Ahoy Cruise News - January 2024 by Island Cruising & Down Under Rally

issue 30

Ahoy Cruise News

January 2024

Newsletter of Island Cruising & Down Under Rally

In this issue: Winner - Best Rally 2023! Sailing Sydney Harbour South Island Rally pics The Ultimate South Pacific Itinerary Boats for Sale Upcoming Events Great Deals from our Partners! Pacific Rally 2024 Mooring BnB

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally Contact Us Viki Moore Email info@islandcruising.nz Website www.islandcruising.nz www.downunderrally.com Phone +64 21 438 977 Facebook www.facebook.com/islandcruising.nz ISSN ISSN 2815-911X

on the cover Kolika at Beachcomber Island Pacific Rally 2023 Pirate Party - Musket Cove Regatta Photo by Viki Moore

photos and news contributions are welcome

issue 30

In this issue January 2024

From the Helm The latest update from Viki

Winner - Best Rally! Nautical Tourism Awards

Go East & Pacific Rally 2024 Registrations are now open!

Summer in Sydney Tips on our favourite anchorages to explore in Sydney

South Island Rally Meet our new Partners Super excited about all our new partner businesses and their great products & services!

Upcoming Events Boats for Sale

From the helm Merry Christmas to everyone! Thank you for all your support of Island Cruising & Down Under Rally in 2023! It has been a huge year in the South Pacific with the Down Under Rally & Island Cruising. We had over 70 yachts joining a Down Under Rally and over 90 yachts joining the Island Cruising Rally in 2023! We also had the Rally to Japan where we supported three yachts on their huge voyage from NZ to Japan. As well as the yachts in the rally, we matched up over 80 crew with various vessels using our CrewSeeker service. If you are keen for some offshore adventures but not ready to take your own boat yet, please check out CrewSeeker! A HUGE thank you to all our partner businesses, who offer a fantastic range of marine products and services to our members, along with some great advice and of course support for me too. It is fantastic being able to point people in the right direction for reputable businesses who can help them prepare for their adventures ahead. If you’d like to become a partner business, you can check out all our Partner Packages on our website here. Thanks also to all our Rally Port Officers in the Pacific for all the support they give to me and our rally participants along their adventures.

We’ve already got 78 yachts signed up for the GO East & 2024 Pacific Rally so it is shaping up to be another fantastic year. If you are planning on sailing to the Pacific this season please join us! We also launched a brand new website which combines all the fantastic content from Down Under Rally and Island Cruising. In the members area of the website you’ll find the Down Under Rally Offshore Cruising Preparation Course which perfectly compliments all the Island Cruising online workshops too. If you are planning on heading offshore any time, the Learning Pages in the Members Area of our website is the perfect place to get started on your cruising journey. Our website also has a great online shop where you can purchase cruising gear, and members get some excellent discounts as well. We are also adding all the Down Under Rally content to our Pacific Rally Guide books which include everything you need to know for sailing around the Pacific next season, so everything you need to know about clearing in and out of various countries, getting fuel, repairs, or a nice cocktail at a resort that loves to welcome yachties - you’ll find it in the Rally Guide book.

Thanks to all our members for being part of our community. Each week they get tips on preparing their vessel, themselves and their crew for a long coastal or an offshore voyage. As well as enjoying all the very generous discounts on offer that come with their membership. Here in New Zealand, the South Island Rally is now underway, and we’ve got a group of vessels already out exploring the stunning Abel Tasman, Marlborough Sounds and then some will head further south to Fiordland and Stewart Island. If you are keen to follow some of their adventures please check out the Island Cruising Facebook page. I’ll be heading up to the Sounds for some sailing too, and I can’t wait to catch up with them along the way. I’d love to see your summer cruising photos - so please tag @Down Under Rally or @Island Cruising NZ in your posts and I’ll share so everyone can see all the fun everyone is having on the water this summer. I am also super excited to announce that we have been awarded “Best Yacht Cruising Rally for 2023” from the Global Nautical Tourism Awards as well as a Yachting New Zealand excellence award too. Please see the article on the next page. This is a huge honour and recognises our commitment to promoting sustainable yachting tourism in the South Pacific. It is super important to me that our rally participants and members understand the Island Cruising & Down Under Rally Tiaki Promise - which is basically our commitment to protect the people, places and cultures that we visit and ensure that sailors are warmly welcomed back in to the arms of the locals every time we return. Sadly not all sailors follow this simple ‘code of conduct’ and I often hear reports of yachties stopping off at Islands prior to clearing in to a country, not using their holding tanks in anchorages, dumping rubbish, picking fruit without permission and not respecting local protocols such as the Sevusevu in Fiji or Coutume in New Caledonia. The risk with these sailors is that all yachties can be ‘tarred with the same brush’ so I encourage you to call these people out if you see any disrespectful behaviour to ensure they don’t ruin it for the rest of us! I hope you get the chance to get out on the water over summer. Please keep an eye out for other Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members or the South Island Rally participants as you are out cruising, and hopefully you can make some new friends along the way. I look forward to being in touch again in 2024. Thanks again for being part of our cruising community. I hope you enjoy this edition of The Ahoy Cruise News. Happy sailing!

