AHOY! Sailing Australia & The South Pacific - November 2021

AHOY! Newsletter

November 2021

November AHOY Destination Vanuatu New Caledonia & Vanuatu Update 2022 Go East Rally Update Is Fiji Calling?

OZ to NZ Yacht Rally Pacific Circuit Rally Member Prize Draw

COVER IMAGE Loyalty Islands Rally participants.

Lifou Island, Loyalty Islands New Caldonia 2019

Ahoy Subscribers & Members, Last Thursday I was joined by Richard Chesher, author of the Rocket Cruising Guides to New Caledonia & Vanuatu for our Destination Vanuatu Webinar which was hosted by our rally partners Multihull Solutions & The Yacht Sales Company.

Over 300 people registered for the webinar. Up to date information about Vanuatu as a cruising destination and information about the current situation in relation to the status of Vanuatu Borders and when they might open to visitors was shared with the audience.

Richard then took everyone on a Virtual Cruise of Vanuatu and shared information about dozens of anchorages throughout the Vanuatu archipelago, entry formalities, must see locations and much more.

We have already received some great feedback from those who joined us for the live webinar via email, messenger and even a few phone calls which were much appreciated.

If you missed the webinar don`t despair, we have uploaded the recorded version. Just click the play button on the image above or go to youtu.be/ooFdQ1XBdmI

The recorded version of our previous Destination New Caledonia Webinar has ben edited to improve the audio and the playback quality so if you missed that one you might like to check it out. youtu.be/ooFdQ1XBdmI

UPDATE New Caledonia & Vanuatu Late last week I was in contact with New Caledonia Tourism and Vanuatu Tourism. Below is a brief summary of the information they shared.

New Caledonia borders are currently closed and will remain closed until 31/12/2021. The New Caledonia Government will make an announcement close to that date as too when the borders will open to visitors. Based on the information that was shared with me by New Caledonia Tourism it is likely that the borders will open in the 1st quarter of 2022. More information can be found on the New Caledonia Tourism website click HERE. Vanuatu also remains closed to visitors and the feedback I received suggests that Vanuatu Borders will remain closed until at least May 2022. We shared more information about the current situation and the outlook for Vanuatu in the Destination Vanuatu Webinar. Those who would like to get a better understanding of the challenges Vanuatu are facing in regard to opening click HERE

Go East Rally UPDATE 2022 Go East Rally to New Caledonia & or Vanuatu looking promising!

Based on our discussions this week we expect that New Caledonia will open before Vanuatu however until we know for certain that New Caledonia borders are open we will not be opening the rally for registrations.

The Down Under Rally will contact all of our members and those who have previously submitted an expression of interest in joining the 2022 Go East Rally with an update as soon as we have official confirmation as to when New Caledonia borders will open.

If you are interested in joining the 2022 Go East Rally and have not yet submitted an expression of interest you can do so by clicking the button below.

If you think you have already submitted an expression of interest but are not sure feel free to submit again.

Submit Expression Of Interest Go East Rally

downunderrally.com/register-interest-goeast

Go East Rally Fleet Ilot Maitre New Caleonia 2019

Is FIJI Calling You? The Fijian Government has announced that from 1 December 2021 Fiji will be open to all fully vaccinated travellers from travel partner countries for quarantine free travel.

READ THE OFFICIAL FIJI GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT HERE Those of you who know us will also know WE ❤️FIJI, and that we have sailed to Fiji and back from Australia on several occasions.

If you have not visited Fiji by yacht Tourism Fiji have created the promo video below "Discover Fiji's Cruising Beauty Spots" that goes close to doing Fiji justice.

youtu.be/XiLJd3db3g4 Apart from great cruising and the friendly Fijian people there is also the LEGENDARY....

FIJI REGATTA WEEK

youtube.com/watch?v=LUz_0GdGkAk&t=2s

Is FIJI Calling You? Why doesn't the Down Under Rally run a rally to Fiji from Australia?

The reason is simple, New Caledonia & Vanuatu are much easier to get to by yacht from Australia.

We believe that if you have not yet made a multi day/night ocean passage then New Caledonia & Vanuatu should be your first ports of call. The other reason why is that the passage to Fiji direct from Australia is about 1,700nm, if you could sail the rhumbline. Sailing the rhumb line from Australia to Fiji is seldom possible as the predominate winds are from the SE /E making it a LONG UPWIND SLOG. You might be lucky and get more favourable winds but it is NOT LIKLEY that those favourable winds will be with you for the entire voyage given that for most cruising yachts it will take at least 12 -15 to get there.

To read an account of our failed attempt to sail direct to Fiji from Newcastle click the image below or go to: downunderrally.com/an-ordeal-or-an-adventure

You can of course do what we have done for several years which is sail to New Caledonia & then wait for a suitable weather window to get to Fiji. This voyage is a rhumb line distance (seldom possible) of approx. 750 nm or about 6 days for the average cruising yacht.

ONCE and only ONCE have we made this entire voyage in favourable conditions the other 5 times were uncomfortable to say the least, especially the last 36 hours as you approach Fiji.

Is FIJI Calling You? How to get to Fiji from Australia?

