“To reach a port we must set sail. Sail, not tie at anchor.
Sail, not drift.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
FLEET UPDATE

2023-05-01

63 Yachts from 13 ensigns are signed up.
Participating vessels will share up to date information, scout for opportunities and alert each other

TOP NEWS

• PICTURES OF THE WEEK
• GOOD ANCHORAGE PORT SANDWICH / MALEKULA 🇻🇺 VANUATU
• UNINVITED BUT WELCOME VISITOR
• PROOF OF LIFE !CANCEL BOLO
• CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING LANDFALL !
• NEW SAVE THE DATE
• SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SEMINARS ON DEMAND
• MEET THE FLEET
• FLOATING YOUR ANCHOR CHAIN
• THE ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB 🇫🇯 FIJI
• PREDICT WIND PRO NOW WITH SAT AIS
• FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL
• HISTORIC PORTS ⚓ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
• MEET OUR SPONSORS

1) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

On the downwind run to Papeete Off the wind on this heading by the Marquesas .
Nicely making way

more doldrums.

The Milky Way

The Doldrums

SY VIRIDIAN 🇬🇧 Greg & Jan - Northwind 50′

2) GOOD ANCHORAGE
PORT SANDWICH - MALEKULA 🇻🇺 VANUATU

⚓ Good Anchorage & Cyclone Hole @ 16° 26.302 S 167° 47.02 E
Port Sandwich Malekula 🇻🇺 VANUATU

One of the good Cyclone holes in the South Pacific

3) GET YOUR BURGEE FROM KEVIN
@ NUKU HIVA YACHT SERVICES

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva 🇵🇫
Sponsors the South Pacific Posse

4) AWARD ENTRIES
🏆
UNINVITED BUT WELCOME VISITOR

Anything that eats insects is ok in my book, released without harm to keep eating lol

Entry into biggest fish caught

SY DREAMER 🇺🇸 David & Gerne - Caliber 40lrv’

5) PROOF OF LIFE !
CANCEL BOLO

Just à quick note to thank everyone for looking out for me when I want ‘missing’. All that happened was that a rogue wave managed to find itself through a rook hatch and dumped a bath tub of water on my IridiumGo. Sorry for the worry I caused but I am overwhelmed by the response from you guys. Thank you so much. All the best from Nuku Hiva. Tomas

SY SAOIRSE 🇺🇸 Tomas - Dufour 40 e’

6) CONGRATULATIONS LAND HOOOO !

• NAVASANA
• ZELDA
• MEHALA
• WANDERLUST
• TRAVELLER
• SAMADHI
• FIRST LIGHT
• CERULIAN
• FREYA
• MONSOON

Landfall in Hiva Oa 🇵🇫 FP and South Pacific Posse catch up in Hiva Oa.

SY Cerulean SY Zelda SY Freya SY Mehalah SY Monsoon

7) NEW SAVE THE DATE

NAWI ISLAND FIJI

MEET THE FLEET CELEBRATION

NEW DATE - AUG 26 '23

NAWI ISLAND MARINA
SAVUSAVUS FIJI

artists rendering

FREE RUM, MUSIC and
BULATASTIC PORK ROAST

Save the date

Saturday Aug 26 ’23 FIJI

Nawi Island is located in the beautiful Fiji Islands.It will feature an International Superyacht Marina, which will have 132 marina berths, including 21 superyacht slips (up to 85m). The marina has been designed and built up to category 5 cyclone resistance rating.

The South Pacific Posse is planning a get together at Nawi on Saurday Aug 26 2023. A week before the infamous Musket Cove regatta. Nawi will be offering entertainment, markets, kava tasting and discounts on berths, water sport activities, restaurant & bar orders, with Pacific Posse hosting a Pig on the spit and rum delights.

The fully serviced marina will include “plug in” services through utility pedestals to water, sewerage pump out, power, fuel & gas facilities, plus 24hr security, complimentary Wifi, a.m.o..

16° 46.5716' S 179° 19.9533' E - Nawi Island Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SEMINARS ON DEMAND

SEMINARS RECORDINGS ARE ONLINE

• INTRODUCTION
• GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
• FRENCH POLYNESIA
• COOK ISLANDS - SAMOA(S) - TONGA
• FIJI
• VANUATU & NEW CALEDONIA '23
• PROVISIONING
• LOGISTICS
• OPEN CPN USE CASE
• WEATHER and HEAVY WIND SQUALLS AND ELEVATED SEA STATE
• STRATEGIES
• PACIFIC WEATHER ITZC
• SAILING TOWARDS NZ / AUSTRALIA END OF SEASON

https://pacificposse.com/seminars

9) MEET THE FLEET

We're a couple that left Finland in the summer of '22, sailed down the European coast during the summer and crossed the Atlantic in November 22'.

Love all kinds of fishing (both have a background in competitive fly fishing) and diving.

