South Pacific Posse
blovck

May 13, 2022

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  FLEET UPDATE 

TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

1) FRENCH POLYNESIA 🇵🇫  FULL RESET 2) NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿 OPENS JULY 31 3) FIJI  🇫🇯  FREE WELCOME DRINKS AT CLOUD 9 4) COOK ISLANDS 🇨🇰  OPENING 

South Pacific Posse 13 Particpant Flag States

1) FRENCH POLYNESIA 🇵🇫  FULL RESET    

🇵🇫

UPDATE ON PORTS OF ENTRY FRENCH POLYNESIA 

Bonjour,

I have just recveid an email from the DPAM showing that the requirement to request permission to enter has been lifted according an order from the High commissioner’s office.

The DPAM no longer requires nor will they treat any requests to enter French Polynesia.  Below is the translated text from the DPAM.

This also means and I have a confirmation that the restriction on entry ports has been lifted.  It will take a week or more for the other islands to be aware of this change.

 

I hope you all are as happy about this news as we are.

 

Cheers, Kevin.

 

Kevin

Yacht Services Nuku Hiva  Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

YSNukuHiva@hotmail.com +689 87 22 68 72 

Bay

Hello, You will find attached the order HC 917 CAB of May 9, 2022 amending the order HC 7934 CAB of November 15, 2021. This order deletes IV of article 36 relating to reporting obligations and authorizations prior to the arrival of pleasure boats. As a result, entry clearance requests put in place for the COVID crisis are no longer required and will no longer be processed. Cordially,

Hello, You will find attached the order HC 917 CAB of May 9, 2022 amending the order HC 7934 CAB of November 15, 2021. This order deletes IV of article 36 relating to reporting obligations and authorizations prior to the arrival of pleasure boats. As a result, entry clearance requests put in place for the COVID crisis are no longer required and will no longer be processed. Cordially,
French Polynesia

2)  NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿 OPENS JULY 31

New Zealand

From 31 July 2022, New Zealand’s maritime border will reopen to currently prohibited foreign flagged vessels including cruise ships, recreational craft, and specialist vessels.

Further information about arriving in New Zealand via sea from 31 July will become available on the Ministry of Health website.

COVID-19 update for Private Yachts on C4G/Temporary Import entry (TIE)

In January 2022 Customs sent out a reminder notice that the COVID-19 extension for vessels in New Zealand on C4G/Temporary Import Entry concludes on 30 June 2022.  Customs accepts that under the current environment there have been some that are unable to comply. Customs has taken this into consideration and the date has now been extended for a further 12 months.

OPUA

OPUA PORT OF ENTRY NEW ZEALAND

RESTRICTIONS   WHAT YOU CAN NOT BRING INTO NEW ZEALAND

MAF

New Zealand Customs Immigration and Biosecurity Officers are very friendly but will remove all prohibited items and destroy them 

3) FIJI  🇫🇯  FREE DRINKS AT CLOUD 9  AND NO MORE QUARANTINE  FOR PEOPLE OR YACHTS

CLOUD 9 🇫🇯 FIJI · SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

CLOUD 9 🇫🇯 FIJI · SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

BULA BULA   

JUST FOR VISITING US FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU RECEIVE 2 FREE WELCOME DRINKS PER SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE YACHT 

Cloud 9

The Iconic barrier reef location of Cloud 9 is a great spot to view, mingle, play and relax and watch the sunset from - bring your yacht !

 CLOUD 9 🇫🇯 FIJI · SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

JOIN US ON THE REEF FOR AN AMAZING TIME ON THIS ICONIC FIJI BARRIER REEF

http://www.cloud9.com.fj/

+679 869 7947

Drinks on Cloud 9

Sometimes it's nice to get off the boat and drink out of proper glass especially if the drinks are FREE

Cloud 9 Video

Download your Fji Resources 

4) COOK ISLANDS OPENING 🇨🇰  

LAgoon anchorage

COOK ISLANDS ARE OPEN VIA RAROTONGA AVIATU  

must be vaccinated 

meet normal requirements for maritime entry

meet normal immigration requirements

https://goodnautical.com/cook-islands/port-of-entry/avatiu

"Our extremely high vaccination rate has given us a very high level of protection against Covid, with an incredible 98% of our eligible population aged 12 and over having had at least two vaccine doses as of this week, along with 80% of our 5-11 year-old population." 

