Noonsite February Sailing News and Updates |
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Having looked back at the last two years of February newsletters, it’s wonderful that this Spring we can all look forward to freedom cruising once more. We can go where we want, when we want, with no restrictions and loads of choice.
Work of a different kind continues behind-the-scenes at Noonsite to address a number of issues our users have been having, such as unresponsive buttons, inability to log-in, timeouts etc. and re-development work is almost at completion. One trick if having problems is to return to the homepage and start again. We ask you to be patient with the site, safe in the knowledge that a much-improved user experience is coming very soon.
Until then - fair winds,
Sue and the Noonsite Team.
Previous newsletters can be viewed here.
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Smart with Seaweed
Seaweed of a different nature is proving to be not quite so useful in the Atlantic and Caribbean, as Sargassum continues to pile up on beaches and float in vast mats on the surface of the ocean, a problem which has gone on for more than a decade. The incidence and size of algal blooms in the Caribbean and West Africa has been growing due to rising water temperatures, fertilizer release into the ocean and increased Sahara dust clouds, which stimulate algal growth. Attempts to use Sargassum as fertilizer, food, biofuel, construction material or medicinal products continue, but many Caribbean islands are unable to remove the vast amounts of the seaweed because they are struggling financially and have limited resources, not to mention the environmental impact when removing the seaweed with heavy machinery. Use the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) to help with your cruising choices, designed to use satellite data and numerical models to detect and track pelagic Saragassum in near-real-time throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
If you can’t beat it, then eat it! Sailors report on the best type of seaweed to put on your plate and how to cook it:
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There are very few sailors who haven’t heard of the Caribbean-based weather and routing guru Chris Parker, who generously gives his time and knowledge on a daily basis to the cruising community via his SSB Nets and website. Listening is free and he offers a subscription service for tailored forecasts and routing advice.
As a youngster, Chris enjoyed boating with his dad and bought his first boat at age 12. He forecasted the weather each day during 3rd grade through high school and then studied Meteorology for two years at Lyndon State College in Vermont. Chris and his partner were liveaboards for 12 years in the Caribbean/East US Coast – along with Wizard the cat – and cruised an average of 5,000 miles each year. It was during this time that he developed much of his weather knowledge and his cruising friends realized his special skill at marine weather forecasting, hailing him on SSB & VHF radios for forecasts.
In 2003, when David Jones passed away, Chris became Chief Forecaster for the Caribbean Weather Center. Having always wanted to run his own weather forecasting service he started Marine Weather Center in late 2010, providing weather forecasting and routing advice to mainly small, private yachts. The Center now has 4 other meteorologists on the team.
In addition to emailed regional forecasts, livestreamed webcasts, SSB net forecasts, and individual routing, Chris also uses Facebook Live during hurricane season. The combination of accuracy, breadth of local knowledge, patient and affable attitude and range of forecast products provided are what make Chris so valuable an asset for cruising sailors in the Caribbean and North Atlantic.
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“An 18-foot manta gracefully gliding inches away, staring directly at us with one of its big black eyes, is truly one of the most powerful and wondrous experiences we’ve ever had.”
After spending 17 weeks over three years diving with oceanic manta rays at the Islas Revillagigedo, Pacific Mexico, Bruce and Alene of SY Migration completely fell in love with these beautiful and curious fish. They began sharing their photographs of the manta rays they came across with the Pacific Manta Research Group (PMRG) and then realised that many others in the cruising community could assist with “eyes” on the manta ray population as they cruise Mexican waters.
Working with the PMRG Bruce and Alene created a brochure that they hope will inform and inspire cruisers to keep an eye out for oceanic mantas and report any sightings. The data will be used by researchers to develop maps of the mantas’ migratory routes, and perhaps help create protocols to avoid ship strikes and protect their habitat.
If you are sailing through the Pacific waters of Mexico, please download the brochure. If you are not in Mexico but have friends sailing in that area, please share this project with them.