SY SIPI 🇫🇮 Camilla & Santeri - Nauticat 42′

10) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
SPONSOR

DENARAU MARINA 🇫🇯 FIJI - SPONSORS THE PACIFIC POSSE

11) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
🏆
AWARD CATEGORIES

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT ✔
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR ✔
• PACIFIC POSSE YODA OF THE YEAR ✔
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD ✔
• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD ✔
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED ✔
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION ✔
• GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔
• SPEEDY AWARD
• GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR ✔
• BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ✔
• COURAGE AWARD

12) FLOATING YOUR ANCHOR CHAIN

Floating the anchor chain to avoid coral damage

use 4 - 6 ABS Fishing Floats - find them on the beaches in the South Pacific

Quick how to video by SY Sailing Mokara @SailingMokara

13) APPROACHES
THE ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB 🇫🇯 FIJI

SUVA HARBOR 🇫🇯 FIJI

BRITISH ADMIRALTY CHART 1660 SUVA HARBOR SOUNDINGS 1896

Suva Harbor via 🇫🇯 South Pacific Posse Sat Charts .mbtiles

ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB FIJI 🇫🇯 SPONSORS THE PACIFIC POSSE

FREE 1 MONTH Honorary Membership FOR South Pacific Posse

If any members of the Pacific Posse arrive at Suva I am happy to inform you that the RSYC

will recognize them as a bonafide member of a club and grant them the privileges as if they were members of a Yacht/Marine Club!

Any visiting member of the Pacific Posse will be granted Honorary Membership for up to 1 month free of charge.

Any visiting yachts can apply for temporary mooring @ FJ$10 / day ( <US$5.00).

Patrick Todd R•S•Y•C

Foster Road, Walu Bay 0 Suva City, Fiji

http://www.rsyc.org.fj/

+679 992 2921

gm@rsyc.org.fj

14) FLEET TRACKING &
PREDICT WIND PRO NOW WITH SAT AIS

About Tracking:

Designed to give interesting parties an overview. For specific vessel details including their float plan, latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related questions please contact each vessel directly. If you are on passage let us know and the fleet can monitor your progress.

https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

Tracking Support

https://pacificposse.com/tracking-support

PREDICT WIND NOW HAS SATELLITE AIS VESSEL TRACKING

15) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL

IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE '23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE you will be assigned access credentials to GOODNAUTICAL South Pacific regions

CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO GOOD NAUTICAL

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

Tonga 🇹🇴 in Good Nautical

16) HISTORIC PORTS ⚓ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
PORT HAVANNAH EFATE 🇻🇺 VANUATU

An SOC Seagull at Havannah Harbour Efate ( NEW HEBRIDES ) 1943

With Japanese forces establishing bases on Guadalcanal which threatened the sea route between the U.S. and Australia, Admiral King distributed the joint basic plan for the occupation and defense of Efate on 20 March 1942. Under its terms the US Army was to defend Efate and support the defense of ships and positions. The US Navy's task was: to construct, administer and operate a naval advance base, seaplane base, and harbor facilities; to support Army forces in the defense of the island; to construct an airfield and at least two outlying dispersal fields; to provide facilities for the operation of seaplane-bombers

On 25 March 1942, the Army sent about 500 men to Efate from Noumea, and the 4th Defense Battalion, 45th Marines, arrived on 8 April. Elements of the 1st Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Efate on 4 May 1942.

A Peculiar State of Affairs

To say that this archipelago nation found itself with a particularly exceptional state of affairs during WWII is an understatement. When France fell during the Second World War, the French side of the Condominium where technically at war with their other half, Great Britain. The two sides of the Condominium had notoriously been at add odds with each other up until the dissolution of the agreement in 1980 when Vanuatu claimed full independence.

Seaplane Base

A detachment of Seabees also went north to Havannah Harbour to construct a seaplane base to serve the squadron of PBY Catalina’s based there. The Seabees built two seaplane ramps, once again of coral, surfaced with Marsden Matting, and provided buoys for mooring 14 seaplanes. In addition to the ramps and moorings, two small piers, two nose hangars, one 40 feet (12 meters) by 100 feet (30 metres) seaplane workshop, four 5,000 gallon (19,000 liters) underground gasoline tanks, and housing facilities for 25 officers and 210 men in Quonset huts were constructed. By June 1, the PBYs began operating from the new base, bombing Japanese positions on Guadalcanal.

USS Denver (CL-58) with SOC Seagull in Havanah Harbor off Efate 🇻🇺 Vanuatu

The cruiser's paint is heavily weathered at the bow and amidships with a fresh coat of gray paint applied to the stern

A museum in Havana harbor collects the World War II Cocoa Cola Bottles which Allied sailors chucked overboard while stationed there.

The bottom of a 1940's Coco Cola Bottle with the embossed state symbol

Vanuatu 🇻🇺 is in Good Nautical

17) MEET OUR SPONSORS

• PREDICT WIND
• PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
• YACHT AGENTS NUKU HIVA
• SAIL TAHITI
• OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING
• SHELTER BAY MARINA PANAMA
• DENARAU MARINA FIJI
• NAWI ISLAND MARINA
• VUDA POINT MARINA
• COPRA SHED MARINA FIJI
• CLOUD 9
• PUERTO AMISTAD ECUADOR
• RIVERGATE MARINA AUSTRALIA
• MARSDEN COVE MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• GULF HARBOUR MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• YACHTING WORLD MARINA PORT VILA VANUATU

OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING 💨

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

ocean posse llc
@ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Las Vegas USA

© 2023 South Pacific Posse / Ocean Posse LLC

LAST IMAGE

"We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. 