Kia orana tatou katoatoa, e kia manuia.

Hon Mark Brown Prime Minister, Cook Islands

Prime Minisiter

5) PICTURES OF THE WEEK 

Ibex

A beautiful sunset on our light-wind and no-waves sail to the Tuamotus ibex

MArquesas

The Spires of Ua Pou

In 1791, American Joseph Ingraham passed through the northwest group of the Marquesas on his way to China,[  but without setting foot there. He gave the island of Ua Pou, visible in the distance, the name "Adam" or "Adams Island" after Vice President John Adams.

It was also formerly known as Trevenen Island. The name Ua Pou means "two pillars" and perfectly reflects its orography. It has also been written as Ua Pu, Hua Pu and Ropo.

It is considered that the real European explorer was the French circumnavigator Étienne Marchand (1755-1793), who arrived shortly after, on June 20, 1791, anchored with his ship Solide first in Vaiehu Bay, on the west coast, and then off Hakahau. He remained off the island for a total of three days, but contacts with the inhabitants during the brief excursions ashore were limited. Marchand named the island "Île Marchand," after his own surname.

The arrival of the U.S. whaling ship Tuscan from Nantucket on March 4, 1835, was a prelude to other encounters with whalers, adventurers, and someewhat shady traders in the following years, who brought firearms and alcohol to the tribes. 

The year of Ua Pou's final submission to French rule is considered to be 1880, when Rear Admiral Abel Bergasse Dupetit-Thouars  forcibly removed the last resistance. The Marquesas then became a French colony.

 

It is located about 28nm  south of Nuku Hiva, Marquesas. The island is characterized by four high basalt pillars  the tallest Mount Oave rises 1,230 m (4,040 ft) above sea level and is the highest elevation in the Marquesas. 

Ua Pou
When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days 😀 (Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days 😀

When you are the only tourists in a 100 people village, everyone knows you after 1-2 days 😀 (Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

(Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

(Kauehi Atoll / Tuamotus)

SY IBEX 🇦🇹  Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42′

Vicky
FLorian

6) SY VA ARRIVES IN 🇵🇫 FRENCH POLYNESIA   

As many times as we have probably wanted to kill each other while living on a boat we have also become a little better and a little stronger because of it. Okay maybe A LOT stronger, even if there are a few more grey hairs amongst us LOL! But despite the obvious challenges created by living on a small, isolated, susceptible, floating home that is always trying to sink, break, or kill us, we wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Reality check: Life on a boat is hard, life on a boat with your significant other, well yeah it’s fucking harder. 24/7 togetherness isn’t always rainbows and rum punches. We argue, we yell, we fight just like any other couple would on land. We have been married 4 years, and on the boat it feels more like 10. Many people who choose this life, generally speaking, have been married already for a lifetime, and have had time to figure each other out before putting themselves in a situation like living on a boat, but for us we sorta just packed it all in for our first 4 years of marriage. But it’s worked, and it’s working, and we are figuring it out together. At the end of the day we are partners and we just have each other!

WE officially made it! After 34 days, 2400 miles, 80 eggs, 30 avocado, 50 tomatoes, 10 banana breads, 4 soaking squalls, 8 rolls of toilet paper, and 2 bags of rice. We caught 11 fish and successfully brought on board 3.5 and possibly had the shortest record setting doldrums crossing (that we know of)

WE have made it to The Marquesas.

Our Pacific Ocean passage was unlike anything else. We had a solid crew and spirits were high every step of the way. We hope you were able to follow along on our tracker with daily blogs of our time at sea.

We have so much to catch up but for now we are eager to get our feet on some terra firma.

