Timing for cruising across the top to the Kimberley, then up to Indonesia

[fxykty]

Next year, assuming that Indonesia opens up, we would like to make our way back north along the Queensland coast in April. Then across the Gulf by June, past Darwin and into the Kimberley. Is that reasonable?

What should our timing be to leave Broome and head for the eastern half of Indonesia? October? Could it be as late as December?

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by fxykty

What should our timing be to leave Broome and head for the eastern half of Indonesia? October? Could it be as late as December?

No. But it depends on what you're calling 'eastern half of Indonesia'. Nusa Tenggara, the Malukus, the Tanimbars?

And some of that depends on what Port of Entry will be open. Saumlaki on Yamdena in the Tanimbar islands is a great port of entry. Or do you just mean the sun god, Bali?

[1] your timing for a run to Nusa Tenggara almost has to be June to September. That's when SE winds dominate S of the ITCZ. And those SE winds turn to SW as they cross the Equator and become the reason the season is called the SW Monsoon N of the Equator.

[2] I can only remind you of the Irishman's reply when asked how to go from here to place x: 'I wouldn't start from here.'

In the June-Sept period, Broome is in a wind shadow. SE winds cannot get across the continent. Darwin is the usual departure point. That's the reason most of the 'to place X in Indonesia' rallies started from Darwin in June-Sept.

See for yourself - I've attached a couple of old wx-charts. The exact winds change from year to year, but the pattern is the same.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

No. But it depends on what you're calling 'eastern half of Indonesia'. Nusa Tenggara, the Malukus, the Tanimbars?



And some of that depends on what Port of Entry will be open. Saumlaki on Yamdena in the Tanimbar islands is a great port of entry. Or do you just mean the sun god, Bali?



[1] your timing for a run to Nusa Tenggara almost has to be June to September. That's when SE winds dominate S of the ITCZ. And those SE winds turn to SW as they cross the Equator and become the reason the season is called the SW Monsoon N of the Equator.



[2] I can only remind you of the Irishman's reply when asked how to go from here to place x: 'I wouldn't start from here.'



In the June-Sept period, Broome is in a wind shadow. SE winds cannot get across the continent. Darwin is the usual departure point. That's the reason most of the 'to place X in Indonesia' rallies started from Darwin in June-Sept.



See for yourself - I've attached a couple of old wx-charts. The exact winds change from year to year, but the pattern is the same.

We mean Banda Arc and West Papua.

So is it possible to spend a while in the Kimberley then clear out of Broome (or back to Darwin?) in a single season? Once north of Timor we shouldn’t have to worry about cyclone season, right? Would that mean that we could leave Australia rather late in the season, say October?

Or do we plan two separate seasons, one to visit the Kimberley and the second to leave via Thursday Island or Darwin for Indonesia earlier in the year as you’ve described?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

... [2] I can only remind you of the Irishman's reply when asked how to go from here to place x: 'I wouldn't start from here.'...

Thanks for your informed 'specific' guidance, and also the excellent 'general' advice.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Once north of Timor we shouldn’t have to worry about cyclone season, right?

That's a common assumption. Look at Saumlaki on Yamdena and use your favourite internet search engine to search for something like "cyclone in Saumlaki". Every now and then, perhaps every 30 years, a cyclone forms and whacks somewhere on Yamdena, including Saumlaki, about the time the ITCZ passes over it on its way S.

Originally Posted by fxykty

Would that mean that we could leave Australia rather late in the season, say October?

Depends on the year. And how much you like burning fuel. Between about July and September, the SE winds are fairly reliable most years.

October-November are transition months. Some years just calms and squalls. Other years a surprising amount of wind (including sometimes as far S as Broome).

Take a sticky at windy.com right now. You'll likely see wind to which you could sail from Broome. Does that happen every year? I wouldn't bet on it (but I've not tried it either).

Other than putting my faith in stable SE winds July to September, I am more inclined to go early in the season (June) than late (October).

Predicting the monsoons has become easier in recent years. The inter-monsoons can be chaotic, peppered with nasty squalls. The (as seen from the N hemisphere) NE monsoon and SW monsoon generally give you stable, predictable wind. A weak monsoon, or a weak phase of an otherwise strong monsoon, can see you facing open Gates of Hell in terms of squalls and thunderstorms.