We are tied to the ocean." 

— John F. Kennedy

 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE 
FLEET UPDATE 

2023-04-13

61
Yachts from 13 ensigns are signed up  from now until November '23
they will share up to date information, scout for opportunities and
alert each other to threats.

To join follow this link >>

TOP NEWS

• PICTURES OF THE WEEK
• GOOD ANCHORAGE SUWARROW  🇨🇰  COOK ISLANDS 
• ⚠️ PAN PAN # BOLO  SY SAOIRSE AND OTHER ALERTS 
• GALAPAGOS 🇪🇨 UPDATE
• ENTRY INTO  CAPTAIN RON AWARD 
• BEAUTY OF SOUTH PACIFIC CURRENCY
• FLEET TRACKING - NOW YOU KNOW WHY
• HISTORIC PORTS ⚓ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC 
   

1) PICTURES OF THE WEEK 

Penmanship was busy cleaning the booby poop never ending!!!  

Penmanship
caught a number of long lines about 250 west of Galapagos. Hooks stuck
in bow then wrapped around prop. Took an hour in water then got
ourselves free. Only positive is we picked up a couple hundred bucks of
hooks and lines (pleased face)Fisherman came by they were fishing
swordfish.

SY  PENNMANSHIP 🇯🇪 Michael & Charlotte, Kenneth, Duncan, Mirabelle, Andre, Piers & Tommy - Aquidneck Custom Composites 72′

2) SUWARROW  🇨🇰  COOK ISLANDS 

⚓ Good Anchorage @ 13° 14.958 S 163° 6.476 W  Suwarrow 🇨🇰 Cook Islands  

Suwarrow
(also called Suvorov or Suvarov) is a low coral atoll in the Cook
Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is about 1,300 km west of Bora Bora
and 825 km northwest of Rarotonga, from which it is administered.

It
was uninhabited when discovered by the Russian ship "Suvorov", which
reportedly followed clouds of birds to the island on September 17, 1814.
It has been only intermittently inhabited since. The Island name
has also been spelled variously as "Souvorow", "Souwaroff" and
"Souworoff". "Suwarrow" is the official spelling adopted by New Zealand.

Suwarrow
is possibly the most isolated of all the Cook Islands. 18th
century Spanish galleons have been found wrecked on its reef, and in the
mid-1800's, a salvage expedition uncovered a treasure chest containing
more than 15,000 dollars worth of historic coins from the Americas. ( 5 M
USD today  ) 

Entrance waypoints are in Good Nautical 

Described
as “Treasure Island” or as “the most romantic island in the world” by
author Robert Louis Stevenson’s wife Fanny, Suwarrow.

 With
one of the best harbours in the Pacific, the reef encloses a large
landlocked lagoon and the pristine islets that form the island are
scattered around the rim. At about one and a half times the size of
Rarotonga.

Author
Robert Frisbie brought his family from Pukapuka in the early 40's for a
short visit and was caught in the worst cyclone of the 20th century.
They were fortunate that they survived, he told about their trials and
tribulations in his book, Island of Desire.

However,
Suwarrow’s greatest fame comes from the late Kiwi recluse Tom Neale,
who lived on Suwarrow at three separate times during his lifetime
between 1952 and 1977 (a total of 15 years). He spent his time tending
his garden, raising chickens, catching fish and hunting for coconut
crabs. A Kiwi sailor who dreamed of living alone on a tropic isle, he
read about Suwarrow and fell in love with it when his ship stopped there
in 1945. 

Capt. Dietmar on Suwarrow back in '09

This
“hermit of Suwarrow” stayed on his dream island until he was forced
through ill health, to return to Rarotonga where he died at the age of
75. His tale “An Island to Oneself” about his experience of living on
this remote atoll turned the secluded haven into one of the most
renowned of the South Seas. Fascinating and moving, no doubt fellow
yachties around the world were charmed by his reasons for living this
lonely life - “I chose to live in the Pacific islands because life there
moves at the sort of pace which you feel God must have had in mind
originally when He made the sun to keep us warm and provided the fruits
of the earth for the taking.” To which there is probably no further
incentive needed to discover this island for yourself. 

Mr.
Rhys Jones, a bird researcher from New Zealand, was commissioned to
make a survey of Suwarrow. Among his recommendations were that an
official caretaker should be assigned to police passing 'yachties', a
migratory bird sanctuary be established and supervised and that a
permanent museum be erected and maintained by the government in order to
have a permanent record of its history.

3) PAN PAN # BOLO 
⚠️ SY SAOIRSE
 @

**** PAN PAN ****

BOLO (BE ON THE LOOKOUT) 

132218Z APR 23

HYDROPAC 1225/23(83).

EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.

DNC 06.

M/V SAOIRSE OVERDUE. LAST KNOWN POSITION

IN VICINITY 09-36.00S 120-13.00W.

VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A

SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE.

