Transfer Phuket to PNG

[Going-east]

Hello everybody,
I have to deliver a boat to Port Moresby (PNG) for end of February 2012, any suggestion?
It's a motorsailer, good autonomy with engine, quite bad against waves.........
Do you have any experience on this route? Could you exchange some info?
Thanks and all the best
Andrea

[Laidback]

Hello, Andrea,

10 months to go North Easter still blowing, Not a big deal , what boat ? what average speed?? what best speed for consumption ??

From Phuket >> Langkawi
From Lang Kawi >> Penang
From Penang >> LeMut
From Lemut >> Port Dix
From Port IX >> Singapore

Now wind on the nose
From Singapore -- work your way up to Kota Kinabalu
Then around the corner south between Borneo and Suluwesi
Once South of SuluWesi - turn left and head for Moresby via hundreds of islands where one con refuel and take on provisions.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the C, Andrea.

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by Laidback

Hello, Andrea,

10 months to go North Easter still blowing, Not a big deal , what boat ? what average speed?? what best speed for consumption ??

From Phuket >> Langkawi
From Lang Kawi >> Penang
From Penang >> LeMut
From Lemut >> Port Dix
From Port IX >> Singapore

Now wind on the nose
From Singapore -- work your way up to Kota Kinabalu
Then around the corner south between Borneo and Suluwesi
Once South of SuluWesi - turn left and head for Moresby via hundreds of islands where one con refuel and take on provisions.

Hi laidBack, thanks for your quick answer.
Iet me give some more details:
- I am planning to leave middle of January,
- cruising speed 6.5
- 3.000 miles autonomy,
- 3 to 4 crew

It was my intention to sail from Singapore to Darwin without going around Borneo. What is the reason way you suggested that route ?
Is a transfer that I gave to do, less stops the better.......
Hope you will share some of your knowledge.
Regards
Andrea

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the C, Andrea.

Thanks Gordon. I followed this Forum already for few months, I got loads of good info from it. But now i need to make the questions for my issue.
All the best and Well done.
Andrea

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Going-east

Hi laidBack, thanks for your quick answer.
Iet me give some more details:
- I am planning to leave middle of January,
- cruising speed 6.5
- 3.000 miles autonomy,
- 3 to 4 crew

It was my intention to sail from Singapore to Darwin without going around Borneo. What is the reason way you suggested that route ?
Is a transfer that I gave to do, less stops the better.......
Hope you will share some of your knowledge.
Regards
Andrea

Andrea,
The reason I suggested that, is because you said " I have to deliver a boat to Port Moresby (PNG)" NO mention of Darwin in Australia.
If you are going to deliver the boat to Darwin, Then the direct route would be better, Ie.. when you leave Singapore head straight for the Lombok strait
(Selat Lombok) or once you are south of Western Borneo take on the head winds of the Java Sea into the Banda Sea and once you have passed Flores turn south passing Timor and cross the Arafura Sea to Darwin.

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by Laidback

Andrea,
The reason I suggested that, is because you said " I have to deliver a boat to Port Moresby (PNG)" NO mention of Darwin in Australia.
If you are going to deliver the boat to Darwin, Then the direct route would be better, Ie.. when you leave Singapore head straight for the Lombok strait
(Selat Lombok) or once you are south of Western Borneo take on the head winds of the Java Sea into the Banda Sea and once you have passed Flores turn south passing Timor and cross the Arafura Sea to Darwin.

Hi LaidBack
Thanks for your answer.
I was taking Darwin as my last stop for provisioning and eventually reparations before the boat arrive in PNG that I suppose is not really a good place to do so. (?)
What do you think about winds and currents? Have you been on the Torres strait?
Best regards and thanks
Andrea

[Laidback]

Andrea,
Could I ask again the questions put in my first reply _
what boat ?
what average speed??
what best speed for consumption ??

Here is the route I would choose = Having done a similar passage in a Mariner 52 - a real motor sailor.
I have split the passage into two parts
Part one :- Phuket >> Singapore (wind on the beam)
Singapore >> Kuching (motoring) Kuching to Kudat via Miri, Labuan,Brunei, Kota Kinabalu. Good supplies the whole way cheaper fuel - good marinas.
Kudat has good boat yard repairs etc.

Part two Kudat to Moresby - for much of the way light winds on the beam.
---------------
Going to Moresby via Darwin would mean at least half your passage would have wind and sea against you.
To answer your question - yes I have been through the Torres Strait
-----------------------
Here are the 2 passages :-

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by Laidback

Andrea,
Could I ask again the questions put in my first reply _
what boat ?
what average speed??
what best speed for consumption ??

