February 26, 2020
Noonsite February Sailing News and Updates
Pacific Crossing

Passage season from Panama across the Pacific is upon us with the Galapagos, French Polynesia and Pacific islands gearing up for the seasonal influx of yachts.

Read our Pacific Planning Advice to help with your route planning based on facilities available in the various island groups and know your Pacific Radio Nets .

More INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS continues with a two-part article from Richard Chesher, marine scientist and author of the Rocket Guides for New Caledonia and Vanuatu, on how to Cruise Kindly .

Part 1 covers a number of reminders on how the cruising community can better care for coral, birds, reef creatures and the marine environment. Keep following INSIGHTS for more thought-provoking articles from our guest contributors and Part 2 of Cruising Kindly in a couple of weeks.
Good News from the Maldives
Historically a country that favored land-based tourists more than those arriving on their own keel, Maldives clearance costs are set to reduce substantially from 1st April, 2020 in an effort to make this island group more cruiser/sailor friendly.

As a convenient stop-over for yachts bound for either the Red Sea or en-route via the Cape of Good Hope, the lower prices will be welcomed by many who up until now could not justify the high clearance costs for a short stopover.
The following advertisement is by a cruiser who needs to hear from other skippers that have experienced similar problems with taking on fuel in Langkawi, Malaysia.
FEEDBACK WANTED:

LANGKAWI MALAYSIA: CONTAMINATED DIESEL FUEL UPLIFT.


Our 25m sailing yacht suffered catastrophic damage to its fuel systems and generator whilst at sea resulting from contaminated fuel uplifted in Langkawi in June 2018. Two separate laboratory fuel tests have confirmed the fuel was contaminated with salt water and declared unfit for use.

For the record: The “delivering facility” deny outright that they are the source of contaminated fuel, heads firmly in the sand. Furthermore, it now appears that the “delivering facility” may never have held the required license to sell fuel. This is now the subject of litigation in the commercial division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The substantial damage, caused by salt water contaminated fuel, can be insidious but is clearly identified by heavily rusted fuel filters. In the interest of public safety and natural justice we wish to hear from any other vessels that may have been likewise affected.

You are invited (in strictest confidence) to contact:


Overland Trucking to Avoid the Red Sea
Max Dirkzwager from Holland chose desert sailing from Oman to Aquaba rather than undertaking the passage north on his own keel through the Red Sea. An alternative option to reach Europe from the Indian Ocean, but not for the faint-hearted!
Cruisers Get Together at Bluewater Weekend
Sestina-ARC10
Ever wondered what would be the ideal cruising sailboat for your offshore adventure?

Can't decide if it should be two hulls or one; aft cockpit or center?

Have you thought about how you might live aboard, or fund your bluewater lifestyle?

Well, you are not the first cruiser to ponder these questions, but now World Cruising Club can help you get together with experienced bluewater cruisers to give you some answers. Their unique "Bluewater Weekend" at Berthon's Lymington Marina will take place again over the weekend of 21/22 June 2020.

This free to attend, drop in and chat weekend, mixes presentations about how to buy a boat and plan a refit, with panel discussions about how to cruise and enjoy the live-aboard life. They will also showcase some excellent, well fitted-out cruising boats, both brokerage and privately owned, for you to view. Best of all you can chat face-to-face with other ex-ARC skippers and learn first-hand from them about how they planned and lived their lives afloat.

You can attend the weekend, or parts of it, as a visitor, or if you would like to show your own boat then get in touch as World Cruising Club are seeking willing volunteer boat owners as well. The Bluewater Weekend is free to attend, but pre-registration is essential , plus there is an optional social on the Saturday evening.
The Noonsite Community: Portrait of a Cruiser
Canadian powerboat cruisers Andy and Julie Nemier left Vancouver on their Nordhavn ’62 Infinity in 2013. Currently cruising Australia they are “loosely” circumnavigating at a slow and leisurely pace with family joining them from time to time.

Only the second motor boat owners to take part in our Portrait series their answers give a good insight into why long-distance cruising under power can have its advantages.

If you think you have an interesting story to tell and would like to take part in our Portrait of a Cruiser series, please contact Sue at editor@noonsite.com .
Last Call for Bluewater Seminars – March 2020
It is not too late to book your place at one of World Cruising Club’s bluewater seminars held during March in the UK, Norway and the US.

They combine classroom lectures with group discussions and one-on-one interaction with speakers sharing knowledge from those who have ‘been there and done it’.

Whilst attendees may come away with a longer list of boat jobs, these preparatory seminars will most definitely provide lots of answers, useful tips and save valuable time and money.

Topics range from weather to offshore communications, rigging to safety equipment, power generation to medical kits and many more essential themes to help you prepare for a happy life afloat.

  • London, UK: 14-15 March 2020
  • Oslo, Norway: 21-22 March 2020
  • Annapolis MD, USA: 28-29 March
Become a part of the Noonsite Community:
From the Archives:
Reflections on Antipodean Cruising : Continuing Noonsite's celebration of 20 years on the web and a depth of content to match, this month we go back to 2014 and a report by the Bright family comparing Australia and New Zealand to the rest of the South Pacific. The Bight family have now completed their circumnavigation but their blog holds a great deal of useful information .
Cruising News from around the world:
Book of the Month

A beginners’ guide for short and long-distance cruising in the digital age. The author shares his experience of crossing the Pacific Ocean in an inexpensive, good old boat and provides solid advice for each step along the way.
Links from Around the Web
How to get more out of Noonsite

Whilst Noonsite  continues to be a free resource, there are some ways you can get more involved with the site:

Register with Noonsite:
Quick and simple to set-up, registering on the site means you can contribute comments to all ports, countries and reports and take advantage of exclusive offers and discounts. Click on "login" to create a profile.

E-mail us with updates and reports:
For more detailed cruising reports and any cruising-related questions, contact the noonsite team directly at  noonsite@noonsite.com .

Follow us on Twitter:  @NoonsiteEditor  
For notification of site updates, new info, news and cruising articles.
Don't want to sail home? Transport your yacht by ship
If you want your boat back fast, then shipping may be the solution. 

Companies like Peters & May arrange for your yacht to be shipped from the US Virgin Islands to Southampton or the Mediterranean or ports in the USA. 

As the official logistics partner to the ARC Rally, Peters & May are the number one choice to ship home the yachts of a number of regular and new participants each year.
Find Crew with Ocean Crew Link
Need crew? Want to find new sailing buddies? Then visit Ocean Crew Link, the only crew connect website specifically for ocean voyaging.

Add your boat and opportunity and it will be emailed to over 11,000 sailors worldwide. If you want to find a boat, then hop aboard as we have over 150 active sailing opportunities open all the time.