REPORTS TO JRCC TAHITI,

INMARSAT-C: 582422799192,

PHONE: 689 4054 1616,

FAX: 689 4042 3915,

E-MAIL: CONTACT@JRCC.PF

Single hander Tomas Fehrling aboard, en route to the Marquesas. 

Vessel equipped with:

Life raft

Epirb

Life jackets with AIS transponders

Sat phone and iridium goSITUATION

He
has not checked in with his buddy boats in >48 hours, missed his
usual calls with his mother and his tracker has gone stale . New
satellite AIS received today  confirms boat is moving - if nearby
please confirm comms

atellite AIS received ~5 days ago. Any sightings or information appreciated. 

Saoirse last known Location 

Wed 12/Apr 05:35 GMT

09º  39.39.47' S  119º 57.06' W  

Course:   252° true,   6.9 kts

VESSEL MANUFACTURER AND MODEL Dufour 40 e’
 MMSI 265663070 CALLSIGN SD8589 WEBSITE https://sysaoirse.com/

 Tomas Fehrling 

 ⚠️ UPDATE FROM SY BELEZA  

SV_Beleza
is en route to pick up Dan & Jeanne from Lucky Dog. They have told
us they will abandon ship. We are communicating with them on our iridium
go and their Garmin inreach. We will meet in the morning, and transfer
safely. Lucky Dog's coordinates approx. 0135 UTC 05 00.242S 129 54.621W
drifting 1.5 kts southwest.

 ⚠️ DISTRESS SIGNAL 

132155Z APR 23

HYDROPAC 1224/23(21).

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.

DNC 13.

DISTRESS SIGNAL RECEIVED ON 406 MHZ FROM

F/V ALTAR 8 IN 05-14.27N 101-02.00W.

VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A

SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE.

REPORTS TO RCC ALAMEDA,

TELEX: 230172343, PHONE: 510 437 3701,

E-MAIL: RCCALAMEDA1@USCG.MIL.

4) GET YOUR BURGEE FROM KEVIN 
@ NUKU HIVA YACHT SERVICES 

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva 🇵🇫 Sponsors the South Pacific Posse 

I look forward to meeting and helping the participants

Cheers, Kevin

BP 301 Taiohae, 98742 Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

+689 87 22 68 72, YSNukuHiva@hotmail.com

VHF 72, Monday – Friday 0800-1400

Formalities & DOCUMENTATION

Yacht Formalities (Customs & Immigration)

Duty Free Fuel Authorization

Bond Exemption Letter (medical insurance required)

5) GALAPAGOS 🇪🇨 UPDATE

Charles Robert Darwin born 1809 - 1882  & Mary 

Tail of the  Galapagos Marine Iguana

Galapagos marine iguanas  are  everywhere – but especially around the water. 

Few Facts

1. They feed in the water

Marine
iguanas feed on algae and seaweed on the rocks under the water. The
adults can dive up to 9ft (2.7 m) to rip the algae and seaweed off the
rocks with their very small, yet very sharp, teeth. Younger marine
iguanas feed at low tide as they don’t have the strength to dive to the
same depths as the adults. Despite their very long claws and sharp
teeth, they are herbivores and use their claws and teeth for eating
algae and seaweed, not tearing flesh.

2. They can’t breathe underwater

Marine
iguanas can’t breathe underwater because they lack gills (like those on
a fish) which are necessary to extract oxygen from water. Instead, they
just hold their breath for a really long time.

3. They can hold their breath for a long time

Marine
iguanas can hold their breath for a staggering 60 minutes, as proved by
Charles Darwin. His shipmate sank a marine iguana over the side of the
boat with a weight and then pulled it up an hour later and it was still
alive; no doubt more than a little annoyed. Marine iguanas normally opt
for shorter dives of up to 40 minutes, which is extremely impressive – I
can barely hold my breath for 30 seconds sitting still.

4. They turn rainbow colors during mating season

Male
marine iguanas turn very bright shades of blue, pink, green, and red
during mating season to attract females. They turn black again once the
mating season is over.

5. The only iguanas that feed in the ocean

Galapagos
marine iguanas are the only iguanas in the world that feed in the
ocean. They swim by pointing their limbs straight back and twisting
their long bodies and tail side to side – like some really funny-looking
mermaids. The raised part from their head to the end of their tail acts
like a dorsal fin, making it easier to slide through the water.

6. They play cat and mouse with Galapagos hawks

The
Galapagos hawk is the marine iguanas greatest natural predator. They
will hunt the adult iguanas, and you wouldn’t think the iguanas have
much of a chance. But these are some feisty little iguanas. Galapagos
hawks have even been seen sitting on top of marine iguanas as the
iguanas run around trying to shake them off – and the iguana sometimes
succeeds. The iguanas are also extremely fast and can quite easily
outrun the hawks if they see them in time. Unfortunately, the young
marine iguanas don’t always have the same good results as the adults.

7. They have a symbiotic relationship with mockingbirds 
Marine
iguanas and mockingbirds have a symbiotic relationship: Mockingbirds
let out a distinctive call when there is a Galapagos hawk in the area.
The marine iguanas recognize this warning call and flee for cover.