WE SAIL ARRIVES

WE SAIL aka "SY VA" with their South Pacific Burgee

Largest Ocean

There is very little that could compare with the feeling of sailing across the worlds largest OCEAN under your own skills and canvas, being at sea and then having these islands be the first place you see. 

We Sail

Arrival in the Marquesas

LOG ENTRY  Day 36 Tue Apr 19 2022  04:30 GMT 10º 30.721 S  138º 41.362 W Course: 243° true, 0.0 kts 

LAND HO

Today I complete something that I have worked towards for several years, and dreamed about for many, many more. I have had the pleasure of sailing across the worlds largest expanse of open ocean, aboard a sound and solid vessel with able crew that took on each day and every obstacle with grace and courage, not a complaint or doubt among us. The lessons have been numerous, only outnumbered by the moments of wonder and awe, with mother nature and the gods of the ocean coming together to grant us pass, and to shine on us with not just good fortune, but the best of fortunes during this, the largest of undertakings… I won’t be the first to write this and it’s no secret to explorers, but its clear that the more that one is willing to put on the line and risk in his endeavors, the more he stands to gain, and looking back I suppose we definitely put a lot on the line and went out on a few branches, but it’s equally true that we’ve always been paid back in spades and this experience has been no different. It’s been WAY more than I could have ever asked for, and I’m honored to have followed in the footsteps of the great explorers who risked way more than we ever did. My final parting thought is this: now that we don’t risk jinxing things by mentioning them I can say this - OK first the doldrums: it’s unbelievable that we got through them in the lightning speed that we did, thanks Aelous & Neptune/Possidon, much appreciated and we won’t forget it. Secondly, the boat and her hardware weathered every and all storms with only a few small items to address and no major failures or losses, thanks VA and the Universal magic that clearly watches over us all! Lastly thanks to the sea for sharing a few of her ancient secrets, the ones that cannot be told, sold, or traded, but must be claimed in person, I will keep them close to heart for the rest of my life.

VA's Track

SY VA 🇵🇦 Erica Thomas   - Fountaine Pajot 44′

Erika
Thomas
BRAVO ZULU

7) GOOD NAUTICAL NEEDS YOU  

Over the last 12 years we have added over 7,000 anchorages into Good Nautical - and   are looking to enhance this information with first hand accounts from you - please add pictures, details and updates as you see them. 

Minerva Reef

The iconic Minerva Reef Yacht Club Anchorage

MINERVA REEF -  Please email us your anchorages and tracks to safeguard them for those who will attempt them after you please email your tracks ( any format )   to registration@pacificposse.com 

North MInerva Reef Entrance

 The Minerva Reefs (Tongan: Ongo Teleki) are a group of two submerged atolls located in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji and Tonga. The islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between both nations, and in addition were briefly claimed by American Libertarians as the centre of a micronation, the Republic of Minerva. 

MInerva Reef

The reefs were named after the whaleship Minerva, wrecked on what became known as South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829. Many other ships would follow, for example Strathcona, which was sailing north soon after completion in Auckland in 1914. In both cases most of the crew saved themselves in whaleboats or rafts and reached the Lau Islands in Fiji. 

Sailing Nikau's blog about Minerva Reef

The reefs were first known to Europeans by the crew of the brig Rosalia, commanded by Lieutenant John Garland, which was shipwrecked there in 1807. The Oriental Navigator for 1816 recorded Garland’s discovery under the name Rosaretta Shoal, warning that it was “a dangerous shoal, on which the Rosaretta, a prize belonging to his Majesty's ship Cornwallis, was wrecked on her passage from Pisco, in Peru, to Port Jackson, in 1807”. It noted that it was “composed of hard coarse sand and coral”, a description that must have come from Garland’s report. It also said that “from the distressed situation of the prize-master, Mr. Garland”, the shoal’s extent could not be ascertained, and concluded: “The situation is not to be considered as finally determined”. It cited different coordinates from those given by Garland: 30°10 South, longitude 173°45' East.  The reefs were put on the charts by Captain John Nicholson of LMS Haweis in December 1818 as reported in The Sydney Gazette 30 January 1819.[3] Captain H. M. Denham of HMS Herald surveyed the reefs in 1854 and renamed them after the Australian whaler Minerva which ran aground on South Minerva Reef on 9 September 1829. 

