Crew Wanted: Crew needed, Tong-Fiji-beyond: 11.75 m. catamaran

[fronsdal]

Help needed to sail a Catamaran (11.75 m)
from Tonga to Fiji, possibly as far as Australia.



I am presently in the US. First available flight for me
to Tonga seems to be 1 July 2021.


I hope to go to Tonga on July 1 and do what has to be done to the boat.
If there is severe damage the trip will have to be delayed. I am doing all I can to determine potential problems in advance.


Tonga and Fiji are about the only Covid-free countries in the world.




The boat is in very good shape and is kept in pristine condition.
It has two double births. I will be in one of them the other is a very large bed suitable for 2 as an extra, smaller berth.


The cockpit has a very comfortable bimini and the engine is in the middle of the cockpit for very good accessibility.


I need at least one person who can claim to be an experienced sailor, for insurance. Two would be best, 3 is marginally possible.

[osprey877]

Originally Posted by fronsdal

Help needed to sail a Catamaran (11.75 ft)
from Tonga to Fiji, possibly as far as Australia. .

11.75 ft???

[fronsdal]

The length of the boat is 11.75 meters.


I do not know how to edit my post

[JPA Cate]

Hello, fronsdal,

I have edited your first post to show the length of the catamaran in meters.

Ann
Moderator

[Montanan]

Be knowledgeable about the Covid 19 detailed yachting protocols and restrictions and biosecurity fees and extended isolated quarantine requirements for the vessel and for each passenger.

Presently Tonga's borders remain closed and will not likely be opening to non-Tongans any time soon; they still have upwards of 5,000 Tongans awaiting repatriation and those will need to be processed before entry by foreigners will be considered. Projection is that Tonga become opened in late 2021 or early 2022.

Not all yachts are allowed entry to Fiji.

The pandemic response situation remains fluid and uncertain, meaning that you may be denied entry, even though you might have been issued approval before your departure to Fiji, in which case you may need to return to your place of departure or find alternate country of entry, if any are thence available.

And Australia is closed to entry by yachts.

Reference for Tonga:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/tonga...curity-section

COVID-19: Country is CLOSED

Yachting Protocols:

https://www.gov.to/category/travel-advisories/

09 February, 2021

The State of Emergency continues to be extended.
Borders remain closed to international yachts and any visitors that are not Tongan nationals returning.
It is advisable to keep out of Tongan waters, and if entry is needed in the case of an emergency be sure to make contact with Government authorities prior to entry. The Navy do patrol local waters (see Minerva Reef information below).
For returning Tongans quarantine has been extended to 3 weeks in a hotel.
Tonga has approx. 5000 Tongan citizens offshore and intends to bring those back and get everyone vaccinated before allowing non-citizens into the country.
Multiple attempts to get yachts allowed into the country have failed.
Tax revenue and money from overseas workers have dropped significantly and businesses are closing.
The latest travel advisory for Tonga dates from March 23rd (No. 6).
Of interest point 9: “9. All international cruise ships and yachts scheduled to arrive after the 19th of March 2020 shall be denied entry into Tonga until further notice.”
Update from Greg Just of Cafe Tropicana, Vava’u.

Minerva Reef

Minerva is claimed by the Kingdom of Tonga.
The borders for the Kingdom are closed.
In the event of an emergency, request access to Minerva well in advance.
Requests should be sent to Tongan Maritime Control Centre for review and permission granting, which is not automatically granted.
Send requests to:
Mr Paula ATIOLA
OPSO3​
Navy Intel & Ops
HM Navy Base Masefield
Mob: +676 7706681
Work office: +676 24696 or 24697
paula.atiola12@outlook.com
If you are transiting through to Fiji under Blue Lanes, be aware it is continuous sailing with AIS on all the time. Stopping anywhere en-route may re-set your quarantine time and permission to enter Fiji.
Only vessels in an emergency will be allowed into Nuku’alofa. Any vessels with an emergency on board must contact Coastal Radio at 2182 or 6215 khz or VHF Channel 16. Coastal Radio will contact the MCC and then the Navy will support the emergency. The mooring field lat/long after you have permission from MCC is 21.06.7 S 175.10.6w.
Tonga is COVID-19 free, please respect that the border is closed, do not attempt to come ashore.


Further Info:
*Travel in Tonga: A State of Emergency was declared on 20 March 2020 by the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. This has been renewed until at least 8pm on 7 June 2021. Tongan borders are closed for entry to all foreign nationals, except if authorisation has been granted by the relevant Tongan government authority. The Kingdom of Tonga has extended the National COVID-19 Restrictions Directions until 8pm on 7 June 2021. These include a night time curfew from midnight to 5am. Gatherings are restricted to 50 people at indoor venues and 100 people at outdoor venues, except for religious services and education institutions. Tongan authorities are encouraging social distancing and good hand hygiene. The Declaration of a Public Health Emergency (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 and the Declaration of an Emergency Notifiable Condition has been extended to at least 7 June 2021.
*Public places and services: Public places are open including places of worship, shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You must abide by the nationwide curfew and remain in your home or accommodation between midnight and 5am.


Reference for entry to Fiji:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/fiji/...curity-section

Reference for Australia:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/australia/

COVID-19: CLOSED (with exceptions)

Yachting Protocols:

May 2021

The Maritime border in Australia remains closed.

However, following the commencement of quarantine-free travel between Australia and NZ from 19 April for air passengers, Queensland Health are now considering Hotel Quarantine Exemptions on a case-by-case basis for crew of vessels who have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more prior to travel and wish to voyage direct from New Zealand to Australia and enter Australia in Queensland.
To apply for a Queensland Quarantine Exemption go to: https://healthserviceportal.health.qld.gov.au/hdsp and see the Down Under Rally Website for guidance and recommendations.

02 April, 2021

Persons who reside on a vessel that seeks safe port at the closest appointed port for reprovisioning or safety reasons for a limited duration, can apply for a “Safe Haven Travel Exemption” to enter Australia.
The application process takes approx. 4-6 weeks to complete and may not be successful. Read how to apply in this report.
The Down Under Rally has a Free Guide to Travel Exemption on their website.
If you have applied for and been granted a travel exemption, note the following:
Sea time is still not being taken into account in regard to the mandatory 14 day quarantine period.

All persons arriving in Australia by sea are still required to spend 14 days in Hotel Quarantine in a government approved facility at their own expense, however, applications for Queensland Quarantine Exemptions should still be submitted and will be considered on a case by case basis.

To streamline the quarantine process for all overseas arrivals, the Queensland Government have developed the Queensland International Arrivals Registration form. This registration replaces the previous required Queensland Border Exemption Application. The Queensland International Arrivals Registration form applies to all overseas arrivals, including international small craft and private vessel arrivals (including yachts, superyachts and commercial vessels).

At least 3 days before you enter Queensland, you should complete the Queensland International Arrivals Registration form

The Port of Bundaberg does not have a government approved Hotel Quarantine Facility and as of Monday 22nd February 2021, the Port of Gladstone no longer has an approved Hotel Quarantine Facility. As such, vessels wishing to arrive in South East Queensland are being directed to apply to arrive in one of the two remaining ports of entry.

[nolakennedys]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Be knowledgeable about the Covid 19 detailed yachting protocols and restrictions and biosecurity fees and extended isolated quarantine requirements for the vessel and for each passenger.

Presently Tonga's borders remain closed and will not likely be opening to non-Tongans any time soon; they still have upwards of 5,000 Tongans awaiting repatriation and those will need to be processed before entry by foreigners will be considered. Projection is that Tonga become opened in late 2021 or early 2022.

Not all yachts are allowed entry to Fiji.

The pandemic response situation remains fluid and uncertain, meaning that you may be denied entry, even though you might have been issued approval before your departure to Fiji, in which case you may need to return to your place of departure or find alternate country of entry, if any are thence available.

And Australia is closed to entry by yachts.

Reference for Tonga:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/tonga...curity-section

COVID-19: Country is CLOSED

Yachting Protocols:

https://www.gov.to/category/travel-advisories/

09 February, 2021

The State of Emergency continues to be extended.
Borders remain closed to international yachts and any visitors that are not Tongan nationals returning.
It is advisable to keep out of Tongan waters, and if entry is needed in the case of an emergency be sure to make contact with Government authorities prior to entry. The Navy do patrol local waters (see Minerva Reef information below).
For returning Tongans quarantine has been extended to 3 weeks in a hotel.
Tonga has approx. 5000 Tongan citizens offshore and intends to bring those back and get everyone vaccinated before allowing non-citizens into the country.
Multiple attempts to get yachts allowed into the country have failed.
Tax revenue and money from overseas workers have dropped significantly and businesses are closing.
The latest travel advisory for Tonga dates from March 23rd (No. 6).
Of interest point 9: “9. All international cruise ships and yachts scheduled to arrive after the 19th of March 2020 shall be denied entry into Tonga until further notice.”
Update from Greg Just of Cafe Tropicana, Vava’u.