8. They can get pretty big 
Adult marine iguanas can reach a length of 5 ft (1.5 m) and weigh  3 lbs (1.5 kg).

9. Their color matters
The
black color of the marine iguana helps it to absorb as much sunlight as
possible. These cold-blooded reptiles get quite cold-blooded after a
dive into the ocean, they lose a lot of their body heat and may only be
around 10°C (50°F). They need to sunbathe to bring their body
temperatures back up, but this slows them down and makes them very
vulnerable. It’s a good thing their black color helps them absorb heat
as fast as possible!

10. They sneeze. A lot.
Marine
iguanas sneeze because they feed in the ocean and consume a lot of
salt. This excess salt is unhealthy for them and needs to be expelled;
violently and all over so they snot all over themselves and any other
iguanas that happen to be close by. This is why most marine iguanas you
see have a white encrusted head and neck – all the salty snot has dried
on them.

https://latinrootstravel.com/fortheblog/galapagos-marine-iguanas/

10. They sneeze. A lot.

Marine
iguanas sneeze because they feed in the ocean and consume a lot of
salt. This excess salt is unhealthy for them and needs to be expelled;
violently and all over so they snot all over themselves and any other
iguanas that happen to be close by. This is why most marine iguanas you
see have a white encrusted head and neck – all the salty snot has dried
on them.

seal play

UNINVITED VISITORS

Hello all, 

we
arrived into Galápagos Islands yesterday morning.  Wanted to let
you know just after we had visit around 12:30 from two nice fishermen in
a panga FAR from shore(they asked for drinks and food, which we
provided) and we went on our merry way, shortly after we caught one of
their green corded fishing lines.  They have long line pots out
with floating jugs along the lines.  I wasn’t paying attention and
the line caught across our two skegged rudders (catamaran).  We
dropped sails and pulled up the line on each side of the boat and tied
them off to release pressure on lines against the rudders.  We then
pulled the two together and tied them.  Then cut the loose loop
and let the fishing lines float away.  This was at position N 1
39.577/W 86 29.859     

Then
later that afternoon we caught another line on rudders.  This time
we didn’t spend as much time trying to save their lines and floats by
tying together, so I just cut the line and it slipped off the rudders.

The
next evening two hours after Mary was off watch, at 22:00, we caught
another fishing pot line.  I cut it loose.  Then again caught
another at 22:30…🤬.  I was watching all the ARC boats go by all
around us and a fishing group of boats off to our starboard about 3nm.
I could see the lights on the fishing boats, but nothing on any of
the floats or lines!  We were all motor sailing at this time, so
perhaps the ARC boats props just cut the lines or they didn’t get
caught.   Our position for late night fishing lines was N 0 39.705 /
W 88 10.329. 

Not terrible, just a nuisance. 

All the best,

SY PISCES 🇺🇸 Mary & Kevin - Antares 44e’

6) ENTRY INTO  CAPTAIN RON AWARD 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EAT THE FLYING FISH OFF THE DECK 

SY TRAVELLER 🇺🇸  Mike, Daisy , Hannah & Jeb - Jeanneau 52.2′

7) SAVE THE DATE 

NAWI ISLAND FIJI 

MEET THE FLEET CELEBRATION

SATURDAY  SEPTEMBER 2ND, '23  

NAWI ISLAND MARINA 
SAVUSAVU 🇫🇯  FIJI 

artists rendering

FREE RUM, MUSIC and
 BULATASTIC PORK ROAST 

Save the date 

Saturday Sept 2nd ’23 FIJI

Nawi
Island is located in the beautiful Fiji Islands.It will feature an
International Superyacht Marina, which will have 132 marina berths,
including 21 superyacht slips (up to 85m). The marina has been designed
and built up to category 5 cyclone resistance rating. 

The
South Pacific Posse is planning a get together at Nawi on Sept 2nd
2023. A week before the infamous Musket Cove regatta. Nawi will be
offering entertainment, markets, kava tasting and discounts on berths,
water sport activities, restaurant & bar orders, with Pacific Posse
hosting a Pig on the spit and rum delights.

The
fully serviced marina will include “plug in” services through utility
pedestals to water, sewerage pump out, power, fuel & gas facilities,
plus 24hr security, complimentary Wifi, a.m.o..

 16° 46.5716' S  179° 19.9533' E -  Nawi Island Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji

SAVU SAVU IS A HUB FOR THE NORTHERN FIJIAN  ISLANDS AND THE JUMP OFF POINT FOR THE LAU GROUP 

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SEMINARS ON DEMAND

SEMINARS RECORDINGS ARE ONLINE 

• INTRODUCTION
• GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
• FRENCH POLYNESIA
• COOK ISLANDS - SAMOA(S) - TONGA 
• FIJI
• VANUATU & NEW CALEDONIA '23 
• PROVISIONING
• LOGISTICS
• OPEN CPN USE CASE
• WEATHER and HEAVY WIND SQUALLS AND ELEVATED SEA STATE
• STRATEGIES
• PACIFIC WEATHER ITZC
• SAILING TOWARDS NZ / AUSTRALIA END OF SEASON 

https://pacificposse.com/seminars

MEET THE  ’23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE FLEET >>

GULF HARBOUR MARINA NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿 
SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

9) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  
🏆 
AWARD CATEGORIES 

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT ✔ 
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR ✔  
• PACIFIC POSSE YODA OF THE YEAR ✔  
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD ✔
• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD ✔ 
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED ✔ 
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION ✔ 
• GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔ 
• SPEEDY AWARD
• GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR ✔  
• BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ✔
• COURAGE AWARD 

ENTRY INTO THE  '22 SPP PICTURE OF THE YEAR  AWARD - NOMOTU - SEAGLUB 

10) THE BEAUTY OF SOUTH PACIFIC CURRENCY 

Cook Islands 3 dollar bill 

Although
the Cook Islands operates on the New Zealand dollar, there is still
some Cook Islands dolalrs in circulation that is equal in value to NZD.