Here is the route I would choose = Having done a similar passage in a Mariner 52 - a real motor sailor.
I have split the passage into two parts
Part one :- Phuket >> Singapore (wind on the beam)
Singapore >> Kuching (motoring) Kuching to Kudat via Miri, Labuan,Brunei, Kota Kinabalu. Good supplies the whole way cheaper fuel - good marinas.
Kudat has good boat yard repairs etc.

Part two Kudat to Moresby - for much of the way light winds on the beam.
---------------
Going to Moresby via Darwin would mean at least half your passage would have wind and sea against you.
To answer your question - yes I have been through the Torres Strait
-----------------------
Here are the 2 passages :-

Hi,
Sorry I have misunderstood your initial route , it sounded like going between Borneo and Sulawesi.
I like this solution you have sent.
In which period did you sailed the strait?
Do you have any suggestion regarding the timing to do it?
Thanks again
Andrea

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by Going-east

Hi,
Sorry I have misunderstood your initial route , it sounded like going between Borneo and Sulawesi.
I like this solution you have sent.
In which period did you sailed the strait?
Do you have any suggestion regarding the timing to do it?
Thanks again
Andrea

Forgot to add:
The boat is a 52 tons aluminum ketch build in Holland.
Cruising speed for low consumption: 6,5
Range of 3000 miles
Regards
Amdrea

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Going-east

Hi,
Sorry I have misunderstood your initial route , it sounded like going between Borneo and Sulawesi.
I like this solution you have sent.
In which period did you sailed the strait?
Do you have any suggestion regarding the timing to do it?
Thanks again
Andrea

Changing the goal posts does not help in finding a passage that will suit every sailing condition.
Again, how about telling us what make, model, designer and builder of your 'Motor Sailor' ???? Knowing the boats specs, enables the ability to provide appropriate answers.
What charts do you have?
Also, what ocean sailing experience do you have?
What Strait are you referring to, above ? If it is the Torres Straits then unless there is a Cyclone - the transit through the strait is of little consequence.

[Going-east]

Originally Posted by Laidback

Changing the goal posts does not help in finding a passage that will suit every sailing condition.
Again, how about telling us what make, model, designer and builder of your 'Motor Sailor' ???? Knowing the boats specs, enables the ability to provide appropriate answers.

1985 - Albaran 19 built in Zaandam from Porsius shipyard - is a one off,
can drift a lot when sailing upwind.
Mount a 220 HP. Max speed 9.5 kn.
Fix 3 blades propeller 60 cm diam
Very wide:5.5 mt
but when the condition are right She can cover long distances (San Barth to Azorres in13 days with no engine)



What charts do you have?

Paper charts plus original Cmap on Simrad system

Also, what ocean sailing experience do you have?

2 Atlantic
2 Indian ocean
Red sea
Med
Persian gulf
All Thailand-Burma-Indonesia-Borneo-Filippines- india-
But never went fitter than Darwin or Png.

What Strait are you referring to, above ?

Torres


If it is the Torres Straits then unless there is a Cyclone - the transit through the strait is of little consequence.

Heard so much different stories about going west to east in the strait that I am looking for more serious sailor to tell me their experiences.

Could you describe your weather and sea conditions in the strait? Safe stops on the way.......
Regards
Andrea

[Laidback]

Andrea,
The Tides which vary between 0 and 0.6M >> 2.75M Highs, determine the East to West And the West to East currents which run between 1/2 and 4.5 knots
One is advised to get the latest annotated charts for the Torres :-
British Admiralty :- Aus 376 Torres
Aus 377 Bligh Entry
And if necessary Aus 294 Endeavour
All digital info to be plotted on to the paper charts. Do not rely on CMap alone.
Here is an extract from a friend's write up having completed 3 circumavigations - all of which took in the Torres.
I see from your boat's specs that she draws only 7'6" which is not much for a boat that size. If you are nervous about making passage through the strait - you might consider being led through by your boats tender. I have done that in making my way through the reefs on the North coast of Bohol Island in the Southern Philipines.

[Going-east]

Thanks Laidback,
I will look for the charts you mentioned.
I am still thinking in taking the route south of Borneo and along the small Indonesian islands, keeping Darwin as possible pit stop but if we are not stopping there we will keep close to the Indonesian coast of PNG.
Thanks for all your help
Andrea

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Going-east

Thanks Laidback,
I will look for the charts you mentioned.
I am still thinking in taking the route south of Borneo and along the small Indonesian islands, keeping Darwin as possible pit stop but if we are not stopping there we will keep close to the Indonesian coast of PNG.
Thanks for all your help
Andrea

The Route south of Borneo has little in the way of any facilities and most of the year the trades will be in your face.