Extreme situations aside, there are safer times to cross the Pacific! 
The other disadvantage is that it is a long way from landfall, any assistance, and involves long passages at sea, perhaps upwards of 40 or 50 days. Date of member's last visit to Trans-Pacific Passage - West to East and this page's details validated: /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BSydney.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BAustralia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BBrisbane.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BAustralia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BAuckland.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BNew_Zealand.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BNew_Caledonia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BVanuatu.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BFiji.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCook_Islands.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BFrench_Polynesia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCape_Horn.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BPanama.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCalifornia.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BUnited_States.5D.5D, List links external to the wiki such as in, Coral Sea Passage Cairns to New Guinea/Louisiades, https://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East. In addition you could stop at any of these points along one of the 3 routes that you have chosen: List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. In addition, you need to be competent to undertake any repairs along the way, and then confident enough to be able to undertake them in a rolling sea. A look at what went into Scenic Group's planning and execution of the sailings that include a visit to the Floriade flower show Summer reading assignment: Autobiographies by Chris Blackwell and J. Robert Harris reveal as much about the world as any travel Like the rest of Europe, Portugal is baking right now. 
Is it heresy to suggest that another option is to ship the vessel back home? Thus, the usual advice is to fall off the southeast trades and make some westing in anticipation of that southwest-to-northwest change. You can set off from Mexico or Ecuador, for example. 100 Lighting Way Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000. Once sailors finish the Pacific crossing, having a spear gun or some fishing poles opens up a world of island adventures! Because of course, they did. There was still the maddening autopilot who gave up the ghost only twelve days into a month long passage (you little @#*!).
When transiting from the Galpagos to the Marquesas, by first heading south-southwest down to 3 to 4 degrees south latitude, one should reach the upper limits of the southeast trade winds, albeit possibly sporadic at this point. As you continue your westward sailing across the Pacific, you will probably make a stopover and stay in Fiji. Your email address will not be published. Next, list every country that you may wish to stop in and those in peripheral waters. And there is no better way to travel the Pacific than by sailboat. Even going on to travel Southeast Asia, or India, are not out of the question for the brave circumnavigator. Join the Tribe, Home Blog Sailing Across The Pacific: The ULTIMATE Sailboat Adventure! Ultimately though, you need to be flexible. You can go onwards to Australia and New Zealand, or get stuck in the South Pacific. They dont ask about keeping healthy while travelling, breakdowns at sea, or navigation nearly as often. The pass is challenging, as is the anchoring. But if youve got a well-prepared boat and well-prepared crew it can be fast and exhilarating.
The boat sinking storms are concentrated in hurricane or cyclone season. The very size of the Pacific presents unique challenges, but so too do its strong currents, powerful storms, hazardous coral outcrops and remote low-lying islands. Note that there was quite a bit of discussion on forum on this topic. Travelling to New Zealand is a very special experience that will have most sailors scheming about how to get back! Add any navigation notes such approaches, dangers etc here. Nostalgia hasnt rose-tinted all the memories, though. You also need a crew that is in tip-top shape and mentally prepared for the long passage ahead. I was going to answer this glibly we sail across oceans because land life got boring haha.But I think for every sailor who leaves port there is a different reason as to why they are doing it. Thus, with 90 days in pocket, you can divide your time between the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies more evenly than in years past. Crossing the Pacific Ocean in a Sailboat WHY? A popular alternative is to pass south to a good cyclone hole on the Australian coast, such as Cairns or Port Douglas, and backtrack up to the Torres Strait at the beginning of the next safe season. Theres no point fighting the winds, man! For those on the southern route, the four- to five-day passage to Aitutaki or Rarotonga offers a predictable beam-to-broad reach right on the rhumb line. You crossed an ocean. Even between fixing and tinkering things, there is a lot of time when you sail across the pacific. Passages between the islands are mostly clear and well-charted, but potentially windy. Yachts can clear in at Hiva Oa, Ua Pou or Nuku Hiva. Although Norfolk Island is not a fully protected anchorage, many vessels that find themselves west of the rhumb line with foul forecasts to the south will shelter here until conditions improve. She can always be found somewhere between the ocean and the land, lifting her laptop skyward for a WiFi signal Australia-born and New Zealand-based, Indigo preens The Broke Backpacker's destination guides, updating the old, bringing the new, and tagging that alongside scoops from the life of an aquatic traveller. Again, thank you! Every boat Ive been on has had its own take on the one-pot curry. There is the northern route, for those planning to cross through the Torres Strait or into the Northern Hemisphere for the coming cyclone season, and the southern route, for those dropping south of the danger into New Zealand. There are countless incredible adventures to be had in Australia! Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Some sailors choose to sell their boats here. Theres not a lot of balmy weather down there, mate. Counterintuitive to the landlubber but axiomatic to any old salt is that the rhumb line is often not the quickest route to a desired destination. There are the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, and the Society Islands. You crossed the Pacific freaking Ocean fuck yeah! Check the visa requirements carefully because the devil is in the details, especially if you have a multinational crew. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. That pun didnt really work in the third person, but were rolling with it. Import duties, brokerage costs and currency exchange rates must be factored into this strategy. The British chose the rainiest place in the Pacific as the capital of their colony Suva. What is the One Item Every Traveller NEEDS??? This route can be fast, but also tiring and damaging to both boat and crew. This is all good when you can leave the bar and have a break from them. You can release your wild side but youve insured its dumb ass! Maybe its called getting old or one too many close calls but having insurance kind of puts your rational mind at ease. Throughout the Cook Islands, a slow tempo to living is the norm. First, ensure that every crewmembers passport is as current as possible. .