Let us know how you’ve been getting involved with the local community projects as you cruise and we’ll feature your story here.
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A new resource for sailing families has been launched. The weekly newsletter ‘Families Afloat’ aims to provide inspiration, stories and invaluable information for sailing families to help them while they are out cruising, and, provide an insight into the lifestyle for those that want to get out sailing with their children. Produced by founder UK sailor Robyn Hawkins, it’s full of stories, tips, links to YouTube videos and useful resources. Robyn also gives an insight into what it’s really like to live on a sailboat, having done it for 5 years, full time, with a baby/toddler on board.
The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) has announced a Spring schedule of SSCA complementary webinars covering topics which include Offshore Communications, Electronic Charts and Cooking on Board.
Pacific-based Coastal & Offshore Cruising Intl. operated by experienced South Pacific cruisers John and Lyn Martin, are running a new online Offshore Cruising Preparation Course in late March. Leading up to the course will be a series of free webinars that will give potential attendees a good grasp of the course syllabus and how it will be presented. Find out what the course covers, how it can benefit potential offshore cruisers, and how to sign up for the C&OC Int. Free Webinars here.
If you have anything to share with those new to the cruising life, send us an e-mail, we’d love to hear your tips, recommendations and advice.
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(image courtesty of SV Totem)
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Alain Borel - SV Telemaque
Alain, from Switzerland, owns an aluminium-hulled ketch, on which he has been long distance cruising since 2019, from France to the Caribbean. As a self-employed computer engineer, Alain has developed a number of online solutions while living on board, all linked to life at sea or near the coasts. In this report for Noonsite he describes his motivation to create a blogging platform for sailors.
Jonas and Carina - SV Sally
Swedish couple Jonas and Carina live full time aboard their Hallberg-Rassy 48 “Sally”. They have been cruising in Europe and the Caribbean since 2019. On their blog ”Sailing Sally” they share stories and publish articles about technology, weather, boat repairs and electrical systems on board. You can also watch their adventures on their YouTube channel.
The Ocean Cruising Club Awards
If you think you have a blog/vlog that Noonsite users will find interesting and useful, let us know.
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Pacific:
Keith Vial, acting commodore for the Niue Yacht Club (NYC), reports on significant developments both for the survival of the Club and improvements in systems for visiting yachts, through NZ Aid. See comments at the bottom of this report.
Long term supporter of cruisers in Tonga, Greg Just of Tropicana Café, Vava’u, is encouraging cruising boats to visit Tonga. He has sent an update on the latest situation there; “Maritime borders reopened 27 September 2022. Less than 50 yachts entered Tonga in 2022, Vava'u alone normally gets 500+ a year. Nearly 3 years with no income and very little government assistance, workforce heavily depleted by seasonal work to NZ and Australia from 2019, huge increases in these numbers 2022/2023 have all left the tourism sector in a sad state. Nuku'alofa and Ha'apai also had significant Volcano and Tsunami damage. There were 65 cases of Covid in the last week of February 2023. On 15th January 2022, the appearance of the new island Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) destroyed the domestic Fibre for Ha’apai and Vava’u. Starlink provisioned an earth station in Fiji and have provided 50 free Starlinks to Tonga until the fibre is replaced (some time between March and June this year).
Effective 14 February 2023, international travellers to Fiji are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and travel insurance.
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South China Sea:
Krabi River Marina in SW Thailand recently closed due to lack of management and while it was still possible to tie up there, a fire last week that resulted in melting the plastic “lego” pontoons, means it’s now prohibited to enter.
If cruising to Indonesia, applications and extensions for visa on arrival can now be done online.
The Down Under Rally have a free webinar on Monday March 13, covering route options and formalities when sailing from Australia to Indonesia. The webinar will be recorded for those who cannot join the live event.
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Indian:
Cyclone Freddy travelled for more than 15 days over 7,000 km (4,350 miles) of the Indian Ocean this month, before making landfall in Madagascar – just a month after storm Cheneso battered the island nation of 29 million, killing 33 people and forcing thousands from their homes.