MInerva Reef Wrecks

A wreck inside the Minerva Reefs

8) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  AWARDS CATEGORIES 

 

HERE ARE THE  CATEGORIES 

    BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* ✔ 

    PICTURE OF THE YEAR ✔  

    SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD ✔  

    THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD ✔ 

    MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD ✔ 

    HIGHEST WIND RECORDED ✔ 

    SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION ✔ 

    GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔ 

    GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR ✔  

    NEWLY ADDED – BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ✔

*no bill-fish

9) MEET THE FLEET  SEA PEARL

MEET THE FLEET

Hello South Pacific-Posse, 

We are Luisa and Matthias sailing on our 2008 Dufour 455 GL. 

We started our present journey in August 2021. Since then we traveled the Mediterranean westwards and hopped over Madeira, some of the Canarian Islands and Cape Verde to the southern Caribbean Islands. Since then our course was northwards with a touring point in Eleuthera/Bahamas. We are now on our way back south to Panama and are planning the canal crossing mid of June to sail on-wards into the big Pacific. 

Bays

We are looking forward to meet you guys and share our experiences along the way. 

Personal facts: we are 28 (Luisa) and 34 (Matthias) and have been dinghy-sailing since our childhood on Bavarian inshore lakes. We are both German and our journey shall last a total of two years, so we are planning to return to our normal lives by end of August 2023.

Tracking

10) CHRIS ON SEAGLUB GOT THE BURGEE

Seaglub

Meet Chris on SeaGlub - Lead Vessel of this season's South Pacific Posse currently scouting the Fiji - New Caledonia - Australia Route 

11) LANDFALL IN 🇵🇳 PITCAIRN  

Pitcairn

Pitcairn is the least populous national jurisdiction in the world. The Pitcairn Islanders are a biracial ethnic group descended mostly from nine Bounty mutineers and a handful of Tahitian consorts – as is still apparent from the surnames of many of the islanders. The mutiny and its aftermath have been the subject of many books and films. As of January 2020, the territory had only 47 permanent inhabitants. 

The Landing

Horizon landed in Pitcairn today. 2700nm in 17 days from the Galapagos. We felt like we were on the  "Cream Run". Beam Reach all the way. We were a little worried that the engine would not start after 14 days (but it did :-) . Life is good and Pitcairn and the people here are amazing.

SY  HORIZON 🇺🇸  Anders & Anette - Outbound 46′

Annette
Christopher
BRAVO ZULU

12)  MARINA SPONSORS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC  POSSE 

🇺🇸  Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista - USA

🇲🇽  Marina Chiapas – Mexico   

🇨🇷  Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica   

🇵🇦  Shelter Bay Marina – Panama  

🇪🇨  Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador  

🇫🇯  Vuda Point Marina - Fiji 

🇻🇺  Yachting World Marina - Port Vila - Vanuatu

🇳🇿  Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealand 

🇦🇺  Rivergate Marina  - Brisbane  - Australia 

🇫🇯  Denarau Marina - Fiji 

Wallis and Futuna

Roasted pigs of Wallis and Futuna on St. Chanel Day

Festivals and dance Wallis and Futuna

Numerous festivals are celebrated in Wallis and Futuna throughout the year; on St Chanel Day, pigs are roasted and placed in the sun, and dancing performances are held. The Wallis and Futuna Festival is put on in Noumea annually. Flae fones are community feasting and meeting structures. 

There are at least 16 types of dances (faive), their differences based upon location, occasion, number of dancers, gender, accompanying instruments, and other modifiers. Most dances are accompanied by singing and some type of percussion instruments as dancing without drumming is considered unusual. The kailao (paddle-club dance), however, has no song and only includes percussion.  Wallis and Futuna dancers perform across the Oceania region at festivals. 