Cheers Viki

www.lissaphotography.co.nz

South Island Rally

The Ultimate SOUTH PACIFIC SAILING ROUTE

There are so many options for International Cruisers when it comes to cruising the South Pacific. Often we see people who zoom straight through and miss out on some of the best bits! Our recommendation - don’t rush and make the most of the prevailing winds. Here’s a suggested South West Pacific itinerary for boats heading from Panama in this direction - Watch the video animation here.

Year 1 March April

July August September October

Cross from Panama to French Polynesia Arrive French Polynesia (unless you’ve got a long stay visa or an EU passport you’ve only got 90 days to explore this incredible destination). Join the Pacific Rally for heaps of inclusions as you start your passage west. Cook Islands Samoa and or Niue Vava’u - Tonga - check out the BlueWater Cruisers Festival Ha’apai, Tongatapu, Minerva, New Zealand

Stop in NZ to escape cyclone season - enjoy tax free repairs on your boat, Or Join the South Island Rally to sail south to explore incredible Fiordland or head home for Christmas.

The Ultimate T

SOUTH PACIFIC SAILING ROUTE

Year 2 May August September October December

Join the Pacific Rally to sail back to Fiji or back to Tonga Vanuatu - join the rally events throughout Vanuatu New Caledonia Bundaberg Australia on the Go West Rally. Sydney Harbour to watch the start of the Sydney Hobart Race and fireworks on New Years Eve Australia is another great place to stop for a while with great boat repairs and places to leave the boat while you explore ashore or head home and of course some excellent cruising grounds too!

Year 3 January February . May . October

Tasmania - Join the VDL-C Cruise Cruise slowly back up the East coast of Australia, enjoy the stunning Whitsundays and then Onwards to Asia or alternatively cross the Tasman and head back to New Zealand to enjoy exploring with the South Island Rally. Or return to the Pacific on the Go East - Pacific Rally to revisit the places you missed or enjoyed the first time round. Back to New Zealand or Australia - both great places to end your journey and sell your boat. Or carry on doing circles in the Pacific or continuing on around the world!

Check out all the details of the Pacific Rally on our website

A Saviour For Mooring Owners and Sailors Alike Mooringbnb is a new platform designed to allow mooring owners to maximise their earnings while making it easy for sailors to book a mooring from anywhere. It’s the ultimate win-win set to take off this summer.

Mooringbnb for mooring owners Often, moorings sit unused for extended periods of time. Mooringbnb.co.nz makes it easy to hire your mooring out whenever you’re not using it. It works along similar lines to AirBnB, allowing sailors to search for an available mooring, book it and pay for it on the spot. Mooringbnb automates all the admin work, from marketing to taking payments and even notifying the harbourmaster when the mooring is being used. It’s fully customisable, so you can control its availability, and charge whatever rate you wish. Registering your mooring costs nothing, and you get paid the rate you set. It’s available in New Zealand at the moment, but is set to expand into Australia and the Pacific Islands in 2024.

www.mooringbnb.co.nz

For mooring owners, it’s a unique opportunity to generate income that requires minimal effort. It makes more locations available to sailors, including when the weather turns bad and they need a safe place to stay at short notice. The number of moorings are increasing monthly and sailors are already making bookings for the next few months. With the summer sailing season on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to list a mooring and generate extra income while you sail off elsewhere yourself.