South Africa’s current power supply crisis, which involves daily electricity load shedding, is affecting lighthouses, boatyards and marinas, causing serious concern to the country’s recreational sailing community and visiting yachts.
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Red Sea:
By the end of February, yachts are busy crossing the Red Sea in both directions. The big news is that the HRA designation has been lifted, and this should be reflected with insurance coverage starting to be offered to vessels. Experienced cruiser and Red Sea passage maker Wade Alarie, admin for the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group, outlines the latest situation for those planning a Red Sea passage and gives his recommendations and advice.
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Caribbean Sea:
Unsettled weather in the Caribbean this season has seen fronts making their way down as far south as Guadeloupe, an unusual occurrence that means the winds and squalls have been fairly relentless. Finding decent weather to make a move has been challenging for many cruisers.
Mid-March sees another SSCA gathering of yachts at Black Point, Exumas, Bahamas, hosted by Lorraine’s Café and Bakery. The event is open to all boaters, but is sponsored and supported by SSCA. This is an opportunity to donate school supplies (paper notebooks, black pens, scissors, coloring materials, sports equipment etc.) which Lorraine hands out to the island’s youngsters.
Effective 1 February 2023, yachts sailing to or from the Turks and Caicos Islands must use SailClear to submit information about their voyage to Customs and Immigration at least 24 hours before arrival or departure.
SailClear can also be used to enter Belize. Read this feedback from a cruiser who recently cleared into San Pedro, concerned about the high fees.
Yachts transiting the Panama Canal should be aware that lines used in transit may well become oily, greasy and/or stained from rusty moorings and dirt from the locomotive railways. Agent Erick Galvez has brought this to the attention of the Panama Canal Authority urging a solution be sought, but yachts transiting should be aware that lines coming back from the wall, or moorings in Gatun, may bring unwanted dirt back to the boat, and appropriate precautions should be taken.
Erick also recommends that yachts coming from Colombia to Panama or going to San Blas Islands first, should check in with the Port captain in Puerto Obaldia and request a manual cruising permit on the spot. Cruising permits are taking almost two weeks in Main ports through their data system. There also have been reports about an individual in the San Blas acting as a “clearance agent” and charging excessive fees for assisting with clearance. Sailors should avoid this person and go directly to the Port Captain in Puerto Obaldia if checking in or checking out.
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Atlantic:
Orca interactions continue off the western Iberian Peninsula. Two WhatsApp conversation groups for yachts transiting the Spanish/Portuguese Atlantic coast have been established by Portuguese sailor Rui. “Last Autumn I began to think about how to reduce the risk of an incident with an orca, and one solution that occurred to me was to share in the sailors' community the position of orcas in a similar system as we do with car accidents.” One of the groups is for sharing the location of orcas only, and the other is a discussion group to exchange experiences and mitigation actions to avoid an incident. The groups now have more than 500 members and are very active with many yachts transiting the coast reporting on their route taken, and if orcas have been sighted or not. Go to https://linktr.ee/orcas.portugal to sign up.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida is hosting a series of Weather Hazards Workshops in March for mariners and sailors who want to learn how to access and interpret weather forecasts and warnings while at sea and before setting out.
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Mediterranean:
Two earthquakes hit southern Turkey on the border with Syria on February 6th leaving hundreds dead, thousands more injured and generated a small tsunami which was recorded on the nearby island of Cyprus. Reports received from surrounding countries indicate that there has been no damage to marine infrastructures in the region.
The team at YachtAid Global has initiated Operation Lalesi focusing on providing shelters for those who lost their homes, and specialty items such as heaters, blankets, infant care foods and needed medications and medical supplies.
If you are planning some European/Mediterranean cruising this year, the CA are hosting a useful seminar on 8 March to include discussions on orcas, windfarms, VAT and post-Brexit cruising. You can find out more and book on the CA calendar.
