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Old 30-03-2018, 18:37   #1
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PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

I'm planning to clear into PNG at Samarai and day hop to Bougainville. I haven't been able to find much information about anchorages along the way. I think there is an anchorage in Sewa Bay on Normanby Island and a couple on Kiriwina Island but I haven't been able to find any details. Does anyone have any additional information they can share?
Thank you, Jim (leaving in May from Cairns)
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Old 30-03-2018, 19:42   #2
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

"day hopping" to Bougainville may be a bit of a problem. It's about 270 nautical miles from the outer Milne bay islands to Buka across the very deep Trobriands Trough.

Sewa Bay is a fascinating spot and well worth a visit. You have to get close to the entrance before you see it and the last time I was there, plotter charts had us sailing on land a couple of hundred meters East of the channel we were in. Once you are inside, there is excellent sheltered anchorage between Ellens Isle and the point.


It's a comfortable day's sail from there to Esa-Ala and there are plenty of places to anchor around Esa'ala and Dobu island. (but the area is very poorly charted)

I haven't been to Kiriwina, but I believe that about 3 miles west of Losuia is good ( the channel into Losuia itself is very shallow)
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Old 30-03-2018, 21:03   #3
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Thank you StuM; I think this can work. I was worried about traveling at night through poorly charted reefs and shoals but across deep water I'm okay with that.
I punched the coordinates from Navionics into Google Earth and for example, the entrance into Sewa Bay looks spot on.
Cheers, Jim
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Old 30-03-2018, 23:25   #4
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Yep a morning departure from Kiriwina should see approaching Buka in good time a couple of days later with deep water all the way. Jut watch out for tides. It really rips through the Buka Passage.

(Same when you are around Samarai - you don't want to try China Strait when the current is against you.)
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Old 31-03-2018, 17:12   #5
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Hi Jimthom.
Here is a list of the better spots to anchor. There are no marina type facilities for the cruising yachties. Some corrupt ( Sorry gaming the system) officials in Alotau and anything in reach of a canoe is fair game at some villages. Newspaper, fish hooks, sugar,rice, flour and cooking oil will be handy for trade. Samarai may refer you to Alotau for Quarantine clearance. Have classified them with safety, comfort and accessability in mind 1 to 5 bad to good.

3 Kwato mission channel.
3 Samarai
2 Possession Bay ( beware of the pearl farm )
5 Kana Kopi ( the best anchorage in PNG ) Much WW2 debris.
4 Alotau ( anchor off the war memorial )
4 Wagga Wagga
1 East Cape (off the nthn side if you have to )
5 Sewa Bay
2 Obsevation Island ( feel your way right in )
5 Bedoya. Geothermal activity
3 Esa-ala.
3 Sebatuia bay
3 Basima ( open to the SE winds )
4 Wadelai
3 Wawiwa - Yabwai channel. (About the only good anchorage in the Amphlet group )
2 Boli Point ( Kiriwina Island )
5 Losuia. Narrow channel with 2 m water at high tide sandy bottom )
4 Kuyawa Island
3 Munuwata Island
5 Labi Island. ( The epitome of south sea islands )
4 Kaduaga
5 Bomatu
3 Kitava Island
3 Egum attol
3 Alcester Island
5 Guasopa ( Eastern end of Woodlark ) WW2 air strips with scrapped aircraft in the bush.
5 Budi Budi.
If you would like more detail feel free to ask. Phone, SMS, email?
Cheers
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Old 20-04-2018, 17:56   #6
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Thank you fellow sailors! Invaluable information that will help my first trip out of Australian waters safer.
Cheers, Jim
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Old 23-04-2018, 23:20   #7
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Quote:
Originally Posted by jimthom View Post
I'm planning to clear into PNG at Samarai and day hop to Bougainville. I haven't been able to find much information about anchorages along the way. I think there is an anchorage in Sewa Bay on Normanby Island and a couple on Kiriwina Island but I haven't been able to find any details. Does anyone have any additional information they can share?
Thank you, Jim (leaving in May from Cairns)
Check my post on the weather off the NW coast. Nothing scary yet, thankfully.

Take care,

G2L
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Old 24-04-2018, 02:29   #8
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frugal View Post
Hi Jimthom.
Here is a list of the better spots to anchor......
Great Post Frugal. [emoji106]
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Old 16-06-2018, 15:14   #9
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Re: PNG; Samarai to Bougainville

Anyone visited Mios Woendi?
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