Noonsite October Sailing News and Updates
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October is a transition month. Cruisers in the Mediterranean are preparing to cross the Atlantic to warmer Caribbean waters for the winter. On the US East Coast, it’s time for the fall migration down the ICW and on the West Coast, boats will soon be heading south to Mexico.
In the South Pacific the Tropical Cyclone Season officially begins on 1 November and boats are now moving onwards towards NZ and Australia. Indian Ocean passage makers are making landfall in South Africa, where many will stay for Christmas.
Thousands of sailors are on the move as the seasons change and the oceans are active once again.
Wherever your next passage may take you, remember to give a little back to Noonsite. We welcome your feedback, cruising reports, news and port updates. Share what you’ve learnt with your fellow Noonsite users and help those following in your wake. Posting a comment on the site is quick and easy, just register for free first. Think about becoming a paid member, which costs less than the price of a sundowner after a hard day's sailing and helps us maintain Noonsite (plus all the member benefits you get too!).
Read on for a wealth of cruising news from around the world, reports from you our users, tips, recommendations and interesting links from around the web. If you missed last month's news, previous newsletters can be viewed here. We hope you enjoy October's newsletter.
Safe passage,
Sue and the Noonsite Team.
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TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition
Inspire Youth to Save Our Planet is the mission of the Schwoerer family, Dario, Sabine and their five children, whose global sailing journey has taken them over 100,000 miles and to over 100 countries making presentations on climate change to over 100,000 students with a message of hope to inspire students and communities to act for a better future.
Want to help the oceans while on passage? Here is a selection of Citizen Science projects you can be a part of while underway:
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Eddie and Glenn Tuttle are well known amongst cruisers in the Bahamas and US East Coast for the unfailing support they have provided over the years through their Cruisers Radio Nets. Both have years of cruising experience and are HAM radio operators, working for cruisers on a purely volunteer basis.
They established the SSCA Radio Service in 2015 to better inform cruisers of news, security and safety issues in the Caribbean and to assist with float plans, boat to shore comms, medical queries and much more. Then in 2019 they took over Boatwatch with the mission to maintain a worldwide network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue; have a boat stolen; or to whom urgent messages need to be relayed.They operate Boatwatch.org from their home in Punta Gorda, FL or from anywhere on their boat.
Glenn told Noonsite, “Our goal (with Boatwatch) is to use our investigative experience as retired FBI Agents, coupled with our past experience as full-time liveaboards for over 30 years on both sail and powerboats, as well as full-time cruising in the Caribbean for 10 years, as a knowledge base to enhance the existing International Boat Watch Network into a fully engaged resource available to the entire cruising community when a cruiser is overdue or missing anywhere in the world.” Latest BOLOs and news from Boatwatch can be viewed on their facebook page and website.
All of us here at Noonsite want to say thank you to Eddie and Glenn for the incredible selfless support they have given to the cruising community for so many years, and this month they are our cruising legends.
Tell us who you think should be recognised for their services to cruisers and we’ll mention them in subsequent newsletters.
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Let’s talk about Security
It is heart breaking to receive reports from cruisers who have been boarded while at anchor and burgled, whether it be during the night, while ashore or while down below. Sometimes these incidents involve weapons and are violent. In most incidents neither the vessel, nor the stolen equipment were locked. Just this month in Sal, Cape Verdes, cruisers who went ashore (but left their big dog on board), returned to find their unlocked boat had been burgled. Fortunately, the robbers were caught. In Soufriere, St. Lucia, another serious boarding occurred just one month after a similar incident in the same bay, when an unlocked boat was boarded in the early hours of the morning by armed men and robbed.
Nowadays, cruisers should treat their yachts like they do their homes on land, their dinghies and outboards like their cars. Going out, or going to bed, and leaving your doors and windows wide open, your car out front unlocked, is just asking for trouble in all but the most isolated spots. Secure your valuables that you have to leave on deck, and stow the rest below out of sight. Consider security measures so you sleep better at night (our security page has some helpful links), and know before you go. Review the security section for each country you want to visit on Noonsite (opening page of each country) and if heading to the Caribbean, check out the detailed information on the Caribbean Safety and Security Net, another incredible free resource provided by volunteers.
Relatively new to the liveaboard cruising life, Connie and Greg of Sailing Waiata left England as brand-new sailors 14 months ago and have since sailed over 7,000 nm. “Every day we still learn a lot so we started a ‘today I learned’ titbit that we share daily about something we have learned about living aboard. Each is a snack-sized brief item about something we wish we’d known earlier. We hope it will be of help to some of your readers.”
Increase your Bluewater Knowledge
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The Salty Dawg webinar series is open to members and non-members (for a small fee), and is very comprehensive covering topics from weather, to energy management and provisioning. Aimed at passagemakers heading south who want to increase their bluewater knowledge, all are recorded for those who register but can’t make the actual webinar.
