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09-07-2020, 10:20
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Boat: Catalina Morgan 45
Posts: 596
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More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
It seems 3 arrogant self-righteous 'cruisers' decided to sail to the Soloman Islands and enter the country illegally are now in jail and have been denied bail.
GOOD!
Contrary to what Whitaker on S/V Zatara published in his blog, or vlog or whatever...the gov't of Tonga denied him entry.
Here is the latest from Tonga News
I don't like the lockdowns, but I respect the laws of a nation and the wishes of the islanders. Thus, I wait patiently in Hawaii until things reopen, or I figure out plan B.
In a previous post someone suggested we have a freedom to travel. Perhaps we do. But that does not give us the freedom to enter another country illegally.
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09-07-2020, 11:03
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 870
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by Discovery 15797
Contrary to what Whitaker on S/V Zatara published in his blog, or vlog or whatever...the gov't of Tonga denied him entry.
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Contrary to what the article states, they are no longer in Minerva Reef and appear to be headed to Fiji.
That said, last I spoke with my friend who lives there, they said their borders were still closed.
I'm all for adventure but breaking the law does not fall into that category. From what I've heard, they are not fans being told what they can or cannot do.
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09-07-2020, 11:33
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Boat: Catalina Morgan 45
Posts: 596
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by NaClyDog
Contrary to what the article states, they are no longer in Minerva Reef and appear to be headed to Fiji.
That said, last I spoke with my friend who lives there, they said their borders were still closed.
I'm all for adventure but breaking the law does not fall into that category. From what I've heard, they are not fans being told what they can or cannot do.
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Yes, I didn't check their tracking page (really not interested). The article was from 2 days prior, and last I saw on the matter the navy "allowed" them to anchor at the reef as long as the navy ship was on station.
According to Noonsite and OCC bulletins Fiji is starting to open with tight restrictions, one of which is being approved prior to landing. Entry is not guaranteed. And, news of misdeeds of a cruising yacht travels fast over the coconut telegraph.
If they can stay at sea for 6 months as he supposedly boasted...perhaps they can sail back to Texas.
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09-07-2020, 12:07
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 870
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by Discovery 15797
Yes, I didn't check their tracking page (really not interested). The article was from 2 days prior, and last I saw on the matter the navy "allowed" them to anchor at the reef as long as the navy ship was on station.
According to Noonsite and OCC bulletins Fiji is starting to open with tight restrictions, one of which is being approved prior to landing. Entry is not guaranteed. And, news of misdeeds of a cruising yacht travels fast over the coconut telegraph.
If they can stay at sea for 6 months as he supposedly boasted...perhaps they can sail back to Texas.
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Just reached out to my friend in Fiji and there was talk of allowing pleasure craft to enter if they had completed 15 days of quarantine. On the heels of this though, Fiji just reported 3 new cases from persons repatriated from India and this will likely delay the opening further.
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09-07-2020, 15:20
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#5
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by Discovery 15797
It seems 3 arrogant self-righteous 'cruisers' decided to sail to the Soloman Islands and enter the country illegally are now in jail and have been denied bail.
GOOD!
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https://www.solomontimes.com/news/th...n-islands/9993
Not sure what the outcome of the court appearance on 6 July was.
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09-07-2020, 15:22
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Although they are "small island nations", these guys' customs and immigration services have been linked by computer communication since at least 1990, when we learned about it. Call it "enhanced" coconut telegraph.
Quote:
The Whitaker family have been trying to circumnavigate their world, but are now held at Minerva Reef, watched by a Tongan patrol boat.
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--from the newspaper article linked in the first post
So now we know the Whitakers think it is okay to post lies on their blog. I, for one, will not ever look at it. For those of you who think boycotting might be too harsh, it is that each of us who leaves his/her country of origin to go cruising is of necessity a sort of friendship ambassador to the countries we visit. If they lie to people who look at their blog, they'll lie to anyone. Such people do not leave a "clean wake" for the cruisers who follow. One can never trust liars, except that they will continue to lie. Unfortunately, such behavior tarnishes all cruisers to the countries they visit, creates ill will towards us.
I feel really bad they're teaching their kids this. It is totally contrary to what most of the international cruising community stands for.
Good on the Solomon Is. for enforcing their laws.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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09-07-2020, 15:44
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Pago Pago
Boat: Lancer 36
Posts: 265
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
I looked at the Zatara web page and their FB page this morning and saw nothing regarding their current location, or anything remotely current since they were in Australia. How does one determine what is in someone's blog without ever looking at it. My browser will not connect to the referenced article above, but the Tongan news article from the other thread had some potential errors that were reported by one of their contributors, and the cancel culture dogpile and anti US rhetoric began. The article on the Solomon Island situation is somewhat fuzzy on details as well, so it is difficult to determine what actually happened without further information. Maybe they couldn't reach anyone before entering territorial waters, went in with a Q flag, no one showed up for days, and they went onshore to find out why? I don't know....but I am sad that so many rush to condemnation in todays world, and certain voices are allowed to roundly condemn ad nauseum certain citizens of certain countries. My how the world turns.