For Sailors The freedom of being able to sail wherever you want is one of the greatest things about cruising this summer. You can follow weather patterns or coastlines, meander your way to a set destination or just follow your nose and see where you end up. Just as long as you can find a mooring or a place to anchor... For Peter Kershaw, a trip around the Bay of Islands piecing together available moorings on the fly, posting on Facebook pages and asking locals for help, made him think there must be a better way. Peter decided to create an online booking platform that took care of all the details and made it easier for yachties to plan sailing trips. With Mooringbnb, you can see available moorings anywhere in New Zealand, and book them without needing to go onshore. It’s a much-needed upgrade of the traditional booking system, giving sailors certainty, convenience and compliance. There’s no need to check mooring size limits or notify the harbourmaster - all the conditions and logistics are taken care of within the booking platform.

To find out more, head to: www.mooringbnb.co.nz

Be Unique – Own a share in the new Bali 4.4 ‘Halyna’ this summer

Sail Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Newcastle (visit the Hunter Valley), Pittwater and Sydney this summer. Relocate to Queensland and the Whitsundays next April for the winter. As an owner of ‘Halyna’ these places will all be within your reach with the yacht managed by Yacht Share Mariner. The Empire Marina at Marmong Point is the home port for ‘Halyna’ during the southern cruising season. Lake Macquarie itself is twice the size of Sydney Harbour and is a superb cruising experience. Access to a variety of restaurants, good swimming and bush walking add to your holiday activities. Just North of Lake Macquarie the redeveloped port of Newcastle has a lively waterfront and ready access to the Hunter Valley wine, food and entertainment. On to Port Stephens where Yacht Share Mariner owners have reciprocal access to the Soldiers Point Marina and its excellent restaurants. South of Lake Macquarie explore Pittwater and Sydney Harbour where there are endless bays and coves where you can pick up a mooring or drop an anchor. Berthing at marinas during the summer season is limited.

Become a member of the ‘Halyna’ Bali 4.4 catamaran syndicate – with up to 40 days usage each year. The winter base is in the Whitsundays and summer in the south maximising the use of the yacht. The Bali 4.4 has all the luxury of a 5-star hotel with nearly 100 square meters of usable space on the main deck, 3 air-conditioned cabins with private en-suite facilities and two big diesel engines to keep you moving when the wind drops. The 630-liter fridge-freezer makes catering a breeze in remote overnight stays in iconic destinations. View ‘Halyna’ DATE: 18 January 2024 VENUE: Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, Marquee Dock TIME:10:00 am – 5:00 pm To view by appointment contact Trevor Joyce on 0412 295 656 or Rod Mackay 0419 633 345 or email trevor@marinerboating.com.au Test Sail ‘Halyna’ ‘Halyna’ will be available for a test sail from the Empire Marina, on Lake Macquarie, 19 January 2024. Contact Trevor Joyce on 0412 295 656 for more information. Suggested Itinerary To view an East Coast NSW Suggested Itinerary visit https://yachtsharemariner.com/sailing-east-coast/

Summer Sailing Fun

SUMMER IN SYDNEY We had been cruising in Queensland for many years before we ventured South to spend a summer in Sydney, and what a pleasant surprise it was. We loved every minute and have since returned several times. What was most surprising to me was the water quality & clarity, which for us is really important as we love to spend time in the water as well as above it.

For those not familiar with Sydney Harbour you might be surprised to learn just how cruiser-friendly it is with free courtesy moorings & free short-term berths for disposing of waste & rubbish, topping up water, picking up passengers and dinghy docks. For more info see: transport.nsw.gov.au/mapservices/proxy/boating-destinations/map.html

In the following pages, we share information about a few of our favourite anchorages and some other information that might help you plan a Summer In Sydney.

SUMMER IN SYDNEY

http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/bantry-bay.html

SUMMER IN SYDNEY

WE ALSO REALLY ENJOY THE SCENIC WALKS ON AROUND THE HARBOUR

sydney.com/things-to-do/nature-and-parks/walks

SUMMER IN SYDNEY Being on the harbour in Sydney during the summer also provides the opportunity to have a front-row seat to some iconic events, including the start of the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race, New Year's Eve & the Australia Day celebrations.