The
$3 note which is more of a collectors or novelty item. These can be
picked up from the Rarotonga Philatelic Bureau or given as change when
paying departure tax.   The official Cook Islands currency is the
New Zealand dollar.  

 In
terms of cost of living in the Cook Islands, its price point is fairly
middle range in that it is a little more expensive than Fiji but a lot
less than French Polynesia and Tahiti. Part of the Cook Islands economy
is the VAT or Value Added Tax. Charged at 12.5% of the price, the tax is
added at the point of sale to almost everything however refunds are
available for tourists upon exiting the country.

Old Cook Island Dollars

PORT VILA 🇻🇺 VANUATU

11) "AND THEY ARE OFF"
 FLEET TRACKING FOR PARTICIPANTS  
 

 About Tracking:

Designed to give interesting parties  an overview. For specific vessel details including their float plan,
latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related
questions please contact each vessel directly.  If you are on
passage let us know and the fleet can monitor your progress.

https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

Tracking Support 

https://pacificposse.com/tracking-support

Importance
of tracking  - with accidents and incidents trackingallow sus to
respond and help redirect vessels to your aid - this provides safety for
particpants as those who come after you can aids - without tracking
this becomes a very difficult task to figuer out where everyone is and
who is best suited to help 

12) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL  

IF
YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE  '23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  you will
be assigned  access credentials to GOODNAUTICAL South Pacific
regions 

CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO GOOD NAUTICAL 

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

SOLOMON ISLANDS  🇸🇧 IN GOOD NAUTICAL 

13) HISTORIC PORTS ⚓ OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

HONIARA  🇸🇧 SOLOMON ISLANDS  

The
Spanish navigator Alvaro Mendana discovered these islands in 1567,
though it is somewhat doubtful whether he was actually the first
European who set eyes on them. In anticipation of their natural riches
he named them Islas de Salomon. The expedition surveyed the southern
portion of the group, and named the three large islands San Cristoval,
Guadalcanal and Ysabel. On his return to Peru, Mendana endeavoured to
organize another expedition to colonize the islands, but it was not
before June 1595 that he, with, Pedro Quiros as second in command, was
able to set sail for this purpose. The Marquesas and Santa Cruz islands
were now discovered; but on one of the latter, after various delays,
Mendana died, and the expedition collapsed.

Even
the position of the Solomon Islands was now in uncertainty, for the
Spaniards, fearing lest they should lose the benefits expected to accrue
from these discoveries, kept secret the narratives of Mendana and
Quiros. The Solomon Islands were thus lost sight of until, in 1767,
Philip Carteret lighted on their eastern shores at Gower Island, and
passed to the north of the group; without, however, recognizing that it
formed part of the Spanish discoveries. In 1768 Louis de Bougainville
found his way there. He discovered the three northern islands (Buka,
Bougainville and Choiseul), and sailed through the channel which divides
the two last and bears his name. In 1769 a French navigator, de
Surville, was the first, in spite of the hostility of the natives, to
make any lengthened stay in the group. He gave some of the islands the
French names they still bear, and brought home some detailed information
concerning them which he called Terre des Arsacides (Land of the
Assassins); but their identity with Mendanas Islas de Salomon was soon
established by French geographers. In 1788 the English lieutenant
Shortland coasted along the south side of the chain, and, supposing it
to be a continuous land, named it New Georgia; and in 1792 Captain
Edward Manning sailed through the strait which separates Ysabel from
Choiseul and now bears his name.

Traders
attempted to settle in the islands, and missionaries began to think of
this fresh field for labour, but neither met with much success, and
little was heard of the islanders save accounts of murder and plunder.
In 1845 the French Marist Fathers went to Isabel, where Mgr Epaulle,
first vicar apostolic of Melanesia, was killed by the natives soon after
landing. Three years later this mission had to be abandoned; but in
1851 work was again resumed. In 1856 John Coleridge Patteson, afterwards
bishop of Melanesia, had paid his first visit to the islands, and
native teachers trained at the Melanesian mission college subsequently
established themselves there. About this date the yacht Wanderer cruised
in these seas, but her owner, Benjamin Boyd, was kidnapped by the
natives and never afterwards heard of. In 1873 the foreign labour
traffic in plantation hands for Queensland and Fiji extended its baneful
influence from the New Hebrides to these islands. In 1893 the islands
Malaita, Marovo, Guadalcanal and San Cristoval with their surrounding
islets were annexed by Great Britain, and the final delimitation of
German and British influence in the archipelago was made by the
convention of the 14th of November 1899.