Originally Posted by fxykty

Or do we plan two separate seasons, one to visit the Kimberley and the second to leave via Thursday Island or Darwin for Indonesia earlier in the year as you’ve described?

If TI were your Port of Exit from Aus, you have even more destinations to choose to leeward of you.

Darwin is okay and has one massive advantage over TI - Darwin has a Consulate of Indonesia. You will need to purchase visas, no? Other than the Consulate in Darwin, you might find you need to apply in Canberra.

Decisions made by Indonesia about at what Ports of Entry it will welcome foreign cruisers would be key.

For now, we only know that foreigners from 18 economies can fly into Bali starting (I think) Thursday 14 Oct. Who knows what happens between now and whenever?

For most cruisers making a first voyage into Indonesia, the Maritime Continent, joining one of the organised/sponsored rallies is a great introduction. The rallies get the paperwork done for you, brief you, and you get to participate in official welcomes. You get to meet local government officials and take photos with them so you can namedrop when necessary. You get to meet government officers, who with the military officers run the place. You get to Indonesian navy and make friends with them - if you want the best paper charts of Indonesian waters, you buy them via an Indonesian navy officer (there is a shopfront in a suburb of Jakarta which I've used, but that's two decades ago).

Remember that Indonesia sees itself as very likely to be the world's 7th biggest economy by about 2030. Note that the next presidential election is scheduled for 2024.

[phuelin]

Marina Del Ray on Lombok is already open and accepting vessels

[billgewater]

Alan Mighty is so correct. Also, Darwin is by far the best city in Aus. during the dry season. Continuous free entertainment e.g. the great open markets, food from every corner of the world, the beer can regatta, the public involved massive fireworks night, the Glenti etc.. .. The multicultural groups compete for the best events! Great weather.

A dynamic successful multicultural society with outstanding and affordable boating facilities. Chandleries everywhere and sail lofts a'plenty. Careening, lift outs, excellent free mooring areas, 3 commercial lock-gated marinas all within 5/10 mins of the CBD etc. Dinah Beach yacht club is a place of legends. Certainly not your average snooty club.

Plus, at least in pre Covid days, you got to meet all the international cruisers as well. The world went to Darwin and they were all reasonably rational reps. of their home countries. (You need to be smarter than the average bear to successfully sail across the pacific).

Evening dinning at Stokes Hill wharf is just magic. Your view across the massive harbour may be interrupted by dolphins, a trawler, a destroyer, an aircraft carrier or a fleet of racing yachts.

The fish around the harbour are all lazy as the locals and tourists feed them at Stokes Hill and at Doctor's Gulley.

The famous Barramundi are readily available.

Every couple of years the military put on displays with fighter jets buzzing the place. A kids paradise.

For a vibrant international night life, Mitchell Street has it all, plus some unexpected events.

In the past, many would arrive early to allow time to visit the Kimberly's, then return to Darwin for clearance into Indonesia or elsewhere.

Over the last ten years, the Kimberly has been invaded by large cruise ships with attendant noisy helicopters to lift the wealthy up to the waterfall tops etc. Funded by retirees. Does possibly diminish the experience for some.

Another pattern re the Kimberly trip is to visit them, then return to Darwin. The owners would then leave their boats in one of the cat. 5 rated marinas over the wet season, fly home and then return the next year at the beginning of the next dry season.

A visit to Darwin would be incomplete without a visit to Kakadu and the many other places of interest, stunning scenery and history. It's a tourist mecca during the dry season. Just be careful where you swim. Crocs.

A visit to the unique Museum is a must. It puts Australian history into lucid perspective.

Departing Aus. from Broome is not necessarily a good idea. Facilities are minimal compared to Darwin, plus when you pass Cape Leveque to reach Broome, the SW's will blow your eye brows off .... and you will inevitably return to Darwin.

If considering Bali, don't sail there. It is not set up for visiting yachts. The main marina is miles from anywhere and facilities are essentially non existent. It is vastly cheaper to fly in from Darwin and utilise all the fly-in tourist facilities the place is known for.

As Alan points out Darwin has all the facilities for getting entry to Indonesia and beyond.