EVENTS - SYDNEY HOBART RACE START

www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/using-waterways/boating-on-sydney-harbour/sydney-harbour-major-summer-events#

https://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/about-the-race/course/the-start/

SUMMER IN SYDNEY EVENTS - NEW YEARS EVE

wwhwtt.pnss:w//.wgowvw.a.nus/wdr.givoivn.ga-ub/odaritviningg--abnoda-ttirnagn-sapnodr-t/ruansisnpgo-rwta/utesirnwga-wysa/tbeorwatainysg/-roens-tsryicdt

SUMMER IN SYDNEY EVENTS - AUSTRALIA DAY

PredictWind Introduces AI Polars PredictWind, the world leader in marine forecasting, has unveiled a groundbreaking innovation that will redefine the future of weather routing with Automated AI Polars. Sailors know that no two boats – or skippers – are alike. Recognising this, PredictWind's AI Polars are engineered to optimise routing based on your boat's real-time data combined with your distinctive sailing habits. By understanding your boat's behaviour in all wind and wave conditions, the AI Polar automatically adjusts to give you more accurate routes than ever. Previously, personalised polars were the exclusive domain of elite navigators. PredictWind has now made it easy and intuitive for every sailor. "With our AI Polars, we are bridging the gap between professional navigators and recreational sailors. Now everyone can benefit from hyper-accurate, tailored weather routing," says Jon Bilger from PredictWind. Using this feature is as easy as plugging in the PredictWind DataHub to your boat’s instruments and activating AI Polars. The technology springs into action, capturing and interpreting vital data points like boat speed, wave conditions, true wind speed, and true wind angle. In addition, hydrodynamic modelling intricately predicts your boat's movement. In addition, the weather routing predicts the performance effect of the waves on the routing, offering the most precise routing output available. With the inclusion of wave conditions and individual comfort preferences, PredictWind ensures not just optimal but also comfortable routing. AI Polars also guarantees accurate data by smartly filtering out times when the boat is anchored, motoring, or motor sailing. Once activated, AI Polars aren’t static. They evolve, consistently harnessing new data to refine and perfect your personal boat polar, enhancing precision with every nautical mile you cover. PredictWind continues to lead the marine forecasting frontier, reaffirming its commitment to bringing professional-grade tools to sailors everywhere. With the launch of AI Polars, the horizon has never looked more clear and personalised.

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members get a 20% discount on PredictWind Weather subscriptions

Go East & Pacific Rally 2024 News We’ve now got 78 boats registered for the Go East & Pacific Rally 2024, and our rally preparation content is well underway. If you are planning on joining us please register here. Or check out our website for more information. Last month we did a webinar for Australians interested in heading offshore on the Go East Rally, and a few weeks ago we had a zoom call catch up and start to getting to know all the other rally participants, and We also ran through some of the content we’ve covered so far including: The Cat 1 Safety Regulations Documentation & Administration Things that break Bluewater Insurance Offshore Communications Safety Gear - Standard & Emergency Operating Procedures template Rally Partners We have got an incredible group of rally Partner businesses who provide some very generous discounts, events and support to the rally participants. New this week! Vanuatu EcoTours - 15-25% discount on tours around Efaté Vanuatu. The Navigation Centre Townsville - great discount on Pacific charts and cruising guides

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members get a 10% discount! Use the discount coupon code at the checkout