Do you want to see more updates from your part of the world? Send us news and new information that’s of interest to visiting yachts and we’ll include it in our newsletters – e-mail editor@noonsite.com
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Five years ago, Alison Gieschen and her husband Dan sold everything they owned and moved aboard a sailboat with the intention to sail to every continent on the planet. Now, half-way through their planned 10-year odyssey, Alison has identified six items on board that they really could not do without.
A second circumnavigation instalment from Rick and Candy of SY Independence, featuring their experiences on passage to the Turks and Caicos from the USA and their time cruising these Islands.
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After reporting from Easter Island last month, Canadian cruisers Brent Crack and Mary Bevan share another report from an even more remote spot in the Pacific, Pitcairn Island, an experience, they say, that would be hard to replicate anywhere else. Further westward across the South Pacific, they have now reached French Polynesia and also report on clearing into the Gambier Islands. Next month we’ll hear from them in the Tuamotus.
After Covid, many sailing yachts have set their course north. If you want to sail in the high latitudes someday, then the new edition of the book Sail to Svalbard, by Jon Amtrup, is the first step in the right direction. Tromsø in northern Norway to Svalbard will take 3-4 days, and put you right among icebergs, glaciers, polar bears, and stunning wildlife. Jon’s advice; “The climate is changing, and the number of visitors is increasing. If you dream of visiting the Svalbard wilderness, start setting a date and make your plans. It will be worth it. You might even catch the polar bug.”
Perpetual daylight, icebergs, rafting-up, good food, snow-topped mountains, glaciers. Ben Zartman describes cruising in Greenland for Cruising World magazine.
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Construction
With a hull and deck built to Lloyd's Certification and a versatile Solent/Cutter rig, the rugged construction and multiple sail plan options combine to deliver safe, effective passage-making abilities in all kinds of weather. Want to make 200-mile days under sail? This is your boat!
Interior
Below decks, smart use of space, warm, rich cabinetry and luxurious fabrics unite for elegant social areas, generous storage and secure accommodations.
Ownership History
ENCORE II has been in the hands of the current owners for more than 20 years who have enjoyed her in the Great Lakes, South Pacific and the Caribbean. Having gone through two refits during their ownership, you will find ENCORE II ready to go and nicely equipped for your next adventure.
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This month's security reports can be viewed here.
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LINKS WE LIKE FROM AROUND THE WEB |
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By Scott Burbank
Interior Waypoints is an absorbing exploration of the more remote parts of Central and South America by boat and foot. This book is Scott’s story as he sails from Florida to Colombia, single-handed, meeting up with his wife Susan Aramovich from time-to-time as she land travels in tandem with Scott. It is a detailed immersion in sailing in the NW Caribbean - including challenges faced when sailing single-handed, the nature of offshore passages in this part of the world, liveaboard life and the beauty of having foldable kayaks on board - as well as a wonderful insight into the land exploration that can be enjoyed while cruising this coast.
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Spuma Maris - an innovative biodegradable boat cleaning product.
It is solvent free and dissolves in nature in only 10 days. New bag on valve technology allows to spray even with bottle upside down and it is CO2 free - ozone friendly, as it works with pressurised air. It does not foam or smell and gives excellent cleaning results. It is mainly intended for boats, but is applicable for any use and material.
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How to get more out of Noonsite
While the majority of Noonsite continues to be a free resource, there are some ways you can get more enhanced viewing and more involved with the site:
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Become a Member:
Starting from just $2.99/month you can benefit from enhanced access to key areas of Noonsite via our membership program. Your subscription will help keep the site on the web as part of a growing community of supporters. Our free membership is available to all but does come with a ‘fair use’ policy limiting access to country formalities each month. Enjoy unlimited access via our Basic Membership for just $2.99 a month, which also gives you the Noonsite community map, where you can view at a glance marine services worldwide, ports of entry and post your favorite anchorages. Noonsite Premium Membership add offline access to port and country formalities information to use when on passage.
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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.
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