On the third, my wife, Diana, put her sea boots down and demanded we stop. That will ensure that the route does not encounter any great risk of icebergs, while still offering good westerly winds across most of the route. The Pacific Ocean has been singing a siren song promising palm trees, balmy weather, and peaceful winds for centuries. Is the vessel truly stem-to-stern, keel-to-masthead ready? Being able to divide the days and nights into shifts means that everyone gets to eat better and sleep better. Even with the best of modern navigational equipment and weather forecasting, they demand the mariners absolute vigilance regarding watchkeeping, entry and exit from atoll passes, and anchoring techniques. But as you proceed west-southwest toward 6 degrees south latitude and 100 degrees west longitude, they should increase in both strength and consistency. It is universally accepted that there is no good weather window for doing the Direct Route. Vessels head out to the east from as far south as Tauranga hoping to catch the northerly limits of the westerlies until they fetch the longitude of the Austral Islands, then turn north for Tahiti. Sailing solo for long passages like that which is required to cross the Pacific is not unheard of. Vanlife has a reputation for making or breaking relationships. In Tahiti, the Milk Run divides into myriad possibilities. All good boat plans are written in the sand at high tide, so of course, there are some deviations from the popular route. But managing dynamics in close confines, far away from any time out spaces, is key. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Sailors have done it before and theyll damn well do it again!The biggest challenge is making sure you get enough sleep while maintaining good watchkeeping. And then let the shenanigans begin. Commercial diver slash editor slash taco connoisseur - yep, thats Indigo! So lets get into it lets get you ready to cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat! Its hard to maintain a constant watch and get enough sleep. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Absolutely!
A successful Pacific passage will rely on meticulous planning, based on current information tempered with flexibility, because, by nature, cruising has it vagaries. The Society Islands are divided into two groups: the Windwards, including Tahiti and Moorea, and the Leewards, with Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and, perhaps the most beautiful of them all, Bora Bora. Thank you for your support . ). But before one gets into the minutia of details, they should first step back and consider the bigger picture of sailing across the Pacific. Unanimous acclaim for the beauty of the northern Tongan groups of Niua, Vavau and Haapai makes some time here mandatory, which harks back to my original advice to head out of Panama as early as safely possible. The advantages are that the route is primarily downwind, relying on the westerlies that exist around those latitudes. Nothing says boat life like a radio crackling to life somewhere off the coast of Ecuador.
You will also avoid the cyclone season of the Caribbean. If the Pacific calls and promises fresh fish, palm trees, and island time youve got to answer! Your friend might be a perfectly competent sailor. Maybe this is part of a larger circumnavigation and youre fresh off a season in sailing the Caribbean or an Atlantic Ocean crossing. Also, the point of cruising the Pacific is usually balmy weather. The weather patterns of the Pacific dictate the common crossing routes. Its a long passage 40 to 50 days. The reputation of this leg has more bark than bite, but it cannot be denied that tropical weather events drifting down from the Coral Sea and cold fronts coming up from the Southern Ocean have dramatic potential. Beveridge Reef is a sunken atoll with not a skerrick of land awash at low tide, yet it offers anchorable depths within. But what does it look like to be prepared? The anchorages tend to be open roadsteads, so anti-roll tactics and equipment come in handy. We dont ask for money, but if youd like to find out how you can help the site in more organic ways, click the button below. Cyclone season in the North Pacific and the Caribbean is June through November. Try your hand at skippering a sailboat bareboat (without captain or crew) so you can stress-test yourself as a sailor. Rather than see food as a cumbersome challenge, think of it as a means for innovation. Along with its own kingdoms and chiefdoms, the British stuck their nose in and left a muddy footprint on Fijian culture. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. You marvellous little delights full of genuine offbeat travel! Its a comfort knowing theres someone else out there also afraid of the sea monsters! This tends to be a touch slower, with exacerbated rolling. Without good communication, you might not ever want to see that dickweeds face again. As you straighten course toward your chosen port of entry in the Marquesas, you should begin experiencing your best noon-to-noon runs because you will still have a southerly component in the trades. But, come May, the odds drop to almost zero. We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Read the Cook Islands Backpacking Guide HERE! Fiji is a bit of a crossroads within the Pacific. Others, with more time, make landfall far to the south and make their way up the chain via Makemo and the beautiful Fakarava Lagoon, enjoying a better angle off the wind on the short sail to Tahiti. There are countless permutations of a westward passage, but the path dubbed the Milk Run is the most popular. (see link for requirements). The 3,000-mile passage from the Galpagos to the Marquesas will probably be the longest of your sailing career. The crushed peach sunsets and clear, stargazing nights will reward you tenfold. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Along with the first real supermarkets on this side of the Pacific, there are familiar smatterings of Polynesian culture. A freshly caught tuna sizzles in sesame oil. Leaving it until June allows only six months to transit up to 9,000 nautical miles before being forced to exit the cyclone belt at the western edge of the Pacific. Crossing the street and driving a car is dangerous, but we all do it every day. If youre not up to skippering your own boat, then kick back on one of the many catered charter boats on offer! SPOILERS! If departing directly from U.S. waters, be aware that U.S. Customs does not normally issue a zarpe, or outbound clearance papers, yet these are required for entry into nearly any other nation. Nevertheless, those planning to sail directly through Torres Strait into the Indian Ocean cannot afford to dally. However, an early exit has many advantages. There are three main groups of islands. The Marquesas are epic volcanic islands that tower over deep waters. This will enable you to get some good northing into your passage before bashing endlessly into the trade winds. Not only was the cruise down the Ecuadorian coast fascinating, the passage to the Galpagos from Salinas provided steadier winds than had we departed directly from the canal. The modern cruiser must be prepared in advance to face a host of legal requirements. But every mammoth task is made up of smaller puzzle pieces that come together. If you plan to rent cars for touring, it is best to obtain an international drivers license before departure. Even with a limited stay and restricted access, we were treated to one of Earths most unique and fascinating natural habitats. It is indeed an adventure of epic proportions. All prices USD. Eventually, most sailors have to move on. If early in the season, all are worth visiting. Albeit increasingly expensive, cruising permits are normally obtainable upon arrival, but check the cruising websites and forums for current and accurate information. Because no matter how well you know another person, youre always going to know them better (for better or worse) after a long ocean passage. The South Pacific convergence zone drifts with some seasonal predictability (more to the north from December to May and the south from June to November), but is also influenced by larger weather anomalies. What kind of maniac dreams of sailing across the Pacific? The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 2 million square kilometres! But scattered across this great blue spectacular, are various incarnations of paradise on Earth.Oh, the Pacific Islands! You also need to have sufficient supplies, spare parts, fuel and water to take on a passage of this length. Travelling to the Cook Islands (and briefly becoming a mermaid) may be just what you need to avoid travel burnout. What might be an over-the-counter medication in one country can be highly prohibitedin another. The details of a canal transit are complex enough to warrant an article of their own, but relevant here is do not assume a quick passage, because during peak periods there can be several weeks of delay. I would recommend downloading podcasts, music, and books GALORE. But, there are still vague targets and timelines that guide your Pacific Crossing. None of the above are pleasant cruising routes. As you approach the Marquesas and settle into the trade winds, you will need good downwind sails and systems for handling them. Make very high-resolution photocopies of your passports and ships papers. If you leave Panama around March, you will arrive in the South Pacific right at the beginning of the best cruising season. So when is it best to sail across the Pacific Ocean? The long but logical route from there is wheeling over the top of the North Pacific summer high and back south into U.S. West Coast waters. Find the pack that suits YOU. Guess youll just have to click the button to find out. I reckon the reason you dont see too many Australian sailors around the world is that they see no reason to leave their beautiful home. A pretty epic continent is bound to get under your skin. Its possible, albeit tedious, to return to North America from New Zealand. If you are in the South Pacific between November and April, your chances of a cyclone are high. The list of interesting stops from here west includes Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Far less dangerous than driving a car or riding a motorbike. Youre guaranteed to find something suitable and have a splashing good time in the best places in the world to sail. A big advantage to having two, three, or more, people crewing a Pacific crossing is the night watches. Essentially, being prepared is about organisation and organisation is about lists. Shes bold, shes beautiful, and shes stinking hot! (2022), I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. West Coast sailors may depart from as far north as the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near Seattle, or dally south to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while awaiting the passage season. CL example: This page was last modified on 22 August 2018, at 10:17. Knowing yourself and what you are capable of as a sailor is alluring though. I think that sailing across an ocean is a sublime experience that is made easier and more pleasurable when shared. There are some great books and resources made by far better fishermen than me on this matter. There are dreamy island paradises scattered across the great blue spectacular and hefty continents on the other side. This page has been accessed 85,222 times. Sailing Totem: Downsizing Your Life To Live On a Boat, Engine Maintenance: Top Ways to Keep Your Exhaust Systems Water Out of the Engine, Sailing Totem: Favorite Instant-Pot Recipes for Cruising, How To Get the Most Out of Your Spinnaker, Connecting to the Natural World Through Rare Shells, The VOYAGE 590: Best Charter Boat of the Year, Cyclone Area: south of 10 S; west of 140 W, Distance: Panama to Australia 8,000 nautical miles, Cultural Areas: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia/New Zealand, Atlas of Pilot Charts South Pacific, DMA/NOAA, Southbound Evening Net: 6516 kHz at 0100 UTC, Namba/Sheila Net: 8101 kHz at UTC plus 11 hours, Gulf Harbor Radio: 8116 kHz at 0715 local New Zealand time, (There is a host of smaller and temporary VHF and SSB nets throughout the Pacific. A Bonnier LLC Company. Tribal Bali: The Best Coworking Hostel in the World Has Opened Its Doors. If you want MORE top-tier Broke Backpacker content like this, then sign up for our weekly newsletter below to get the latest and greatest! Hola amigo, cual es tu posicion? Some will stop in and travel the Galapagos, others will charge on through. Contributing editor, Alvah Simon, and his wife, Diana, are presently sailing New Zealand waters on their cutter Roger Henry, with occasional voyages to the South Pacific islands. They organise yo packing and minimise its volume too so you can pack MORE. Most cruisers heading for New Zealand do not venture as far west as Vanuatu or New Caledonia on the assumption that they can easily fetch them on their way north the following season. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. From the outset of their voyage, some have planned to sell their yacht in New Zealand or Australia rather than carry on with a circumnavigation or a very lengthy sail back to the United States, especially if they are East Coast residents. The main disadvantage of this route is that it will be predominantly upwind. Glad you asked cause weve got the answers! If you hope to further insure for damage and loss, check carefully the caveats relating to seasons and areas. Encompassing an area larger than Western Europe, the Tuamotus are the longest chain of atolls in the world. After travelling Panama, or elsewhere in the Americas, youll likely arrive in French Polynesia. Theres also the added dynamic of captain vs crew. Long night watches, daily face-offs with the elements, fixing the umpteenth broken thing it is no easy feat! With good communication, sailing across the ocean with your partner can create an unshakable bond that transforms and solidifies your partnership. Many modern sailors tend to fill the Pacific void with a frenetic schedule of radio nets, emails and obsessive navigational updates. Ascertain if the year of passage has been deemed an El Nio or La Nia year because these phenomena can affect the above. Keep in mind that it is an open roadstead vulnerable to dangerous swells. Just a good floating tin can with some sails and enough coffee to kill a bear. If all else fails, high protein and high sugar snacks like peanut butter make the night watches go quicker! The main disadvantage of this is that it is the longest route across the Pacific, covering the most ocean miles. Very few cruising guides discuss these routes, however World Cruising Routes (see References below), mentions 3 or 4 possible routes via the South Pacific Ocean in the section Routes from New Zealand. After a month at sea, cooking is bound to get creative though. Any destination north of 10 degrees south latitude will keep you out of harms way, albeit without the steady assist of those lovely trade winds. Suva will probably surprise first-time visitors its fewer palm trees and coconuts and more traffic and nightclubs. For Wikipedia you can use the Wikipedia template & for the Wikivoyage the Wikivoyage template. You need a sailboat that is stem to stern ready. Many plan to hole up in Minerva Reef, getting a head start on the 1,100 miles to New Zealand, and depart there with the absolute latest weather predictions. Copyright 2022 Cruising World. Depending on the sailboat, the route that is taken, the wind, and the current it can take anywhere between 22 and 40 days.When I crossed from Panama to the Marquesas (sans Galapagos Islands) it took us 26 days. On another Pacific passage, I chose to head south for Bahia de Caraquez in Ecuador. It is both Polynesian and Melanesian, and it is also home to a large Indian diaspora. Close. Keeping in touch via the radio is also a useful and fun way of getting weather and gossip. This route takes you up through South East Asia and into the North Pacific. It can be hard to sleep at the best of times on a boat, but it can be done.Might just be me, but the sea monsters are kinda scarier when you sail alone too. Usually, a system of radar alarms, twenty-minute nap alarms, and a dash of faith in King Neptune get the solo sailor to their next port. Were there storms? The farther west one heads, the more easterly the trades become until you are eventually running dead downwind. From a sailors point of view, excluding landlocked bodies of water, the rest of the brine is a contiguous path to glorious global adventure.
They are all lush, high and ringed by azure seas. The best time to attempt the Roaring Forties route is at the end of the southern hemisphere summer -- in March or April. . Ferdinand Magellan may have been a bit optimistic when he named a body of water that encompasses nearly one-third of Earth Mar Pacifico (peaceful ocean), for, like all oceans, it depends. Maybe you added crossing the Tasman Sea to your growing list of sailing achievements. Just you in your tiny boat-universe traversing the sea and the stars. But those who dare will be treated to one of the wildest places left on this planet. You need to have a boat that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking, and more importantly (and more difficult to find) will be a crew that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking. Waves lap against the hull, and thats about the only sound you hear. Were a big site with a big team and this job isnt always easy. Even when on night watch, you need something to keep you occupied. It is essentially a conglomeration of several routes, each of which has many possibilities. One can expect winds from nearly every direction, starting with southeast trades on departure and potentially deep lows with strong southwesterlies shifting to northwesterlies when approaching New Zealand. A storm holds a captivating spot in our psyche and for good reason. Your trip can begin with a little visit to Panama, heading south to charge through the notorious ICTZ, and riding the south-easterly trades all the way to French Polynesia. If I ever end up on the run, dont go looking for me (or my mermaid look-alike) in the Cook Islands! There is an element of challenge, there are exotic beaches, and long stretches of contemplation.Theres also an element of faith in whatever you want to call it King Neptune, Church of the Open Sky, regular ol God. If you make it to New Zealand, pat yourself on the back! Not to be a contrarian, but I have made this passage more than a half-dozen times and believe it is better to hold to the east as far as wind and waves allow because if that southwest change does not occur, you might find yourself on the wrong side of North Cape, New Zealand, with contrary winds and confused currents. Diana Simon takes in the view from the bow of. All is good when you do small passages with them. The view from the hills surrounding Savusavu, on Vanua Levu, Fiji, is breathtaking. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen.
Ill see you somewhere in the South Pacific! You have immersed yourself in millions of square miles of salty solitude and self-reliance. If you are considering this route, you need a boat that will be good upwind, and also be prepared to face large oncoming seas for most of the journey. If time is short, be sure to at least attend the amazing group-dance competitions held in the buzzing capital of Papeete, celebrating Bastille Day on July 14. You could stop at any of the starting points above. There are many good books to read while travelling. Although the official window for departures from Panama extends from February all the way to June, the trade winds tend to stabilize and strengthen as the year progresses. Next is the paper chase. Given the early time of the year, I would have been better served by passing several degrees south of the island group. However beautiful these islands are, though, the stereotypical shallow, blue waters teeming with coral reefs are not here.