Shop Now

Busy Bird Parents in The Hauraki Gulf Love is in the air! Across the Hauraki Gulf, Tīkapa Moana, birds of all shape and size are breeding, nesting and rearing their young. To help these parents with their big summer ahead, the Department of Conservation is reminding boat owners that dogs are not permitted on pest-free islands. Here are a few success stories on Auckland’s inner Gulf islands: Tiritiri Matangi – A few fluffy black Takahē chicks hatched in November. Adults usually only have 1-2 chicks annually. You might spot Takahē during summer in and around the lighthouse, especially as they love to eat native grasses. The chicks will grow to around 2 to 4kg as an adult, and hopefully join the total NZ-wide adult population of around 500 birds. Motutapu-Rangitoto – You can often spot Takahē in the grassy causeway area between the two islands – and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a chick that hatched in November. On the Northern side of Motutapu in a little bay called Pig Bay, next to Administration Bay, a few shore plover/tū turuatu chicks also hatched in November. These small birds are deceptively strong fliers – one flew an 800km round trip from Motutapu to Foxton, just outside Wellington in September. Motuihe – Several oystercatchers/tō rea pango have been sittng on their small, speckled eggs in November – right in Wharf Bay where many boaties arrive. Like many shore birds, these black birds with striking orange beaks nest on the sand between the high tide mark and the dunes. Look out for the chicks in summer – they are speckled like their eggs. Useful tip: the parents feign injury or become loud and aggressive towards people that walk too close to their nests and young. Safe havens DOC, environmental groups and iwi partners work hard to translocate birds from across New Zealand to these safe islands. By establishing safe new populations, we hope to bolster the resilience of the species population overall. These pest-free islands are safe havens for endangered native birds. They can relax undisturbed while they breed, nest, feed and raise their vulnerable young chicks. This is why dogs are not allowed on any of the Hauraki Gulf’s 47 pest-free islands – including the beach and foreshore. Even the smallest and most friendly dogs can stress and scare our coastal birds and dune-loving lizards at this very important time of year.

Let’s let the wildlife be wild – leave your dog at home or on the boat.

UPCOMING

events 2024 23 - 26 January - Bay of Islands Sailing Week 26 January - Australia Day on Sydney Harbour 1o February - Maldives Yacht Rally begins 10 February - Duder Cup - Devonport Yacht Club - all welcome March - Japan Yacht Rally 14 - 17 March - Auckland Boat Show 15 - 17 March - Women on Water - Gulf Harbour Yacht Club 5 - 7 April - Women Who Sail Australia - Gathering on the Bay 5 May - Island Cruising Pacific Rally first group departs for the South Pacific 9 June - Groupama Race - New Caledonia 10 July - Island Cruising Rally - Lau Group Entry TBA August - Vanuatu - Pacific Rally Gathering September - Fiji - Musket Cove Regatta October - Blue Water Festival Tonga 12 October - Americas Cup starts in Barcelona 15 October - Island Cruising & Down Under - GOWest Rally returns to New Zealand or Australia November - Bundaberg Welcome Week November - Bay of Islands Cruisers Festival

Offshore Marine Medic

Two-day Offshore Medical Course customised to provide students with the basics required for Offshore Cruising. Course also covers a handover of the Offshore Medical Kit (CAT 1) and how to use it. Upcoming dates: 8 - 9 February 2024 - Auckland 9 - 10 March 2024 - Auckland 11 - 12 April 2024 - Auckland 18 - 19 May 2024 - Auckland or contact us for more options 10% discount for Island Cruising members + discount on Cat 1 Medical Kits Register online here

Pacific Rally 2024 CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES & DESTINATIONS AUSTRALIA * NZ * TONGA * FIJI * VANUATU * NEW CALEDONIA AUSTRALIA * NEW CALEDONIA * VANUATU FRENCH POLYNESIA * COOKS * SAMOA * NIUE * TONGA RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND OR AUSTRALIA OR INDONESIA

first departure - may 2024 or choose your own departure date

Advanced Sea Survival Course A comprehensive theoretical and practical course for crew requiring an offshore, category 1 certificate. Two Day Full Course 24 & 25 February AUCKLAND 20 & 21 April WHANGAREI tbc 04 & 05 May AUCKLAND 17 & 18 August NELSON

One Day Refresher Course 09 March AUCKLAND 11 May WELLINGTON TBC 22 Sept NELSON

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members get a 10% discount (please use the discount code in the members newsletter when you book online)

www.skippertraining.ac.nz 0800 546 9700 info@skippertraining.nz

NEW ZEALAND

IT’S EASIER THAN YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE……

The late Sir Peter Blake, for example, whose sailing successes included the America's Cup, Whitbread Race and Jules Verne trophy, tested his mother's patience and ruined her flower With 8000 miles from Panama to Australia and thousands of beds by building his first boats in the family garden. Boat unique islands and atolls to visit along the way, one season is designer Bruce Farr, whose yachts have won most of the simply not enough time to truly explore the South Pacific. world's top yachting silverware, first produced lightning fast Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia are destinations in themselves dinghies and skiffs in the family shed. and deserve much more than a fleeting visit.

