Where to Cruise From Oz??????

[SimonV]

No 2 but you have it backwards. We are planing this for next season but Vanuatu first then home after the Louissades.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

Savoir gave you the best advice by far!!

Yeah, starting out by turning right at North Head has whiskers on it. Even so, every December there they go.

[zeehag]

you are in a cruising candy store---i would have to blindfold meself to do the coin toss so i didnt cheat.....

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Teeto

An easier variation on 2. Depart Coffs, go New Caladonia, Vanuatu, Solomon's, Louisiades, keep going? Or come back.

Right on! If you go in this direction you should have fair winds most of the way. Guess what happens if you go the other way around...?

The only issue here is where to be in the SP cyclone season. Various pals of ours have stayed in New Cal, and have enjoyed the best sailing of the year. There are infrequent visits from TCs, but there are both fairly safe marinas and several useful cyclone holes, somewhat limited by deep draft. Others have put their boats into "keel holes" in Fiji, but this doesn't appeal to me at all. Or, one can venture into the North Pacific for that part of the year.

We have very much enjoyed our many trips to NC, Vanuatu and the Sollies. Lots of choices, very different environments, and good cruising.

Cheers,

Jim

[stillbuilding]

Well, my non-sailor wife says Indonesia on the way to HK cos many more stopovers with more interesting people and cultures.

I would not sail back against the winds though - Japan and variety of routes from there. If NA wst coast does not appeal then Japanese Islands, Marianas and down to Oz provides good options for a sailor.

[chall]

Originally Posted by SimonV

No 2 but you have it backwards. We are planing this for next season but Vanuatu first then home after the Louissades.

Thanks Simon and Teeto for this suggestion. Ummmm I am quite embarrassed to admit, that for some inescapable reason, that had never occurred to me and it would seem to make a heck of a lot of sense

The idea of getting up to South Korea does appeal as well, that sounds like a truly magic cruise, but I don't think it would be realistic this time. We have also thought of just cruising to SE Asia and leaving the boat there for a while/shipping back/shipping on to the Med, but to be honest, the cost of shipping would be a least the equivalent of 6 months of our cruising budget.....and our timeframe is essentially only a financial imposed one.

Part of me also worries that if we did get the boat as far as Singapore we would be way too easily convinced to take the downwind but somewhat longer route home
It took every little bit of willpower we both had to turn the boat back towards Sydney last year. Even when we crossed the border I could of sworn the autopilot kept pointing us back towards the Percys.

[DtM]

Teeto,

Where are you based?

Coffs rather than Sydney to get a better angle to Noumea?

daniel

[Boracay]

Originally Posted by savoir

Sail to North Head, turn left, come back to North Head 2 years later, turn right.

Eeeezzeee

Figure the rest out as you go.

Would that not be turn left at South Head on returning?

[savoir]

Only if you take a shortcut via Tasmania. Some call it the scenic route.

[Teeto]

Originally Posted by DtM

Teeto,

Where are you based?

Coffs rather than Sydney to get a better angle to Noumea?

daniel

Currently based on East coast. Coffs gives you a good enough wind angle, is an exit port and not so far as a hop from Sydney (weather window). I'm sure some depart straight from Sydney however to escape the southern current. We have found if you head north from Sydney after a few good southerly days, the current is much further offshore and you can have a good run to Coffs in March/ April which I assume is when you would depart. Talk to some deliverers, they know when to go. Also using a weather router can be a good trick. Have a great trip!

[SimonV]

Chall, we and at least one other boat plan on doing this trip 2013 leaving anytime from April-may from Brisbane, We are planning to do this in one cruising season, but are keeping options open for the Marshall islands if we decide to wait out the cyclone season. One extra boat is always nice to have around.

[Jim Cate]

FWIW,

We have done the passage to NC and/or Vanuatu departing from Sydney, Coffs, Southport and Brisbane. Of those routes we prefer Southport, waiting for a mild low in the Tasman to give a period of Westerly quadrant winds at the beginning of the voyage. Being a bit further north keeps one out of the worst of any frontal activity, the distance is shorter by a bit, and it is warmer (usually).

Cheers,

Jim