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Noonsite October Sailing News & Updates

A New Face at Noonsite


Introducing our new Sub-Editor and Researcher, Megan Schwartz. Megan is the co-owner and co-skipper of SV Zephyros, a Boreal 47, aluminum, expedition monohull. She has been cruising full time with her family since 2017, traveling to over 35 different countries and territories throughout the UK, Europe, the Mediterranean, South America, Antarctica, the Atlantic Islands and the Caribbean. Megan and her family enjoy sailing the high latitudes and less traveled cruising areas. Her experience and extensive knowledge of the cruising community and familiarity with country entry/exit formalities, makes her a great fit for our small team and we are delighted to have her on board.


October has been a stormy month. In the first week in October there were six tropical cyclones spread throughout the world near land or over open waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Atlantic hurricane season isn’t going out quietly either and as yachts congregate to head to the Caribbean, many are wondering if the tropical activity is done yet. We have plenty of feedback this month from cruisers encountering varied levels of officialdom when clearing in and out around the world and more great cruising reports from you, our users. We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and will continue to share your experiences with Noonsite.


Fair winds,

Sue and the Noonsite Team

Cruising Impact


Helping with Environmental and Social Projects: The Island Cruising Pacific Rally boats, currently on the final leg of the rally from the South Pacific to New Zealand or Australia, have spent the six-month rally collaborating with Citizens of the Sea. With new digital tools and state-of-the-art devices, rally sailors were trained to collect and upload Ocean eDNA samples which were sent back for scientists to process and analyse. The goal is to build a platform that provides insights into shifting patterns of life in our oceans.


The rally also helps a charity called Days for Girls to transport sanitary kits, which are hand made by volunteers in New Zealand, up to Fiji. They partner with YWAM Koha and Sea Mercy Fiji, who arrange distribution of these kits to remote communities, enabling girls to spend longer in school.

 

Find out more about the Rally’s environmental and social projects here.


Tell us how you are making a difference and we will add you to our Cruising Impact page.

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Marine and Leisure Insurance


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New to Cruising


Hurricane Planning:

Should you stay in the tropics during storm season? If you do, how should you prepare for a storm? What about Insurance? Some useful resources to start your reading can be found on Noonsite’s Hurricane and Tropical Cylones page.


Ocean Navigator has an interesting article by cruisers who went through Hurricane Lee, in Maine, 12 months ago. They say preparing for a direct hit from Hurricane Lee taught them that when a named storm is closing in, one of the biggest battles is psychological. Read the article here.

 

Caribbean Compass has an article on Caribbean hurricane preparedness, by Jim Hutchinson - read his Shelter from the Storm.


Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) have a recorded webinar focused on Hurricane Beryl boat insurance issues, a useful watch if you want to understand the rights spelled out in your insurance policy as it pertains to specific locations, countries, Named Storms, types and causes of damage – and how/when to document this for your insurance provider to guarantee the best possible claim response. 

 

Entering a Foreign Country:

In some countries, the entry and exit process can be arduous and in others, a breeze. Preparation for what to expect is easy with the detailed formalities information on Noonsite, however the reality can sometimes test the patience of even the most resilient cruiser. Reports from two such countries this month, Madagascar and Rodrigues, Mauritius, will really make your toes curl!


Free Winter Webinars with Ocean Cruising Club:

The Winter Series of OCC Webinars, free to all, take place weekly every Thursday until 21 November. On 7 November Jimmy Cornell discusses 'Voyage Planning in a Changing World'. On 14 November Rhys Walters recounts traversing the Viking Route and on 21 November Predict Wind presents with Nick Olson. Use this link to register in advance.

Standing Rigging

Standing Rigging Promotion

Ends 30th November 2024


Team Jimmy Green can produce anything from a single replacement stay to a complete standing rigging re-rig. Only the best quality stainless steel wire and terminals are considered from top quality brands, including StaLok, Hamma, Petersen, Kos and Blue Wave.


The Jimmy Green Marine custom build tool makes it easy to get an instant quote for your bespoke replacement standing rigging and the 15% discount will be applied on the product page.