 There is not much tourism in the two islands. The natural heritage of the territory is largely preserved; there are not many recreational sites in Wallis and Futuna. 

Souht Pacific Posse

13) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE SPONSORS 

  • PREDICT WIND
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • CENTENARIO PANAMA CANAL AGENTS
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS 
  • YACHT SERVICES NUKU HIVA 
  • NOUMEA YACHT SERVICES
  • SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
  • WESTMARINE PRO
  • SAILMAIL 
  • OCEAN TACTICS WEATHER ROUTING
  • CLOUD 9  FIJI

14) PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Picture of the Week

view from Makemo dinghy dock

SY KISMET 🇺🇸 Kevin - Passport 41′

Kevin

15) ARANUI 5 SUPPLY & CRUISE SHIP  🇵🇫  FRENCH POLYNESIA

Our „intimate“ Aranui 5 experience in Kauehi 😀

M/V Aranui 5 is a dual passenger/cargo vessel that entered service 12 December 2015 between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. With a homeport of Papeete, French Polynesia, the Aranui 5 replaced the Aranui 3 which entered service in 2003.

Our „intimate“ Aranui 5 experience in Kauehi 😀

Like its predecessor, is registered as a passenger ship under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), for international operation.

Apart from supplying cargo to the six ports in the Marquesas Islands, Aranui 5 also operates a passenger service and tourist cruise as part of its 14-day itinerary. It also stops at the islands of Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu Islands before returning on its 13th day to Bora Bora in the Society Islands. 

Supply landing craft
Arnui 5

Vessel particulars:

    Flag: France

    Length: 126 m. Breadth: 22 m. Draught: 5.2 m. 

    Cruising speed: 15 knots

    Propellers: 2

    Freight: 3000 tons

    Capacity: 230 passengers – 103 cabins

Aranui 5 in Tahuata

SY IBEX 🇦🇹  Florian & Waltraud - Sunbeam 42′

Vicky
Floria

16) TRACKING THE 22' PACIFIC POSSE  FLEET  BROUGHT TO YOU BY PREDICT WIND

Tracking

Visit https://pacificposse.com/tracking to view the progress of the 22 South Pacific Posse Fleet.  To be added visit https://pacificposse.com/add-to-tracking

17) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

 SPONSORS THE SOUTH POSSE

More info on Sevenstar™s services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

Sevenstar

Who is Sevenstar Yacht Transport?

Sevenstar is the world’s leading provider of yacht shipping services on a lift-on, lift-off basis. Sevenstar has access to the Spliethoff fleet of over 120 company owned vessels. With an impressive 1,500+ transports per year, they are calling over 100 ports in more than 40 countries worldwide.

For a quote with the Panama Posse discount please contact  Kris Caren

email: kris@sevenstar-usa.com

web: sevenstar-usa.com

18) PANAMA CANAL AGENT  CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gálvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick
https://panamaposse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/new-panama-canal-graphic.jpg

19) STRATEGIC PARTNERS  

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Abernathy – Chandlery – Panama

Panama Posse 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners – Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

SIGN UP FOR THE '22 SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE  

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

MArquesas

UA HUKA is one of the smallest islands of the Marquesas French Polynesia. Home of the “great house” of gods overlooking the ocean, this wild and deep universe offers a preserved nature with steep slopes and desert plateaus.

The population lives mainly horse breeding in the highlands, because there are more horses on the island than people, fishing and coprahculture.

They live around Vaipaee, capital of the island which has an archaeological museum located in the local authority.

Ua Huka is also the place whre the Marquesas’ most ancient archeological sites can be found. The preservation of cultural heritage and environmental protection are very important for the local population. You can visit the site Meiaute with red stone tikis, the cave “Pas”, the bird’s island, petroglyphs of vaikiki and many others.

Traditional arts, seen in “tapa” factories or monoi fabrication places “Kumu Hei” are also preponderent in wood or stone carving.

Horses
South Pacific Posse

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