The Japanese occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. They became independent in 1978. 

Honiara
is the capital of the Solomon Islands, southwestern Pacific Ocean. The
town is situated at the mouth of the Mataniko River on the north coast
of Guadalcanal. As a port and communications center it trades chiefly in
coconuts, timber, fish, and some gold (from Gold Ridge in the middle of
the island). Honiara International Airport is located approximately 10
miles (16 km) east of the town. 

Prior
to World War II, Honiara did not exist; it developed around the site of
the U.S. military headquarters. In 1952 it officially replaced Tulagi
as the capital of the Solomons. Government buildings are on a narrow
coastal strip behind Point Cruz. In the 1960s the government, together
with the private sector, began an extensive development program in the
new capital. The first multistory buildings appeared in the 1980s. In
2006, amid an ongoing period of political instability, Honiara’s
Chinatown sustained severe damage in postelection rioting.  

Solomon Islands 🇸🇧 in  Good Nautical 

14) MEET OUR SPONSORS 

• PREDICT WIND
• PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
• YACHT AGENTS NUKU HIVA
• SAIL TAHITI
• OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING
• SHELTER BAY MARINA PANAMA
• DENARAU MARINA FIJI
• NAWI ISLAND MARINA
• VUDA POINT MARINA
• COPRA SHED MARINA FIJI
• CLOUD 9
• PUERTO AMISTAD ECUADOR
• RIVERGATE MARINA AUSTRALIA
• MARSDEN COVE MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• GULF HARBOUR MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• YACHTING WORLD MARINA PORT VILA VANUATU

15) LAST ONE

Some
of the major wrecks of Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands include
the American cruiser Quincy, the Australian heavy cruiser Canberra, the
Japanese aircraft carrier Kinugasa, the battleship Kirishima and the
freighter Kasi Maru

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

south pacific posse communications 
 @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Las Vegas USA 

This e-mail has been sent to registration@pacificposse.com, Click here to UNSUBSCRIBE

© 2021 South Pacific Posse / Good Nautical Inc

 “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open, and the world is full of beauty.” 

— Rumi

 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE 
FLEET UPDATE 

2022-12-31

TOP NEWS

• 🗿  SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
• ⚠️ ALERT - CHRISTMAS ISLAND  🇰🇮  KIRIBATI CLOSED  
• 💥 FEB 3RD '23 PARTY IN SHELTER BAY
• 🎥 ZOOM SEMINARS IN FEBRUARY 
• ⛵ 26 VESSELS ALREADY REGISTERED
• 🛂 DOCUMENTS YOU'LL NEED 
• 💸 CHECK OUT YOUR SPONSORS 

 1)  SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE '23
 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

We
believe that you can “Sail at your own schedule”. We want to empower
you to discover the vast Pacific and unique island nations alongside
like-minded cruisers, adventurers and explorers while creating life-long
friendships. We encourage you to do this well informed and at your own
pace. If you join us you will enjoy up to date data,  tracking,
savings and many -many other benefits. This is your adventure – the South Pacific Posse is here to make your journey a bit easier.

BENEFITS OF JOINING 

✔️ Up to date and verified information by fellow yachts en route

📊 Focused on facts not opinions or unsolicited advice

💰 Save actual money with group and individual discounts

💰 12 Marina Discounts ( participating marina grows you'll save 10 -25 % )

🛰️ Free Fleet and vessel tracking courtesy of Predict Wind

🗺️150 Gb+ Free OPENCPN Satellite Charts

💰  Save Money with a Westmarine Pro Discount 5-25 %

🚩 Free Burgee 

💰 Save Money with a Predict Wind Pro Discount 20%

🗺️ Free Printable Reference Chart as a backup to your electronics

📹 Free Video Seminars on destinations – best practices  

🌩️ Weather routing discount by Ocean Tactics  10 % off

⛵ Community of voyagers kid boats welcome, single-handers, pet friendly

⚓ Peer support in emergencies with escalation procedures

🛈 Fleet Updates via email – free

🏆 Fun Award Categories 

📍 Free access to GOOD NAUTICAL  1,500 South Pacific anchorages – free

☎️ Free Weekly live calls on Mondays via dedicated LINE.me group

💬 Free 24/7 LINE group channel ( requires IP connectivity ) 