 

Ocean Outlook

Pacific Ocean


South Pacific Cyclone Season: Tropical Cyclones have a significant impact across the SW Pacific, with the season starting in November and lasting through to April of the following year. For the 2024/2025 season, significant differences are expected between the western and eastern halves of the basin according to Fiji, Australia and New Zealand weather forecasters. Read their predictions.

 

Samoa: 200,000 litres of diesel has leaked into the sea after an NZ Naval vessel conducting a reef survey - HMNZS Manawanui - hit a reef, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa earlier this month. Government and Environmental agencies are now racing to remove tons more fuel ahead of cyclone season. Read the news.


New Caledonia: Yachts are arriving in Noumea from Vanuatu and Fiji, to refuel and re-provision before a suitable weather window arrives for onward passage to New Zealand or Australia. Following the May 2024 riots, cruisers report that the situation is now stable, although there is a strictly enforced curfew in place and it is not recommended to venture to rural areas. Read more.

Red Sea


Egypt: From 1 December Canadians will no longer be restricted to applying for a visa in advance and will be able to obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an E-visa, making life easier for those that want to stay and explore the country. A visa is not needed if simply transiting the Suez Canal. See more at Egypt’s Immigration requirements.


Suez Canal Yacht Marinas now have an App [IOS & Android] for booking berths and services and checking availability. Currently only the Yacht Marina at Ismailia can be booked, however the other 2 marinas will be added in the future. It should be noted that the Port Said Yacht Club and Suez Yacht Club are both out of service currently, due to development work.

Indian Ocean


Crossing Reports: After leaving their catamaran in Geraldton, W. Australia for several months, Canadian cruisers Brent Crack and Mary Bevan returned in mid-2024 to prepare for the next leg of their circumnavigation. In the first of a two-part report, they face a challenging crossing to Rodrigues, where officialdom and paperwork await. Indian Ocean Crossing Part 1: Australia to Rodrigues Islands, Mauritius


For the crew of SY Water Music, the Indian Ocean spelled tragedy and the end of their circumnavigation dream, when they suffered rudder loss mid-ocean and had to be rescued by a bulk carrier. Read their story here.


Some passage hindsight from circumnavigators SV Totem from their Indian Ocean passage in 2015 from Madagascar to South Africa.


Thailand: Krabi, in the Andaman Sea, boasts 3 marinas and is a convenient place for clearance. The Krabi Marina, close to town, has seen some improvements this year, as reported by regular contributor Anthony Swanston. Read his update.


India: New arrival procedures include a Pre-Arrival Notification up to 96 hours in advance and mandatory use of an agent for clearance.

 

Mayotte: SV Double Cove found Noonsite’s Mayotte entry and exit information invaluable and sent a report outlining the inward and outward procedures they experienced recently.


Madagascar: Learn about the clearance officialdom you can expect on both arrival and departure, with this detailed report from SY Pazzo.


Tanzania: If visiting Zanzibar, be aware that it is now mandatory (since 1 October, 2024) for all travellers to purchase in-bound travel insurance, online, prior to arrival. Find out more.


South Africa: OSASA warn that with two large rallies coming into SA again this year, it is very important that cruisers have a Plan B in place. As with the 2023/2024 season, significant pressure on berth availability is expected. The demand is expected to be greatest in Cape Town, with several marinas and clubs already fully booked. Find out more.

South China Sea


Indonesia: While Indonesia can provide some amazing cruising experiences, dealing with officials on entry and exit can be a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating exercise. Regular Noonsite contribute Luc Callebaut from SV Sloepmouche reports on checking out of Indonesia at the port of Bitung, a lengthy and arduous process.

Visit our Website

Another World of Discovery


Situated on the renowned Peninsula Papagayo, Marina Papagayo’s naturally protected harbor offers cruisers a year-round safe haven with unrivaled access and top-class amenities.


Sheltered from the northern Papagayo winds on Costa Rica’s famed Gold Coast and just 30 minutes from Guanacaste International Airport (LIR), owners and crew can enjoy exclusive access to world-class facilities at the Peninsula Papagayo resort and the beautiful surroundings of enchanting beach towns and national parks.


Offering 180 fully serviced berths for yachts up to 250 feet LOA with complimentary services including mooring assistance, 24/7 monitoring, fuel, airport transfer, shuttle service, car rentals and much more.

Atlantic Ocean


Four weeks until the Atlantic Hurricane Season ends and October proved to be a busy month. As of October 25, the storms of this season have collectively caused at least 372 fatalities and more than $190 billion in damage. Most of the fatalities are due to Beryl (June) and Helene (September), while most of the damage is due to Helene and Milton. With transit season on the horizon for many yachts congregating in the Canary Islands, all eyes are on the weather to see if Oscar was the last tropical development in the Atlantic basin for this season.

 

Helene: At the end of September authorities declared a State of Emergency for the USA state of Florida as Hurricane Helene intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 4 system with a storm surge warning in place for all of the southern and western coasts. Helene left a catastrophic trail of damage and destruction across south-eastern US states.


Kirk and Lesley: Less than a week later, Kirk became the seventh hurricane of the season, swiftly followed by Lesley – both remaining offshore and no threat to land, however Kirk did strike Europe as a post-tropical cyclone. 


Milton: Less than 10 days after Helene made landfall in Florida, the state braced for another devastating hit from Tropical Storm Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico and developed into a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm.

 

Nadine and Oscar: With six weeks till the official end of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, two new storms developed in the Caribbean with Oscar becoming the 10th named hurricane and surprising forecasters with its rapid formation on October 19, 2024. After causing moderate damage in E. Cuba Oscar dissipated.


UK: The UK’s new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme continues to be rolled out. From 27 November, eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA which will be needed to arrive in the UK from 8 January 2025. From 5 March 2025 eligible Europeans can apply to travel from 2 April 2025. An ETA costs £10. Everyone wishing to travel to the UK (except British and Irish citizens) will need permission to travel in advance, either through an eVisa or the new ETA. See www.gov.uk for more details.


Isles of Scilly Pilot Guide - the seventh edition was released this month. Just 22NM off the coast of Cornwall, this is a stunning archipelago.

 

Canary Islands: With less than two weeks before the first departure, ‘ARC Season 2024’ is now underway with crew and yachts gathering in the Canary Islands, to prepare for their adventure sailing across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Find out about all the participants and the ARC program here.

 

Skippers should be aware of the new 2Africa cable which lands in Salinetas Bay, approx. 9 NM south of the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the anchoring restrictions in place. Find out the details.

 

Cape Verdes: Yachts visiting the Cape Verdes have always had to use common sense safety measures. Since last season there have been some anchored boats that have suffered robberies, and there are more beggars in the street. Marina Mindelo, keen to give yacht owners peace of mind, have collaborated closely with the local authorities to improve security both on land and on the water and ensure that any incidents are swiftly managed. Find out more details.


USA: Another report confirming that the visa waiver scheme, if used for first entry by commercial carrier (or by crossing a land border), can subsequently be used for entry by yacht. If you are planning on just a short visit to the USA (or its protectorates) and don’t want the hassle of applying for and obtaining a US visa, then this is a viable method. Australian cruisers, SV Paseafique, confirmed it worked well when coming to the US from Canada. Read their feedback in comments (speech bubble icon) on this report.

Caribbean Sea

 

If you are heading towards the Caribbean, don’t miss our round up of useful Caribbean articles and links.

 

Hurricane Recovery: A number of islands are still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, one of the first hurricanes to form this season back in June. St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada were the worst affected. Doyle Guides have a round-up of how the islands that were impacted are recovering, and what cruisers on their way to the Caribbean can expect and how best to prepare. Find out more.

 

SVG: Union Island in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and particularly Clifton, is the slowest of the affected areas to recover and rebuild after Beryl. Cruisers that tried to anchor in Clifton Bay recently to clear out, report on being threatened by a local boatman for anchoring too close to his moorings. His hostile behaviour forced them to move elsewhere to feel safer. Doyle Guides report that boat vendors in Clifton have always been pushy and sometimes caused issues, which has probably been exacerbated by post-Beryl desperation.

 

Trust Desire and Instinct: When US based cruisers, Ed and Cindy Lowrie, decided to cast off their lines and head for the Caribbean, there were many expectations of new places and new friends. Despite being told where to go and what to do, they decided to follow their instincts and go where they wanted to go. From the US to Trinidad, read about how they found the “no-go” places. Our thanks to Caribbean Compass for sharing this article.