CRUISING THE SOUTH PACIFIC ONE SEASON IS NOT ENOUGH

We strongly advocate spending at least 2 seasons in the South Pacific to really experience all the variety that the region has to offer. It’s a long way to come and for many a once in a lifetime opportunity.

TAKING A CYCLONE BREAK

“New Zealand is a wonderful country for sailors. The Bay of Islands Is a world-class cruising area, and many folks never get any further. Whangarei is also a large cruising center, and there are excellent haulout yards “ Jim Corneman – Letters from the South Pacific

Irrespective of how fast or slow your pace, when November approaches most cruisers will be considering their options for the cyclone season. Some cruisers spend the summer in Pacific Islands, but they are playing with the odds as well as enduring the heat and humidity of the wet season. Many more look forward to a break from the islands for a while, and New Zealand is the logical destination for a cyclone break, especially if you are returning to the Pacific Islands for a second season.

AOTEAROA - NEW ZEALAND As an island nation, New Zealand's maritime traditions are deep rooted - from the earliest Polynesian settlers who migrated across the mighty Pacific, and the Europeans who voyaged from the other side of the world. Dependent on the sea for trade and communications, New boatsZealanders were forced to build seaworthy, reliable and to develop a deep understanding of seamanship. No part of of New Zealand is far from the coast and, from its thousands bays and coves, New Zealanders venture forth from an early age in all manner of boats. Our largest city, Auckland, is known as the 'city of sails' and is the host city for the next America’s Cup Regatta. The oftenquoted statistic is that there are more boats per capita in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world. In 2014, Auckland had over 135,000 registered boats, or one boat for approximately every 11 of the 1.45 million people living there. Unlike other parts of the world, sailing in New Zealand has never been an elitist pursuit. Many of New Zealand's top sailors began their careers in boats that emerged from hours of devoted labour in garages and backyard sheds.

THE PASSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND – CORRECTING THE MISINFORMATION Naturally the voyage from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand is always taken with a bit of trepidation, especially for firsttimers. For most cruisers, it is the first time sailing out of the predictable trade winds for many months, these concerns can be exacerbated by a lot of the misinformation that tends to circulate in cruising circles. A common one that is often heard being repeated is; “to get to New Zealand you have to face the notoriously dangerous Tasman Sea twice”. We would just like to take this opportunity to correct this misinformation by providing some navigational re-education to those that disseminate this. The Tasman Sea is in-fact a section of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, between the south-eastern coast of Australia and Tasmania to the west, and New Zealand on the east. Most cruisers heading to the East coast of New Zealand from the Pacific Islands will not encounter the Tasman Sea. With modern forecasting and a flexible timeframe, the trip from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand and return can be spectacular, with many yachts opting to stop at North Minerva Reef for an incredible mid ocean reef experience.

MINERVA REEF - A UNIQUE MID-OCEAN EXPERIENCE EN ROUTE TO NZ Weather develops in two areas that will affect the passage this time of year. One is from the south west; systems form to the east of Australia moving up and across the Tasman Sea. The other is from the north west; in the Coral Sea off the north eastern Australian coast where tropical depressions form, possibly growing to cyclones. Therefore, it is important like with all ocean crossings, to wait for a good weather window before departing on the 1200-mile journey.

Take the opportunity to do short day hops between anchorages and explore some of our fantastic hiking, safe in the knowledge that our wildlife cannot harm you…… shoes optional! Our sub-tropical waters also offer excellent swimming, snorkelling and diving with unique marine environments to experience……. and no need for stinger suits here! For the New Zealand summer – November though to April – large high-pressure systems tend to dominate the country, giving settled weather with light north-easterlies.

MARINE SERVICES – WORLD RENOWNED New Zealand boasts some of the most creative and dynamic marine industry professionals in the world, our boatbuilders are world renowned and we pride ourselves on using quality products and providing exceptional service. It is a great place for major projects with sailing-oriented marine services of all descriptions available at an affordable price. As international cruisers Customs will be provided with a temporary import permit for your vessel which will also enable you to get many things GST free automatically saving you 15%. You don’t have to request a GST refund on departure or prove that your projects were completed less than 60 days before you leave!