🌊 Benefit from  the latest and prior experience of those who sailed there 

🔭 Be part of a fleet of sensor for those who come behind you

🚷 NOT A FACEBOOK GROUP – YOU ARE NOT THE PRODUCT  

2) SAVE THE DATE 

SOUTH PACIFIC  
&
 PANAMA POSSE  PARTY

FEBRUARY 3rd 2023  

SHELTER BAY MARINA 
PANAMA 

Afternoon & Evening of Panama Posse and South Pacific Posse seminars 

Followed by an evening of RUM and MUSIC

Save the date 

Fri Feb 3rd ’23 PANAMA

3) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ZOOM SEMINARS

SEMINAR  DATES - PLEASE PLAN AHEAD 

AND pre-REGISTER*   

MON FEB 6 ’23  20:30 –  22:30 UTC

SAFETY, SECURITY, CLEARING IN AND OUT, COMMUNICATIONS  & TRACKING

TUES  FEB 7 ’23  20:30 – 22:30 UTC

WEATHER and HEAVY WIND SQUALLS AND ELEVATED SEA STATE STRATEGIES

WED  FEB 8 ’23  20:30 – 22:30 UTC

PROVISIONING AND MUST SEE AND DO’S

THU FEB 9 ’23  20:30 – 22:30 UTC

OPEN CPN INSTALLATION , USING  OPEN CPN SAT CHARTS CREATING

FRI  FEB 10 ’23  20:30 –  22:30 UTC

LOGISTICS, REPAIRS, CYLCONE SEASON STRATEGIES

4) ⚠️ALERT 
CHRISTMAS ISLAND 🇰🇮  KIRIBATI 
CLOSED  DUE TO COVID CONCERNS 

Swedish vessel reported 2022-12-29

"Hi
everyone! Just want to give you a heads up so nobody else does the same
mistake as we did. Christmas Island and Fanning Island in Kiribati is
still closed! Don’t sail there! We did, hoping to celebrate Christmas on
Christmas Island with our children. 

We had to sail on. Just arrived in American Samoa after a Christmas at sea.

We got reassurance from Tarawa that Christmas Island was open but it didn’t help."

http://pacificposse.com/kiribati

SY RHAPSODY 🇺🇸 Sarah & Bob - Jeanneau 49'

5) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  
🏆 
AWARD CATEGORIES 

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT ✔ 
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR ✔  
• PACIFIC POSSE YODA OF THE YEAR ✔  
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD ✔
• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD ✔ 
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED ✔ 
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION ✔ 
• GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔ 
• SPEEDY AWARD
• GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR ✔  
• BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ✔
• COURAGE AWARD 

David on SY DREAMER  exploring the under water  world of 🇫🇯  Fiji 

6)  FLEET TRACKING 
FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS 
 

 About Tracking:

Designed to give interesting parties  an overview. For specific vessel details including their float plan,
latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related
questions please contact each vessel directly.  If you are on
passage let us know and the fleet can monitor your progress.

https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

7) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL  

IF
YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE  '23 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  you will
be assigned  access credentials to GOODNAUTICAL South Pacific
regions 

CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO GOOD NAUTICAL 

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/goodnautical

8) DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED  

Valid Passports 
- with at least 360 days left on the expiration date 

Vessel Documentation 
-
matching the passports or if your vessel is registered as a corporation
a certified letter of ownership / authorization to operate the
vessel 

Vessel Operator Certificate of Competence 
-
to operate the vessel - this is a formality but some countries
authorities want to make sure that you have what it takes -  you
can get them from most states including this free one - testing is done online, or your ASA, US Sailing, RYA or equivalent

Third Party Liability Insurance for Marinas  
- if you plan to stay at marinas you will need 3rd party liability insurance 

Prescriptions
- if you have prescription drugs on board please be sure to have your valid prescriptions to match from your doctor

Pet Vaccination Records
–
all the docs you can muster plus more – vaccination certificates – 15
digit international chips under their skin – rabies vaccination
certificate  . etc etc.

and most controversial of all ... 

PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION  
-
this may not be mandatory   but it will make your journey a whole
lot easier and reduce quarantine costs, reduce testing requirements, and
reduce frictions at borders (on both entry and exit ) 

AIRLINE TRAVEL ARRIVING ON A ONE WAY TICKET ?
ORDER A REFUNDABLE TICKET FROM EXPEDIA 
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE TO AVOID THE 30 MINUTES OF EXPLAINING 

9)  TWO LEVELS  OF PARTICIPANTS 

 -Active vessels with tracking and all the trimmings   
- Lurkers
for those who wish to prepare and assist those who are actively
underway - the lurker fee will be 50% off the registration fee 

Big Momma's Halloween & Custom Party 🇹🇴 Tonga '09

10) MEET THE FLEET

26 VESSELS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP 

"Amy
is from Australia and loves yoga, circus arts and helping others. Eli
was born and raised in Maine. We love climbing, surfing, spearfishing,
living simply and eating fruit! We are excited to explore the pacific!"

SY WAWENOC  🇺🇸 Amy & Eli - Corbin 39′  Bar Harbor, MA

11) MEET OUR SPONSORS 

• PREDICT WIND
• PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
• YACHT AGENTS NUKU HIVA
• OCEAN TACTICS | PACIFIC WEATHER ROUTING
• SHELTER BAY MARINA PANAMA
• ENARAU MARINA FIJI
• NAWI ISLAND MARINA
• VUDA POINT MARINA
• COPRA SHED MARINA FIJI
• CLOUD 9
• PUERTO AMISTAD ECUADOR
• RIVERGATE MARINA AUSTRALIA
• MARSDEN COVE MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• GULF HARBOUR MARINA NEW ZEALAND
• YACHTING WORLD MARINA PORT VILA VANUATU

SY Seaglub - Chris @ anchor in the  Bay of Islands 🇳🇿 New Zealand 

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY