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ty.gregory · 23-12-2011, 21:17

Ex-Cailf

Southwest Pacific...help me... How far south and west? I live in Santa Barbara, but I don't think that's what you mean.

I'd love to hear more!

savoir · 23-12-2011, 21:46

Probably New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomons

**Ex-Calif** · 23-12-2011, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ty.gregory

Ex-Cailf

Southwest Pacific...help me... How far south and west? I live in Santa Barbara, but I don't think that's what you mean.

I'd love to hear more!

Savior got it. Carolinas, marianas, vanuatu, truk. A bit of a pacific war "observer" - dad served in the pacific in WWII - and would love to dive some of the WWII wreck sites. Truk is supposed to be the best.

No real deisre to get too far south but darwin and queensland are on the list. The ultimate southerly trip would be to sydney. I grew up for a while in pittwater and would love to cruise there and see my old bay - little lovett bay circa 1971...

savoir · 23-12-2011, 22:50

Truk is North of the equator - West of the Marshalls. Very good diving. While you're there go to Pohnpei and check out the ancient city. That area and Marshalls too has a pile of WWII wreckage.

ty.gregory · 24-12-2011, 00:19

Interesting stuff. All sound great, thank you!

Nibiruwayne · 14-01-2012, 12:49

I would get to the bay of islands, n newzealand huge cruising, hundreds of anchorages, clear water, nussells by the handful to scoop up. Company and people when you want it. Can get to auckland easily. I've sailed east coast, Caribbean, uk, med, and nz gets 1st prize with me. Good luck

gkrasnov · 05-02-2012, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by spawnywhippet

I'd agree with an earlier poster who suggested SE Asia. Warm all year round, no real tides or currents. Lots of beautiful islands and Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are still relatively cheap.

)

Big +1 on this. Love the food, the people, the weather, tons of awesome anchorages. My plan is to hang out there for good in a couple years. Got the bug. Planning on building a boat out in asia just for this purpose too. Great value for money due to labor cost.

Our style is anchorage hopping too. So, we have ruled out south pacific for now, the long passages one has to make between the islands are not for us until our son gets a bit older, then we'll see. But i figure that between thailand, malaysia, vietnam, indonesia, phillipines, that should keep us well busy for a few years..

Blue Crab · 05-02-2012, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

What the others said about the Caribe.and Bahamas. western side as well... otoh...
I have spent a lot of yrs sailing SW Florida and the Keys. and love every minute of it.. no matter where I go, I still come back here.. lots of anchorages...
warm weather yr round.. love it..
'bella

Ditto and far fewer hassles for kit and kaboddle and kold adult beverages. Need a doc or a dock? No problem. Easy to be alone or otherwise. No water worries. Snook.

Downsides: mosquitos and possibly pythons expanding their range south into the Keys. Personally, I like pythons but I can't eat a whole one.

**Hudson Force** · 05-02-2012, 14:29

There are many good answers here. Our habit has been to cruise from New England, usually Maine, in the summers and down to the Bahamas or Florida Keys in the winters. We take the 747 to more distant places for other trips.

matauwhi · 05-02-2012, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nibiruwayne

I would get to the bay of islands, n newzealand huge cruising, hundreds of anchorages, clear water, nussells by the handful to scoop up. Company and people when you want it. Can get to auckland easily. I've sailed east coast, Caribbean, uk, med, and nz gets 1st prize with me. Good luck

Ditto. In addition, huge selection of free anchorages (don't even have to be a resident or citizen to purchase a mooring), reasonable cost of living, minimal boat reguations, good communication linkages as a liveaboard. Been living sustainably here for over a decade now. Take a very close look, mate. Cheers.

**Hudson Force** · 05-02-2012, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by matauwhi

............... huge selection of free anchorages.........................

'beautiful place in this photo. I've always heard the best about New Zealand, but what about this "free anchoring"? I always anchor without a fee. Are there actually places where people pay for anchoring?

matauwhi · 05-02-2012, 15:29

G'day CaptForce. In Fiji, if you anchor in a bay near you village, you are expected to take the chief some kava (sorry, I don't have the most recent prices) to anchor. I probably should have said "prohibitive free" selection of anchoring options. Hope that helps, Cheers.

krafthaus · 05-02-2012, 17:49

ty.gregory, since you live in Santa Barbara, I'd suggest you cruise down to the Sea of Cortez. Enormous variety of anchorages in that area and La Paz would make a fine home base. Want some variety? Cruise across to Mazatlan or spend some time around Puerto Vallarta.

You'd be good for a long time! Good Luck.