The other disadvantage is that it is a long way from landfall, any assistance, and involves long passages at sea, perhaps upwards of 40 or 50 days. Date of member's last visit to Trans-Pacific Passage - West to East and this page's details validated: /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BSydney.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BAustralia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BBrisbane.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BAustralia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BAuckland.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BNew_Zealand.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BNew_Caledonia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BVanuatu.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BFiji.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCook_Islands.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BFrench_Polynesia.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCape_Horn.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BPanama.5D.5D, /wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East#.5B.5BCalifornia.5D.5D.2C_.5B.5BUnited_States.5D.5D, List links external to the wiki such as in, Coral Sea Passage Cairns to New Guinea/Louisiades, https://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Passage_-_West_to_East. In addition you could stop at any of these points along one of the 3 routes that you have chosen: List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. In addition, you need to be competent to undertake any repairs along the way, and then confident enough to be able to undertake them in a rolling sea. A look at what went into Scenic Group's planning and execution of the sailings that include a visit to the Floriade flower show Summer reading assignment: Autobiographies by Chris Blackwell and J. Robert Harris reveal as much about the world as any travel Like the rest of Europe, Portugal is baking right now. Is it heresy to suggest that another option is to ship the vessel back home? Thus, the usual advice is to fall off the southeast trades and make some westing in anticipation of that southwest-to-northwest change. You can set off from Mexico or Ecuador, for example. 100 Lighting Way Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000. Once sailors finish the Pacific crossing, having a spear gun or some fishing poles opens up a world of island adventures! Because of course, they did. There was still the maddening autopilot who gave up the ghost only twelve days into a month long passage (you little @#*!). When transiting from the Galpagos to the Marquesas, by first heading south-southwest down to 3 to 4 degrees south latitude, one should reach the upper limits of the southeast trade winds, albeit possibly sporadic at this point. As you continue your westward sailing across the Pacific, you will probably make a stopover and stay in Fiji. Your email address will not be published. Next, list every country that you may wish to stop in and those in peripheral waters. And there is no better way to travel the Pacific than by sailboat. Even going on to travel Southeast Asia, or India, are not out of the question for the brave circumnavigator. Join the Tribe, Home Blog Sailing Across The Pacific: The ULTIMATE Sailboat Adventure! Ultimately though, you need to be flexible. You can go onwards to Australia and New Zealand, or get stuck in the South Pacific. They dont ask about keeping healthy while travelling, breakdowns at sea, or navigation nearly as often. The pass is challenging, as is the anchoring. But if youve got a well-prepared boat and well-prepared crew it can be fast and exhilarating.
The boat sinking storms are concentrated in hurricane or cyclone season. The very size of the Pacific presents unique challenges, but so too do its strong currents, powerful storms, hazardous coral outcrops and remote low-lying islands. Note that there was quite a bit of discussion on forum on this topic. Travelling to New Zealand is a very special experience that will have most sailors scheming about how to get back! Add any navigation notes such approaches, dangers etc here. Nostalgia hasnt rose-tinted all the memories, though. You also need a crew that is in tip-top shape and mentally prepared for the long passage ahead. I was going to answer this glibly we sail across oceans because land life got boring haha.But I think for every sailor who leaves port there is a different reason as to why they are doing it. Thus, with 90 days in pocket, you can divide your time between the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies more evenly than in years past. Crossing the Pacific Ocean in a Sailboat WHY? A popular alternative is to pass south to a good cyclone hole on the Australian coast, such as Cairns or Port Douglas, and backtrack up to the Torres Strait at the beginning of the next safe season. Theres no point fighting the winds, man! For those on the southern route, the four- to five-day passage to Aitutaki or Rarotonga offers a predictable beam-to-broad reach right on the rhumb line. You crossed an ocean. Even between fixing and tinkering things, there is a lot of time when you sail across the pacific. Passages between the islands are mostly clear and well-charted, but potentially windy. Yachts can clear in at Hiva Oa, Ua Pou or Nuku Hiva. Although Norfolk Island is not a fully protected anchorage, many vessels that find themselves west of the rhumb line with foul forecasts to the south will shelter here until conditions improve. She can always be found somewhere between the ocean and the land, lifting her laptop skyward for a WiFi signal Australia-born and New Zealand-based, Indigo preens The Broke Backpacker's destination guides, updating the old, bringing the new, and tagging that alongside scoops from the life of an aquatic traveller. Again, thank you! Every boat Ive been on has had its own take on the one-pot curry. There is the northern route, for those planning to cross through the Torres Strait or into the Northern Hemisphere for the coming cyclone season, and the southern route, for those dropping south of the danger into New Zealand. There are countless incredible adventures to be had in Australia! Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Some sailors choose to sell their boats here. Theres not a lot of balmy weather down there, mate. Counterintuitive to the landlubber but axiomatic to any old salt is that the rhumb line is often not the quickest route to a desired destination. There are the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, and the Society Islands. You crossed the Pacific freaking Ocean fuck yeah! Check the visa requirements carefully because the devil is in the details, especially if you have a multinational crew. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. That pun didnt really work in the third person, but were rolling with it. Import duties, brokerage costs and currency exchange rates must be factored into this strategy. The British chose the rainiest place in the Pacific as the capital of their colony Suva. What is the One Item Every Traveller NEEDS??? This route can be fast, but also tiring and damaging to both boat and crew. This is all good when you can leave the bar and have a break from them. You can release your wild side but youve insured its dumb ass! Maybe its called getting old or one too many close calls but having insurance kind of puts your rational mind at ease. Throughout the Cook Islands, a slow tempo to living is the norm. First, ensure that every crewmembers passport is as current as possible. .
