davy]

Pilot charts will give you ocean current flow and wind direction for every month of the year .

[Cacafuego]

Navy davey - thanks, i have looked at the pilot charts. what I am looking for is someone who has done the trip.
if I know one thing, its that experience beats a book every time

[ken rickards]

HI Cacafuago There are 2 of us going over probably early March from Phillipines via Raja Ampat.That is we will leave raja Ampat in early March.I have a 45 ft Adam Radford and my mate has a 47 ft Hunter.I get back to Port Carmen on the 7 December from Australia and will get the boat ready for the trip.Alan is on the way to Subic bay to pull out.We had a mate pull out as he is out of the water in Kudat and due to the Abu sayif trouble won't be joining us now.We intend to island hop along the top of New Guinea.Maybe we can keep in touch or something Ken Rickards

[daletournier]

Friends of mine took the following route, were able to sail a majority of the way and utilized the current.

http://www.keelscape.com/vessel/key/...BlZlc3NlbBgBDA

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[JPA Cate]

Dale,

That's an interesting route. It would give Cacafuego the option of entering Australia further east and south, winds & weather permitting, too.

Ann

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Dale,

That's an interesting route. It would give Cacafuego the option of entering Australia further east and south, winds & weather permitting, too.

Ann

Hi Ann, Hugh had a good sail that way.
Working across the top of the papua close the coast can be hard work. The local weather patterns often make it alot harder than the pilot charts suggest (from what I've been told).
Also I think it really depends on the year , some years are easier than other's.

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[daletournier]

I also remembered reading about James Wharrams trip , which was I think the same time of year you intend to go.
http://www.wharram.com/site/wharram-world/lapita-voyage

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