Minerva Reef

Minerva is claimed by the Kingdom of Tonga.
The borders for the Kingdom are closed.
In the event of an emergency, request access to Minerva well in advance.
Requests should be sent to Tongan Maritime Control Centre for review and permission granting, which is not automatically granted.
Send requests to:
Mr Paula ATIOLA
OPSO3​
Navy Intel & Ops
HM Navy Base Masefield
Mob: +676 7706681
Work office: +676 24696 or 24697
paula.atiola12@outlook.com
If you are transiting through to Fiji under Blue Lanes, be aware it is continuous sailing with AIS on all the time. Stopping anywhere en-route may re-set your quarantine time and permission to enter Fiji.
Only vessels in an emergency will be allowed into Nuku’alofa. Any vessels with an emergency on board must contact Coastal Radio at 2182 or 6215 khz or VHF Channel 16. Coastal Radio will contact the MCC and then the Navy will support the emergency. The mooring field lat/long after you have permission from MCC is 21.06.7 S 175.10.6w.
Tonga is COVID-19 free, please respect that the border is closed, do not attempt to come ashore.


Further Info:
*Travel in Tonga: A State of Emergency was declared on 20 March 2020 by the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. This has been renewed until at least 8pm on 7 June 2021. Tongan borders are closed for entry to all foreign nationals, except if authorisation has been granted by the relevant Tongan government authority. The Kingdom of Tonga has extended the National COVID-19 Restrictions Directions until 8pm on 7 June 2021. These include a night time curfew from midnight to 5am. Gatherings are restricted to 50 people at indoor venues and 100 people at outdoor venues, except for religious services and education institutions. Tongan authorities are encouraging social distancing and good hand hygiene. The Declaration of a Public Health Emergency (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 and the Declaration of an Emergency Notifiable Condition has been extended to at least 7 June 2021.
*Public places and services: Public places are open including places of worship, shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You must abide by the nationwide curfew and remain in your home or accommodation between midnight and 5am.


Reference for entry to Fiji:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/fiji/...curity-section

Reference for Australia:

https://www.noonsite.com/place/australia/

COVID-19: CLOSED (with exceptions)

Yachting Protocols:

May 2021

The Maritime border in Australia remains closed.

However, following the commencement of quarantine-free travel between Australia and NZ from 19 April for air passengers, Queensland Health are now considering Hotel Quarantine Exemptions on a case-by-case basis for crew of vessels who have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more prior to travel and wish to voyage direct from New Zealand to Australia and enter Australia in Queensland.
To apply for a Queensland Quarantine Exemption go to: https://healthserviceportal.health.qld.gov.au/hdsp and see the Down Under Rally Website for guidance and recommendations.

02 April, 2021

Persons who reside on a vessel that seeks safe port at the closest appointed port for reprovisioning or safety reasons for a limited duration, can apply for a “Safe Haven Travel Exemption” to enter Australia.
The application process takes approx. 4-6 weeks to complete and may not be successful. Read how to apply in this report.
The Down Under Rally has a Free Guide to Travel Exemption on their website.
If you have applied for and been granted a travel exemption, note the following:
Sea time is still not being taken into account in regard to the mandatory 14 day quarantine period.

All persons arriving in Australia by sea are still required to spend 14 days in Hotel Quarantine in a government approved facility at their own expense, however, applications for Queensland Quarantine Exemptions should still be submitted and will be considered on a case by case basis.

To streamline the quarantine process for all overseas arrivals, the Queensland Government have developed the Queensland International Arrivals Registration form. This registration replaces the previous required Queensland Border Exemption Application. The Queensland International Arrivals Registration form applies to all overseas arrivals, including international small craft and private vessel arrivals (including yachts, superyachts and commercial vessels).

At least 3 days before you enter Queensland, you should complete the Queensland International Arrivals Registration form

The Port of Bundaberg does not have a government approved Hotel Quarantine Facility and as of Monday 22nd February 2021, the Port of Gladstone no longer has an approved Hotel Quarantine Facility. As such, vessels wishing to arrive in South East Queensland are being directed to apply to arrive in one of the two remaining ports of entry.

This is great and accurate information. We are waiting for Tonga to open back up as well so we can visit.