On the third, my wife, Diana, put her sea boots down and demanded we stop. That will ensure that the route does not encounter any great risk of icebergs, while still offering good westerly winds across most of the route. The Pacific Ocean has been singing a siren song promising palm trees, balmy weather, and peaceful winds for centuries. Is the vessel truly stem-to-stern, keel-to-masthead ready? Being able to divide the days and nights into shifts means that everyone gets to eat better and sleep better. Even with the best of modern navigational equipment and weather forecasting, they demand the mariners absolute vigilance regarding watchkeeping, entry and exit from atoll passes, and anchoring techniques. But as you proceed west-southwest toward 6 degrees south latitude and 100 degrees west longitude, they should increase in both strength and consistency. It is universally accepted that there is no good weather window for doing the Direct Route. Vessels head out to the east from as far south as Tauranga hoping to catch the northerly limits of the westerlies until they fetch the longitude of the Austral Islands, then turn north for Tahiti. Sailing solo for long passages like that which is required to cross the Pacific is not unheard of. Vanlife has a reputation for making or breaking relationships. In Tahiti, the Milk Run divides into myriad possibilities. All good boat plans are written in the sand at high tide, so of course, there are some deviations from the popular route. But managing dynamics in close confines, far away from any time out spaces, is key. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Sailors have done it before and theyll damn well do it again!The biggest challenge is making sure you get enough sleep while maintaining good watchkeeping. And then let the shenanigans begin. Commercial diver slash editor slash taco connoisseur - yep, thats Indigo! So lets get into it lets get you ready to cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat! Its hard to maintain a constant watch and get enough sleep. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Absolutely!
A successful Pacific passage will rely on meticulous planning, based on current information tempered with flexibility, because, by nature, cruising has it vagaries. The Society Islands are divided into two groups: the Windwards, including Tahiti and Moorea, and the Leewards, with Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and, perhaps the most beautiful of them all, Bora Bora. Thank you for your support . ). But before one gets into the minutia of details, they should first step back and consider the bigger picture of sailing across the Pacific. Unanimous acclaim for the beauty of the northern Tongan groups of Niua, Vavau and Haapai makes some time here mandatory, which harks back to my original advice to head out of Panama as early as safely possible. The advantages are that the route is primarily downwind, relying on the westerlies that exist around those latitudes. Nothing says boat life like a radio crackling to life somewhere off the coast of Ecuador.
You will also avoid the cyclone season of the Caribbean. If the Pacific calls and promises fresh fish, palm trees, and island time youve got to answer! Your friend might be a perfectly competent sailor. Maybe this is part of a larger circumnavigation and youre fresh off a season in sailing the Caribbean or an Atlantic Ocean crossing. Also, the point of cruising the Pacific is usually balmy weather. The weather patterns of the Pacific dictate the common crossing routes. Its a long passage 40 to 50 days. The reputation of this leg has more bark than bite, but it cannot be denied that tropical weather events drifting down from the Coral Sea and cold fronts coming up from the Southern Ocean have dramatic potential. Beveridge Reef is a sunken atoll with not a skerrick of land awash at low tide, yet it offers anchorable depths within. But what does it look like to be prepared? The anchorages tend to be open roadsteads, so anti-roll tactics and equipment come in handy. We dont ask for money, but if youd like to find out how you can help the site in more organic ways, click the button below. Cyclone season in the North Pacific and the Caribbean is June through November. Try your hand at skippering a sailboat bareboat (without captain or crew) so you can stress-test yourself as a sailor. Rather than see food as a cumbersome challenge, think of it as a means for innovation. Along with its own kingdoms and chiefdoms, the British stuck their nose in and left a muddy footprint on Fijian culture. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. You marvellous little delights full of genuine offbeat travel! Its a comfort knowing theres someone else out there also afraid of the sea monsters! This tends to be a touch slower, with exacerbated rolling. Without good communication, you might not ever want to see that dickweeds face again. As you straighten course toward your chosen port of entry in the Marquesas, you should begin experiencing your best noon-to-noon runs because you will still have a southerly component in the trades. But, come May, the odds drop to almost zero. We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Read the Cook Islands Backpacking Guide HERE! Fiji is a bit of a crossroads within the Pacific. Others, with more time, make landfall far to the south and make their way up the chain via Makemo and the beautiful Fakarava Lagoon, enjoying a better angle off the wind on the short sail to Tahiti. There are countless permutations of a westward passage, but the path dubbed the Milk Run is the most popular. (see link for requirements). The 3,000-mile passage from the Galpagos to the Marquesas will probably be the longest of your sailing career. The crushed peach sunsets and clear, stargazing nights will reward you tenfold. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Along with the first real supermarkets on this side of the Pacific, there are familiar smatterings of Polynesian culture. A freshly caught tuna sizzles in sesame oil. Leaving it until June allows only six months to transit up to 9,000 nautical miles before being forced to exit the cyclone belt at the western edge of the Pacific. Crossing the street and driving a car is dangerous, but we all do it every day. If youre not up to skippering your own boat, then kick back on one of the many catered charter boats on offer! SPOILERS! If departing directly from U.S. waters, be aware that U.S. Customs does not normally issue a zarpe, or outbound clearance papers, yet these are required for entry into nearly any other nation. Nevertheless, those planning to sail directly through Torres Strait into the Indian Ocean cannot afford to dally. However, an early exit has many advantages. There are three main groups of islands. The Marquesas are epic volcanic islands that tower over deep waters. This will enable you to get some good northing into your passage before bashing endlessly into the trade winds. Not only was the cruise down the Ecuadorian coast fascinating, the passage to the Galpagos from Salinas provided steadier winds than had we departed directly from the canal. The modern cruiser must be prepared in advance to face a host of legal requirements. But every mammoth task is made up of smaller puzzle pieces that come together. If you plan to rent cars for touring, it is best to obtain an international drivers license before departure. Even with a limited stay and restricted access, we were treated to one of Earths most unique and fascinating natural habitats. It is indeed an adventure of epic proportions. All prices USD. Eventually, most sailors have to move on. If early in the season, all are worth visiting. Albeit increasingly expensive, cruising permits are normally obtainable upon arrival, but check the cruising websites and forums for current and accurate information. Because no matter how well you know another person, youre always going to know them better (for better or worse) after a long ocean passage. The South Pacific convergence zone drifts with some seasonal predictability (more to the north from December to May and the south from June to November), but is also influenced by larger weather anomalies. What kind of maniac dreams of sailing across the Pacific? The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 2 million square kilometres! But scattered across this great blue spectacular, are various incarnations of paradise on Earth.Oh, the Pacific Islands! You also need to have sufficient supplies, spare parts, fuel and water to take on a passage of this length. Travelling to the Cook Islands (and briefly becoming a mermaid) may be just what you need to avoid travel burnout. What might be an over-the-counter medication in one country can be highly prohibitedin another. The details of a canal transit are complex enough to warrant an article of their own, but relevant here is do not assume a quick passage, because during peak periods there can be several weeks of delay. I would recommend downloading podcasts, music, and books GALORE. But, there are still vague targets and timelines that guide your Pacific Crossing. None of the above are pleasant cruising routes. As you approach the Marquesas and settle into the trade winds, you will need good downwind sails and systems for handling them. Make very high-resolution photocopies of your passports and ships papers. If you leave Panama around March, you will arrive in the South Pacific right at the beginning of the best cruising season. So when is it best to sail across the Pacific Ocean? The long but logical route from there is wheeling over the top of the North Pacific summer high and back south into U.S. West Coast waters. Find the pack that suits YOU. Guess youll just have to click the button to find out. I reckon the reason you dont see too many Australian sailors around the world is that they see no reason to leave their beautiful home. A pretty epic continent is bound to get under your skin. Its possible, albeit tedious, to return to North America from New Zealand. If you are in the South Pacific between November and April, your chances of a cyclone are high. The list of interesting stops from here west includes Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Far less dangerous than driving a car or riding a motorbike. Youre guaranteed to find something suitable and have a splashing good time in the best places in the world to sail. A big advantage to having two, three, or more, people crewing a Pacific crossing is the night watches. Essentially, being prepared is about organisation and organisation is about lists. Shes bold, shes beautiful, and shes stinking hot! (2022), I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. West Coast sailors may depart from as far north as the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near Seattle, or dally south to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while awaiting the passage season. CL example: This page was last modified on 22 August 2018, at 10:17. Knowing yourself and what you are capable of as a sailor is alluring though. I think that sailing across an ocean is a sublime experience that is made easier and more pleasurable when shared. There are some great books and resources made by far better fishermen than me on this matter. There are dreamy island paradises scattered across the great blue spectacular and hefty continents on the other side. This page has been accessed 85,222 times. Sailing Totem: Downsizing Your Life To Live On a Boat, Engine Maintenance: Top Ways to Keep Your Exhaust Systems Water Out of the Engine, Sailing Totem: Favorite Instant-Pot Recipes for Cruising, How To Get the Most Out of Your Spinnaker, Connecting to the Natural World Through Rare Shells, The VOYAGE 590: Best Charter Boat of the Year, Cyclone Area: south of 10 S; west of 140 W, Distance: Panama to Australia 8,000 nautical miles, Cultural Areas: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia/New Zealand, Atlas of Pilot Charts South Pacific, DMA/NOAA, Southbound Evening Net: 6516 kHz at 0100 UTC, Namba/Sheila Net: 8101 kHz at UTC plus 11 hours, Gulf Harbor Radio: 8116 kHz at 0715 local New Zealand time, (There is a host of smaller and temporary VHF and SSB nets throughout the Pacific. A Bonnier LLC Company. Tribal Bali: The Best Coworking Hostel in the World Has Opened Its Doors. If you want MORE top-tier Broke Backpacker content like this, then sign up for our weekly newsletter below to get the latest and greatest! Hola amigo, cual es tu posicion? Some will stop in and travel the Galapagos, others will charge on through. Contributing editor, Alvah Simon, and his wife, Diana, are presently sailing New Zealand waters on their cutter Roger Henry, with occasional voyages to the South Pacific islands. They organise yo packing and minimise its volume too so you can pack MORE. Most cruisers heading for New Zealand do not venture as far west as Vanuatu or New Caledonia on the assumption that they can easily fetch them on their way north the following season. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. From the outset of their voyage, some have planned to sell their yacht in New Zealand or Australia rather than carry on with a circumnavigation or a very lengthy sail back to the United States, especially if they are East Coast residents. The main disadvantage of this route is that it will be predominantly upwind. Glad you asked cause weve got the answers! If you hope to further insure for damage and loss, check carefully the caveats relating to seasons and areas. Encompassing an area larger than Western Europe, the Tuamotus are the longest chain of atolls in the world. After travelling Panama, or elsewhere in the Americas, youll likely arrive in French Polynesia. Theres also the added dynamic of captain vs crew. Long night watches, daily face-offs with the elements, fixing the umpteenth broken thing it is no easy feat! With good communication, sailing across the ocean with your partner can create an unshakable bond that transforms and solidifies your partnership. Many modern sailors tend to fill the Pacific void with a frenetic schedule of radio nets, emails and obsessive navigational updates. Ascertain if the year of passage has been deemed an El Nio or La Nia year because these phenomena can affect the above. Keep in mind that it is an open roadstead vulnerable to dangerous swells. Just a good floating tin can with some sails and enough coffee to kill a bear. If all else fails, high protein and high sugar snacks like peanut butter make the night watches go quicker! The main disadvantage of this is that it is the longest route across the Pacific, covering the most ocean miles. Very few cruising guides discuss these routes, however World Cruising Routes (see References below), mentions 3 or 4 possible routes via the South Pacific Ocean in the section Routes from New Zealand. After a month at sea, cooking is bound to get creative though. Any destination north of 10 degrees south latitude will keep you out of harms way, albeit without the steady assist of those lovely trade winds. Suva will probably surprise first-time visitors its fewer palm trees and coconuts and more traffic and nightclubs. For Wikipedia you can use the Wikipedia template & for the Wikivoyage the Wikivoyage template. You need a sailboat that is stem to stern ready. Many plan to hole up in Minerva Reef, getting a head start on the 1,100 miles to New Zealand, and depart there with the absolute latest weather predictions. Copyright 2022 Cruising World. Depending on the sailboat, the route that is taken, the wind, and the current it can take anywhere between 22 and 40 days.When I crossed from Panama to the Marquesas (sans Galapagos Islands) it took us 26 days. On another Pacific passage, I chose to head south for Bahia de Caraquez in Ecuador. It is both Polynesian and Melanesian, and it is also home to a large Indian diaspora. Close. Keeping in touch via the radio is also a useful and fun way of getting weather and gossip. This route takes you up through South East Asia and into the North Pacific. It can be hard to sleep at the best of times on a boat, but it can be done.Might just be me, but the sea monsters are kinda scarier when you sail alone too. Usually, a system of radar alarms, twenty-minute nap alarms, and a dash of faith in King Neptune get the solo sailor to their next port. Were there storms? The farther west one heads, the more easterly the trades become until you are eventually running dead downwind. From a sailors point of view, excluding landlocked bodies of water, the rest of the brine is a contiguous path to glorious global adventure.
They are all lush, high and ringed by azure seas. The best time to attempt the Roaring Forties route is at the end of the southern hemisphere summer -- in March or April. . Ferdinand Magellan may have been a bit optimistic when he named a body of water that encompasses nearly one-third of Earth Mar Pacifico (peaceful ocean), for, like all oceans, it depends. Maybe you added crossing the Tasman Sea to your growing list of sailing achievements. Just you in your tiny boat-universe traversing the sea and the stars. But those who dare will be treated to one of the wildest places left on this planet. You need to have a boat that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking, and more importantly (and more difficult to find) will be a crew that can be relied on to make this journey without breaking. Waves lap against the hull, and thats about the only sound you hear. Were a big site with a big team and this job isnt always easy. Even when on night watch, you need something to keep you occupied. It is essentially a conglomeration of several routes, each of which has many possibilities. One can expect winds from nearly every direction, starting with southeast trades on departure and potentially deep lows with strong southwesterlies shifting to northwesterlies when approaching New Zealand. A storm holds a captivating spot in our psyche and for good reason. Your trip can begin with a little visit to Panama, heading south to charge through the notorious ICTZ, and riding the south-easterly trades all the way to French Polynesia. If I ever end up on the run, dont go looking for me (or my mermaid look-alike) in the Cook Islands! There is an element of challenge, there are exotic beaches, and long stretches of contemplation.Theres also an element of faith in whatever you want to call it King Neptune, Church of the Open Sky, regular ol God. If you make it to New Zealand, pat yourself on the back! Not to be a contrarian, but I have made this passage more than a half-dozen times and believe it is better to hold to the east as far as wind and waves allow because if that southwest change does not occur, you might find yourself on the wrong side of North Cape, New Zealand, with contrary winds and confused currents. Diana Simon takes in the view from the bow of. All is good when you do small passages with them. The view from the hills surrounding Savusavu, on Vanua Levu, Fiji, is breathtaking. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen.
Ill see you somewhere in the South Pacific! You have immersed yourself in millions of square miles of salty solitude and self-reliance. If you are considering this route, you need a boat that will be good upwind, and also be prepared to face large oncoming seas for most of the journey. If time is short, be sure to at least attend the amazing group-dance competitions held in the buzzing capital of Papeete, celebrating Bastille Day on July 14. You could stop at any of the starting points above. There are many good books to read while travelling. Although the official window for departures from Panama extends from February all the way to June, the trade winds tend to stabilize and strengthen as the year progresses. Next is the paper chase. Given the early time of the year, I would have been better served by passing several degrees south of the island group. However beautiful these islands are, though, the stereotypical shallow, blue waters teeming with coral reefs are not here.