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09-07-2020, 17:11
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Australia
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 4,578
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Fiji is now open to cruisers but there is a protocol that must be followed. They are being very reasonable imho, I hope cruisers respect the conditions of entry.
I was just on tbe phone with one of the official agents and hes been surprised at the resistance hes been getting regarding the rule following by some cruisers...at times I get embarrassed by the tight arse whinging segment of our community that make it difficult at times for the rest of us.
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09-07-2020, 22:17
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Boat: Island Packet 40
Posts: 6,415
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
It would help if these so called "authorities" showed a little consistency themselves. A few weeks ago thousands of their ideological soulmates ignored their requirements in order to participate in a protest march without any response from these same "authorities" (a place where they had been issuing $1,300 fines to people walking their dogs contrary to the rules)
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09-07-2020, 22:26
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Back in Montt.
Boat: Westerly Sealord
Posts: 8,178
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondR
It would help if these so called "authorities" showed a little consistency themselves. A few weeks ago thousands of their ideological soulmates ignored their requirements in order to participate in a protest march without any response from these same "authorities" (a place where they had been issuing $1,300 fines to people walking their dogs contrary to the rules)
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What? Where did this happen?? In the Solomons??? or Fiji????
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09-07-2020, 22:39
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Boat: Catalina Morgan 45
Posts: 596
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by OloteleMtn
I looked at the Zatara web page and their FB page this morning and saw nothing regarding their current location, or anything remotely current since they were in Australia. How does one determine what is in someone's blog without ever looking at it. My browser will not connect to the referenced article above, but the Tongan news article from the other thread had some potential errors that were reported by one of their contributors, and the cancel culture dogpile and anti US rhetoric began. The article on the Solomon Island situation is somewhat fuzzy on details as well, so it is difficult to determine what actually happened without further information. Maybe they couldn't reach anyone before entering territorial waters, went in with a Q flag, no one showed up for days, and they went onshore to find out why? I don't know....but I am sad that so many rush to condemnation in todays world, and certain voices are allowed to roundly condemn ad nauseum certain citizens of certain countries. My how the world turns.
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Here is Zatara's track on PredictWind
If you could access the Tongan news site, or the government's statement you would see there is some inconsistency with Zatara's accounts.
Even on his predict wind page he posted the following statement on July 2.
Quote:
Who knows where we will end up or where we will go. I am as guilty as anyone for doing it, but I love not being part of a herd. Not following what others do. Carving my own path. That’s what truly motivates me. It was tough keeping our spirits high before we left. It would have been very easy to fall into fear based thinking.
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I don't know him personally so I can't speak to his character. I condemn his arrogant narcissistic behavior. I do not care about his nationality or that he is a Youtube busker. And, this has nothing to do with "fear based thinking," or herd mentality, or concern about spreading the virus. It has everything to do with respect for island nations in the Pacific and their laws and peoples.
I do agree with Ann...he is a youtube busker looking to carve his own path for self-promotion and trying to keep his coffer filled...I think it's that simple.
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09-07-2020, 23:22
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
It’s odd, if I posted the same thing and replaced 3 cruisers with 3 illegals who got busted and zip tied crossing the US Mexico border....
Their country their rules. Meh
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10-07-2020, 00:09
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Boat: Island Packet 40
Posts: 6,415
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Pinguino
What? Where did this happen?? In the Solomons??? or Fiji????
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Non specific comment on the habits of "authorities".
Check and see whether or not their so called elites are in lock down or still jet setting on their tax payer funded international junkets?
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10-07-2020, 00:44
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Back in Montt.
Boat: Westerly Sealord
Posts: 8,178
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondR
Non specific comment on the habits of "authorities".
Check and see whether or not their so called elites are in lock down or still jet setting on their tax payer funded international junkets?
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Go on FlightRadar24 and start watching the 'executive jets' going to and fro......
As some one in the superyacht business once said to me...' the rich breath different air to the rest of us... they do not even know we exist..'.
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10-07-2020, 04:41
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Back in Montt.
Boat: Westerly Sealord
Posts: 8,178
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Re: More "cruisers" violate borders and more on S/V Zatara
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernMac
It’s odd, if I posted the same thing and replaced 3 cruisers with 3 illegals who got busted and zip tied crossing the US Mexico border....
Their country their rules. Meh
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Yes .. but... whatabout...
Your relevance is...?
Dunno if you are a troll, a fool, or just very young... but please try to keep up with the herd and stay on topic...
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