A quick look at Jimmy Cornells Ocean Atlas (pilot charts) and his World Cruising Routes will tell you that a better option is to first sail from Australia to New Zealand and then onto Fiji from New Zealand.

The Route from Australia to New Zealand The consensus is that departing from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Coffs Harbour or even Sydney when a suitable weather window becomes available at some time from late January through February with Opua New Zealand being your arrival port will usually provide an opportunity to make the voyage in favourable wind and settled conditions.

This is rhumb line voyage of approx. 1200 nm or 8-10 days in the average cruising yacht.

There is also the possibility of a stopover at Lord Howe Island to break the voyage into two legs.

(Leg 1 approx. 400nm, Leg 2 approx. 800nm)

You will arrive in New Zealand at the very well organised, convenient and cruiser friendly Bay Of Islands Marina in Opua. After a few days to recover from the passage and re-provsion you will have the magnificent cruising grounds of the Northland and Auckland regions to explore and enjoy before departing on the next leg of the voyage to Fiji.

Should your vessel require any repairs The Bay of Islands Marina boatyard is one of New Zealand’s top haul-out facilities with a 50-tonne, travel lift and a 100-tonne, 9.7m beam slipway for vessels up to 35m LOA.A full range of professional shoreside services, including mechanical engineering, sailmakers and fully stocked chandlery are all available on site.

bayofislandsmarina.co.nz

Is FIJI Calling You? Getting to Fiji from New Zealand.

In June every year, for many many years, Island Cruising New Zealand, formally the Island Cruising Association, have been running yacht rallies from New Zealand to Tonga & Fiji as well as Vanuatu & New Caledonia. This is the perfect opportunity to make the voyage from New Zealand to Fiji in company and with the assistance of the rally organsiers. The voyage from Opua to Fiji is approx.

1100 nm or 7-9 days in the average cruising yacht. You will likely arrive in Fiji in mid-late June. If you have previously cruised New Caledonia and Vanuatu, which we recommend, then you will be able to spend a leisurely 4-5 months experiencing all that Fiji has to offer before departing on the downwind leg back to Australia with a stopover in New Caledonia just to break up the voyage.

More Info ICNZ Pacific Circuit Rally islandcruising.nz/contact

OZ to NZ Yacht Rally OZ to NZ Rally 2022 - Expressions of Interest The Down Under Rally enjoys a close working relationship with Island Cruising NZ and in 2022 we are looking to expand our relationship to include a OZ to NZ Rally.

This rally will be open only to those who have previously completed a non stop scan voyage of 750nm of more and both the vessel & the crew aboard the vessels that join the rally must meet New Zealand Category 1 offshore safety requirements.

To submit an expression of interest in joining the OZ to NZ Rally and then make the onward voyage to Fiji with Island Cruising NZ please visit the following page of the Down Under Rally website and submit an obligation expression of interest.

Please note: New Zealand`s maritime borders remain closed at the time of publishing this newsletter. Should the situation regarding New Zealand`s maritime borders remain unchanged at the scheduled time of departure for New Zealnd the rally will not be able to proceed.

Should there be sufficient interest in this event it is anticipated the rally will depart either the Gold Coast or Coffs Harbour on the first suitable weather window between late January & the end of February 2022.

Submit Expression Of Interest OZ to NZ Rally downunderrally.com/oz-to-nz-rally-about

HUGH & JULIANA MEMBER #0013!

S.V SAN SOUCI

Congratulations Hugh & Juliana you have won a Medley Pack from The Down Under Rally & Greenskin wines valued at $186.50!

The Greenskin Wines Medley Pack includes 1 x 750ml pouch of each of the following: Down Under Rally Members!

2020 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Get 10% off every order you 2020 Margaret River Chardonnay place with Greenskin Wines!

2020 Margaret River Rosé 2020 Great Southern Pinot Noir downunderrally.com/provisioning 2019 Margaret River Syrah 2018 Margaret River Cabernet Merlot

Benefits of Membership Discounts & Special Offers all year round on a wide range of marine related products & services from participating rally partner businesses & sponsors.

Unlimited Access to our Offshore Cruising Preparation Course.

Watch the course content as often as you like for as long as you are a member.

Access to our Members Only Portal. This is where we share articles and stories that we believe to be of both interest and of use to anyone that owns a cruising yacht.

Down Under Rally Burgee. e-Help. Contact us via email, telephone or even via video conferencing as often as you like for advice on anything related to your vessel, your cruising plans and goals. Plus assistance and support when cruising in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.

Priority Rally Registrations. Our rallies have a maximum number of participants. DUR Members will get advance notification of rally registration opportunities to help avoid disappointment.

Discounts on all Down Under Rally Registration Fees Access to our Members Only FaceBook Group. Being a member of this group will provide you with the opportunity to interact with other Down Under Rally Members, many of who will have a wealth of knowledge and experiences to share about all things sailing & cruising!

Full Membership $125.00 AUD Per Year downunderrally.com/membership

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Give the Gift Of Membership!

A Down Under Rally Membership makes a great gift for someone that already has everything!

Purchase a Gift Certificate

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AHOY! Newsletter Published by Down Under Rally Pty Ltd Contact John Hembrow - Director Website: ebsite: downunderrally.com Email: admin@downunderrally.com