INDEPENDENT INFORMATION CHECK OUT THESE LINKS You don’t have to take our word for it, there is plenty of independent and unbiased information available online from fellow cruisers. Read the following report from cruising family who have recently completed the Tonga to New Zealand passage and had a fantastic stop in Minerva Reef with 11 other cruising yachts: https://sailingmirabella.com/2019/05/12/passage-to-new-zealand/

If we could do it again, how would we do it? This is a great retrospective article from cruisers who spent 2 seasons in the Pacific:

CRUISING NEW ZEALAND The northern part of the North Island is geographically subtropical and the southern part of the South Island is very close to the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic islands. For this reason, New Zealand offers a unique cruising experience contained within only 1000 miles of coastline between the two islands. Coastal cruising is very easy with thousands of excellent sheltered anchorages within a short distance of one another and plenty of very affordable marinas throughout New Zealand.

https://outchasingstars.com/2017/11/07/cruising-south-pacific/

North Minerva Reef – A once in a lifetime opportunity for a mid-ocean reef stop:https://www.facebook.com/pages/MinervaReefs/139017926117334

For some great information on passage planning to New Zealand, see this informative article on Noonsite. https://www.noonsite.com/report/passage-planning-from-the-swpacific-to-nz/

Join our Sail South Rally or Pacific Rally in 2024 and enjoy all that New Zealand has to offer!

With a friendly boating mad team always on hand to offer practical advice, tips, and make product recommendations, we’ve got the answer for you. Our chandlery will ensure you get back out on the water, faster! For any boating problems, come see the team at All Marine. Always on hand find that hard-to-find boat part you’ve been searching for – even if it’s not on our shelves – we’re sure to know where to find it. Priding ourselves on stocking our great product range and having fantastic service, shop online or come on down in store and have a yarn. Don’t see what you need? Give us a call, we’ll be happy to help. 09 438 4499 Check out our website here.

ISLAND CRUISING MEMBERS GET A GREAT DISCOUNT! Check your member's weekly newsletter for the discount code

Rally To Japan

or F nt & u o g c n i s i s i y D l u l % r 10 nd C r Ra e a d l n s I s U r n e b w o m D Me

Island Cruising NZ is proud to partner with Rocket Guides Cruising Guides for Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Rocket Cruising Guides have expert local knowledge on Anchorages, Routes, Marine Parks, Marinas, Yacht Agents, slipways, yacht repair facilities, supermarkets, marine hardware stores, welders, fitters, sail makers, internet, mobile phones, and more.

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally Members get a 20% discount on these amazing cruising resources Purchase Online here.

I have been based in New Zealand for the past 5 years after cruising on and off for 8 years, having sailed the East Coast of Africa, the West and East Coasts of Australia as well as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. My wife and I live on our boat and are still fully involved in the cruising lifestyle. I am a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand and, as a yachtie, have a particular interest in helping yachties with their immigration issues. Island Cruising NZ Members get a 30% discount

10% discount! Radix makes delicious meals, ideal for when it's rough or when you need to refuel on the go. Quick, easy, nutritious, delicious. Discounts for Island Cruising members Click here to order - discount code SAILNZ10

Are you Offshore Ready? Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members receive weekly emails with tips and suggestions on how to go about getting prepared for a long coastal or offshore voyage. There are webinars, videos, templates, downloads, and in person get togethers. Suitable for boat owners or crew members, experienced sailors or beginners alike You can start any time, and work through the topics at your own pace. Join in any time. Just NZD$129.00 per year and take advantage of our great sponsors deals too! Workshop topics include: EPIRBs Getting organised - a system for storing all VHF/AIS the information for your Passage Plan, Safety Communications Manual, Maintenance log, Important Man Over Board Documents, Boating Qualifications and more Fire Your vessel information - a template for Flooding collating all the specifications of your boat Abandon Ship The Cat 1 & 2 Regulations Preparing a Grab Bag Boat Registration Meteorology Reporting Incidents Tides Insuring your boat Docking VHF & MMSI Plumbing Meteorology - Forecasts Electrics Communication options at Sea Batteries Rig - rules for Cat 1 & 2 Charging systems Sails for offshore - the Cruising Wardrobe Keeping healthy Fire Safety Sail trim & new sails Anchoring Boat registration Your Maintenance Records Taking on crew Provisioning Dinghy tips EPIRB's Fog signals Your sailing resumé Biosecurity Navigation Seasickness COLREGS Coping in emergencies Passage planning Security Provisioning Skipper responsibility Safety gear Log keeping Diesel engine basics Search and Rescue Fuel systems Steering Servicing winches Heavy Weather Sailing Checking your rig Anchoring tips AND MUCH MORE! Sailing at night