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The Cruising Association hosted a webinar for members and non-members this month on ‘Channel Crossing Paperwork Procedures’, which has also been published for public viewing (free to all). The webinar addresses the changes to paperwork and processes for arriving to and departing from France since the UK left the EU, with an overview of what to expect in 2023.
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When you are out sailing in the middle of the ocean, it is so good knowing that you have got people back home who are able to assist you if – or when – you need them. New Zealand sailor Viki Moore passes on some valuable advice.
Kean and Nyree Chung purchased Kaizen, an Oyster 49 in 2017 and sailed their first ARC in 2020 with their two children, aged 11 and 7. Once in the Caribbean, the family joined World ARC 2021. Here, they share their practical advice for anyone preparing and planning their own blue-water adventure.
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The Book of Sail
Bill Cullen, also known in some circles as “Captain Billy”, lives in Tampa, USA, and has been a professional captain and delivery skipper for 50 years. He was a yacht broker for a decade, and owned and restored two dozen sailboats. Having over 100,000 miles of offshore racing, cruising, and delivery experience that include duties as captain, navigator, cook, tactician, helmsman, repairman, and quite often “all of these at once”, Bill has accumulated a great deal of knowledge over the years which he now shares with other sailors via his website.
“The Book of Sail” is where you can learn about some great cruising equipment, gadgets, useful ideas, and on occasion, some sailing wisdom. It’s a treasure trove of information for coastal cruisers or those sailing across oceans, for newbies or old salts. Many of Bill’s ideas can save you money, save your back, and make you more comfortable on the boat. We particularly love the idea of using lingerie bags to organise the food in the fridge!
If you think you have a blog/vlog that you think Noonsite users will find interesting and useful, let us know.
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Pacific:
Long-term Belgian cruiser Luc Callebaut is currently making his way to New Zealand with the GLY World Odyssey 500. Having last visited the Pacific on board his own yacht between 1999 and 2012, Luc shares his 2022 experience of Panama, the Galapagos and French Polynesia in Part 1 and Part 2 of a Pacific Crossing Update, discussing how these places have changed over the years and giving plenty of useful local recommendations.
Denarau Marina in Fiji are holding their annual cyclone meeting in preparation for the season this Friday (28 October). All cruisers with pre-registration welcome. Included is a presentation by Fiji Met Service, Port Denarau’s Tsunami procedures and protocols plus a Sea Mercy volunteer drive. Contact reservations@denaraumarina.com .
Yachts intending to visit Vanuatu should note that Port Vila Customs are only open from 8am - 5pm Mondays to Fridays. Yachts arriving after 5pm on a Friday will have to wait on board until Monday morning to clear into the country, unless special dispensation to clear in at the weekend has been prior arranged.
As yachts migrate for NZ and the imminent summer season down under, many will be pushing past Auckland and cruising further south towards Stewart Island – now becoming a popular spot with foreign yachts. A new cruising guide for Stewart Island/Rakiura has been published as a free pdf download, hosted on the Otago Yacht Club website. It is very different to the older guide, has chartlets and satellite photos to illustrate the anchorages, covers Otago Harbour, the Catlins Coast, and of course, the Island itself..
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Indian:
Madagascar’s maritime borders for yachts are still not officially open, however it has been confirmed by authorities in Nosy-Be that yachts can enter there if prior special authorisation has been granted by the Ministry of Transport at APMF Headquarters (Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale). Find out more at Noonsite’s Madagascar Formalities.
For a taste of the Indian Ocean watch this short film of Bob Hobman's attempt in 1986 to sail across the Indian Ocean in a primitive native craft with the aim to show that the people of Madagascar, who originally came from Indonesia 2,500 years ago, sailed, not in a series of stages, but directly across the Indian Ocean, in one of the great epic voyages of history. His voyage took 65 days.
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South China Sea:
Thailand has now lifted all Covid-19 restrictions, but do be careful that you carefully follow all clearance protocols, including internal domestic clearance. Cruisers in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces warn that when moving from one province to another, not only must an official form be filled in for check-out domestically, but a visit must be made to the harbour master’s office before departure to confirm. Fines for not doing so are in the region of 5000 Baht ($133). This rule has been in place for some time, however, it’s only now that many regions are enforcing it.
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Caribbean Sea:
Working closely with the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada, the guide has all the useful charts and information on navigation, marinas and services, plus expanded sections on snorkeling and diving, environmental concerns, and giving back to the community.
Available in print November 2022.
