Ocean outlook: Pacific and Indian Ocean

Pacific Ocean © Noonsite

Pacific:

A great selection of reports from cruisers in the Pacific have come in this month: SY Sea Bella report on the delights and challenges of cruising the Tuamotus for 6 months; SY Jamala outline the many beautiful anchorages they visited in Fiji; and SV Uhuru of London report on the solitude and adventure of cruising in the Solomon Islands.

There has been plenty of storm activity all over the Pacific this month. October began with category 5 Super Typhoon Bolaven, which impressed meteorologists with its near perfect circular eye, but fortunately stayed out in the open Western Pacific. While Australia's Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a below average number of tropical cyclones for the 2023-24 South Pacific season (November to April), New Zealand's NIWA and MetService assessment indicates normal to above normal activity. A week before the start of the south Pacific cyclone season, TC Lola raged over Vanuatu - the 4th TC this year to impact Vanuatu after Irene, Judy & Kevin last season from January to March 2023.

Between October 9 to 25, western Mexico was hit by four consecutive eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones. Three were hurricanes at landfall [Norma was rapidly weakening]. Lidia and Otis were major hurricanes that rapidly intensified on approach to land. The devastation includes Acapulco Yacht Club, with docks completely destroyed and boats piled on top of one another. Cruising boats heading south to Mexico this winter should be aware of debris in the water, missing navigation marks, hurricane damage to docks and limited berth availability. YachtAid Global are providing disaster relief across the communities impacted by these hurricanes.

If planning to visit the Las Perlas Islands en-route from Panama to the Galapagos, check out this useful report from a cruiser who spent some time cruising there this season. Following a spate of attacks on yachts 8 months ago, it is recommended to visit with caution.

French Polynesia has introduced new rules for long term visa holders requesting a Carte De Séjour (temporary resident card). All documents must now be in French which incurs extra cost and delay and a few extra certificates are required. Full details at French Polynesia Immigration.

The South Pacific Yachting Survey for Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu visitors, that we profiled last month, has seen a good response to date for Tonga. More feedback from cruises that have visited Vanuatu is needed. If you have visited Vanuatu in the past or are moving on from there as the season comes to a close, please take a few minutes to take part in the survey. There is a prize draw for all respondents with fully completed responses.

If you've had the luck to sail to Vanuatu, or it's on your wish list, then think about helping the iconic Port Resolution Yacht Club which was destroyed by cyclones earlier this year and needs to get back on its feet. Last month's newsletter saw 2 donations totalling $400, let's see if we can generate more support this month.

?Palau in Micronesia has a new entry form for visiting yachts, that must be completed and sent in advance. In addition, new navigation aids have also recently been added by the USCG to the main entrance channels to Koror.

Yachts clearing out of Australia should be aware that an appointment is required with Australian Border Force in order to process departure paperwork and several days-notice is required. ABF in Darwin, for example, require at least five-days-notice for departing vessels.

New Zealand's MPI updated their Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for Vessels this month and there are changes which do impact recreational vessels arriving in New Zealand. Find out more details at this news item.

Indian:

Madagascar now requires not only an entry permit, but also an exit permit which can take over 4 days to obtain. If heading to South Africa, proof that application to enter via OSASA has been made must also be shown before permission to leave Madagascar will be granted.

Located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Channel and 150 miles from Madagascar, the French island of Mayotte is a popular stopover for yachts crossing the Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Africa. Read this recent report from SV Endless Summer on checking into and out of the island and yacht services there.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com