Become a member now to join in www.islandcruising.nz

Discounts for ICNZ Members!

Clive Bennett clive.bennett@seaboatsbrokers.com +64 27 494 9799

Beneteau First 47.7 Performance Cruiser $290,000

Designed by Bruce Farr, the Beneteau First 47.7 builds on the phenomenal success of earlier Beneteau sailing craft. This true performance cruiser is strongly built and carefully engineered to deliver excellent sailing performance while retaining the essence of a comfortable easily handed cruising yacht. Features include a very spacious 3 cabin, twin head layout. The cockpit has fore and aft seating with single wheel steering. A well-appointed galley and saloon with ample room for entertaining plus a large dining table to starboard and settees located port and starboard. Forward of the saloon is the spacious master cabin. Plenty of well thought out storage onboard. There are three sets of swept back spreaders, a nine-tenths fractional rig. Under sail, it is well balanced, responsive and the ability of being able to be sailed hard or 2 handed cruising. This is an impressive boat for the money. More info here.

27m Luxury Sailing Charter Yacht Following a full refit this luxury yacht has been cruising in Thailand and Bangkok as a popular charter and event vessel. It is now available for sale as a profitable business or converted back to a private live aboard. Features include a log speedometer, battery charger, cockpit cushions, microwave oven, deep freezer, steering wheel, electric and manual bilge pumps, genoa, plotter, cockpit table and shower, autopilot, compass, battened mainsail, GPS, shore power inlet, wind speed and direction, refrigerator, VHF, generator, depth sounder, cockpit cover, bimini top and marine heads. More info here.

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally Providing cruisers with support, education & connection ·

Social Connection Running yacht rallies around New Zealand and the South Pacific Environmemt · Organising social events, activities and social media networks · Running a sustainable and environmentally · Learning about and being respectful of the cultures we visit sensitive organisation · Promoting positive social impact, community engagement and · Supporting local and global environmental long-lasting connections with the people we meet initiatives to protect the Ocean and the places we visit · ·

Support Being an inclusive, diverse and supportive community · Advocating for and assisting sailors in need · Advice on immigration clearances & formalities · Yacht tracking and shore crew support

Encouraging sailors to be eco-conscious and reduce their impact on the environment Promoting Citizen Science projects aimed at ocean health

Education Assisting sailors to prepare themselves, their vessel and crew for long coastal or offshore voyages · Promoting Safer Boating initiatives · Being a rich pool of knowledge, support and resources for cruisers · Encouraging upskilling and good seamanship

Collaboration · Supporting the strategic direction of Yachting New Zealand · Forming strong relationships with yacht clubs to promote longcoastal and offshore races, rallies and cruising events and activities · Promoting Safer Boating and good seamanship alongside Coastguard and Maritime New Zealand · Partnering with Down Under Rally to promote cruising in the South Pacific

Communication · Producing a regular newsletter to keep cruisers informed on the latest cruise news, upcoming events and promoting partner products & businesses. · Promoting the New Zealand Marine industry and providing a positive and mutually beneficial connection to their target market · Encouraging and welcoming international sailors to New Zealand

Thank you so much for all your support of Island Cruising and Down Under Rally throughout 2023. I am incredibly proud of this amazing cruising community made up of our members, rally participants and partner businesses and also to everyone else who has helped and supported us throughout 2023. Special thanks to John & Leanne Hembrow for all their help and confidence in me. I am looking forward to sharing many more sailing adventures with you in 2024 and beyond. Have a lovely Christmas, and I’ll see you in 2024!

Cheers Viki