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Atlantic:
Many boats are making their way to the Canary Islands, or waiting for weather windows to make the passage. Remember to plan in advance if heading to one of the 15 government run ports as pre-booking is required via the Puerto Canarios website or app. You will likely be turned away if you have not booked a berth in advance. A new Canary Islands cruising guide has just been published by Fernhurst books. The ebook is now available and the printed book will be on sale from 15 November, 2022. See our book review at the end of the newsletter. More about cruising the Canaries in the low season can be found in this article for Noonsite by Remi Blanchet.
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Mediterranean:
Learn about the importance of Posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean, the impact anchoring has on these ecosystems and the legislation currently in force restricting anchoring in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Malta and Spain.
If you are starting to think about next year’s cruising plans and the Mediterranean is in your sights, these links to articles and resources on Noonsite and elsewhere on the web will help with your planning and preparation.
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Red Sea:
In Egypt, the Ministry of Maritime Transport has issued new procedures for yacht entry into Egypt, with once again, increased fees. Currently the new fee structure has not been introduced in the Suez Canal marinas, therefore agents recommend checking into Egypt in Suez if possible.
New guidelines have been published by World Sailing and the RYA for yacht skippers who may be considering a passage through the Gulf of Aden, Yemeni and Somali waters. Their guidance focuses on piracy and safety abroad and states that although the number of successful pirate attacks on merchant shipping in the area has greatly reduced, the danger of piracy and consequent loss of life and property in the GoA (Gulf of Aden), Yemeni and Somali waters (up to 750 miles offshore) remains high. They stress that greater use of firearms in recent months indicates an increase in aggression and risk to all mariners in the area.
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Five years ago, Alison Gieschen and her husband Dan sold everything they owned and moved aboard a sailboat with a plan to sail to every continent on the planet. They knew the journey would present many challenges, but what they didn’t know was the health benefits they would reap from their journey. “We have no house, no car, just a boat, a dinghy and two collapsible bikes. In the five years we have been sailing we are fitter and healthier than we have been for a long time” Alison told Noonsite. “So I decided to research the scientific reasons that are contributing to the healthier versions of ourselves and was surprised at the myriad of the factors that contribute to why we look and feel younger.” In this month’s INSIGHTS Alison shares her findings as to why sailing makes you healthier.
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ASK THE NOONSITE COMMUNITY
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Question:
We plan to move our boat to Montenegro (from Croatia) in Spring of 2024. Could anyone please give us advice on good marinas where we might set up base? Cheers
Stephen & Julie
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Yacht transport solutions for World Cruisers
Your reliable transport partner for worldwide cruising destinations
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Check our upcoming annual Cruiser Sailings:
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Med to Caribbean and USA: October, November, December
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Med to Southeast Asia: September/October, November & December
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Med to Australia & New Zealand: September/ October
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USA to Pacific and Australia/NZ: December, January
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Asia, Pacific, Australia/NZ to USA and Med: March, April & May
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USA & Caribbean to Med and Europe: March, April & May
Welcome to contact us for other timings and destinations as well.
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LINKS WE LIKE FROM AROUND THE WEB
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Boatsitting 101:
A useful article by SAIL magazine on the do’s and don’ts of how to prepare for a caretaker coming on board when leaving your boat unattended for an extended period of time.
The Case for Boat Swapping: Canadian Ian Cameron wanted to explore other countries without having to charter. This article for Currents magazine explores the various boat exchanges he made over a number of years and the lessons learnt.
Why we went from sail to power:
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The Canary Islands are an idyllic cruising ground, either as a destination in their own right or for those on their way through the Atlantic. Winter charter is a popular option for Northern European sailors. This authoritative pilot guide by Marek Jurczyński, offers sailors a perfect handbook to the nine main islands, all 40 ports and 26 anchorages in this amazing archipelago.
Packed with comprehensive pilotage and nautical information as well as suggestions of where to eat and what to do ashore, it is designed to help you make the most of your visit to this fabulous area. It is enhanced with colour charts and detailed photography, including spectacular aerial shots of ports, harbours and anchorages.
Published by Fernhurst Books as a paperback and eBook, the Canary Islands Cruising Companion will be available to buy from all good bookshops, websites and direct from www.fernhurstbooks.com. It is part of Fernhurst Books’ Cruising Companion series of pilot guides offering local knowledge ashore and afloat.
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offers a discount to Noonsite members
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Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today!
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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.
E-mail us with updates and reports:
For more than just a comment, send us your detailed cruising reports and experiences around the world to publish on Noonsite and share with the community. Help us keep Noonsite accurate by feeding back any port updates or experiences of first-arrival in a new country. Any cruising-related questions are welcome, contact the noonsite team directly at noonsite@noonsite.com.
Join our 2500 plus followers for notification of site updates, new cruising reports and news and other cruising-related tweets we find of interest.
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Find Crew with Ocean Crew Link
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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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