 

USVI: Shannon Sinnard provides a guide to the "not-to-be-missed" anchorages on St. Thomas, Great St. James, St. Croix and St. John for the American Sailing Association.

 

Nevis: During the "off-season", Nevis Port remove all moorings to avoid wear/damage. Normally these are re-installed mid-October, however in 2024 there have been some problems and the moorings are still not in place. Find out more.

 

Martinique & Guadeloupe: Protests in Martinique began in September to demand the alignment of local food prices with those of mainland France, where they are 40% lower. Protests flared again this month and the Martinique Administration have re-imposed a curfew, including no sale of fuel and other items, which continues to be extended. Guadeloupe also extended a territory-wide curfew on Saturday 26 October for public safety reasons after a strike by workers at the EDF-PEI power plant shut down the island’s electricity supply.


Bonaire: More dinghy thefts reported from yachts that don't secure their dinghy overnight - a common theme in the Caribbean.


See other security reports this month.


Curacao: The opening of Curacao’s new combined office for Customs & Immigration in Spanish Water, intended for 1 October, has unfortunately been delayed. Once open, this office will greatly ease the clearance burden on skippers, saving a journey into Willemstad for immigration and customs clearance. More details at Curacao Clearance.


Panama: Arriving yachts have up to 72 hours after arrival in Panama waters to clear in first with Immigration and then with the Port Captain. Be sure to check-in with all authorities as soon as you land in Panama and not later than 72 hours. Any foreign person who enters the country violating immigration checkpoints, will be fined. While it is common practice for cruisers to stop and visit the San Blas or Secas Islands, any long delay in transit time will be noticed and fines of US$1000 have been reported by cruisers for not checking in immediately. See news and formalities.

Contact Us

Shelter Bay Marina at the Panama Canal


This pleasant full-service marina is located just behind the Panama Canal breakwater, only 2 miles from the entrance to the Canal on the Atlantic side and 50 minutes from Panama City, nestled in the San Lorenzo National Park.


The marina offers a wide range of services/amenities: Haul out facility, full-service boatyard, secure storage, fuel, sail loft, laundry, hotel, restaurant & bar, mini-market, marine supplies store, a pool, transportation to Colon and Panama City among others.


With capacity for vessels up to 320ft, 20ft draft on the channel and 10ft at many of the slips, SBM is the marina to make your home port while in Panama or while making transit arrangements.

Mediterranean Sea


EU entry/exit system (EES): Non-European sailors planning to cruise in Europe should be aware that EES, a new automated IT system for registering travellers, has been further postponed ahead of a planned launched date of 10 November 2024. Further details at this news item.


Greece: Greece’s two shipping canals have made the news this month.

The Lefkas Canal, which allows vessels to take a short cut between this popular Ionian island and Greece’s mainland and provides quick access from the north to the south Ionian sea, closed for one month from 25 September, 2024, due to the floating bridge’s Safety Certificate expiring. However, on 24 October it re-opened with new operating times. The Corinth Canal, which offers a shortcut through the Peloponnese for small craft, will close again from the beginning of November 2024 through to March 2025, to continue restoration works considered necessary for the long-term safety and functionality of the canal following landslides in January 2021.


Turkey: A New Zealand yacht has posted a comment on Noonsite having returned to Turkey after a 5-year absence, surprised at the increase in prices. “We visited Netsel Marina 5 years ago and had a pleasant stay. We returned this month and were shocked by the berth charges – 45,000TL for 5 nights (that’s US$262 per night!). Our boat is 13m / 42ft LOA. Marina prices in Turkey have gone massively up. After Netsel we went to Fethiye Ece marina and that was 4200TL per night. Less than half of Netsel - but hardly a bargain."

Book of the Month


The Ultimate Sailing Adventures

100 Epic Experiences on the Water

By Miles Kendell


The perfect gift book that takes you around the world on some of the most impressive boats, voyages and to idyllic locations. Passages, destinations, races, rallies, experiences, adventures – there’s something for everyone in this book, from novice to expert. From the Arctic Circle to Lake Titicaca, the Fastnet Race to surviving in a liferaft. This book is varied, informative, interesting and inspiring. Discover where you will sail next – in reality, or in your imagination.

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