There was this ghost ship called the Zebrina. British cargo ship hauling coal. She ran aground in France after floating past all of you fellas coming to join the war. My hospital ship ran from her for weeks. I swear that empty b!%-$ , she was chasing us. But the strangest thing I ever saw was off the coast of Indonesia. Little dinghies, two-man fishing skiffs, Just floating, 300 miles off shore. The seagulls swarmed ’em like hornets, picking at the men inside. And there must have been a thousand of them small dinghies, maybe more. I passed ’em for a week. Must have been a big swell that pushed ’em all out to sea. I don’t know. It’s a mystery. The sea’s like that. Cunning… Like a fox. Always looking for ways to trick you. Now, who wants first watch?
– Lucca, 1923, S01E05
SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE FLEET UPDATE
2023-10-09
67 Yachts from 13 ensigns scout for opportunities and alert each other to threats
SY KAWAINE II 🇨🇭 Jean-Dominique & Guylène – C.M.P.F. – Fecamp 42′
TOP NEWS
Best Mechanic Award Nomination
South Pacific Seas
Courage Award Nomination
Award Categories
Seminars On Demandthe Passage To 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Re Or Register For Spp ’24
Pictures Of The Week
The Final Strech
Meet A Posse Sponsor
Good Nautical
Historic Ports ⚓ Of The South Pacific
South Pacific Press
1) BEST MECHANIC AWARD NOMINATION 🇫🇯 FIJI
That’s Ritesh’s back working on our rudder shaft packing gland.
SY CALLY LILLY 🇺🇸 Michael, Shelby, David & Kelli – Compass 47′
2) SOUTH PACIFIC SEAS 🌡️ SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC 23-23 CYCLONE SEASON
During the season, tropical cyclones will be officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and New Zealand’s MetService. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) will also monitor the basin and issue unofficial warnings. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The BoM, FMS and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate windspeeds with a period of approximately ten minutes, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
• El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in a weak El Niño state. • Overall, the current El Niño is expected to gradually strengthen through to the December 2023 to February 2024 period.
• Example: Fiji usually experiences below normal rainfall during an El Niño event.
The 2023-2024 Cyclone Names
Lola
Mal
Nat
Osai
Pita
Rae
Seru
Tam
Urmil
Vaianu
Wati
Xavier
Yani
Zita
South Pacific tropical cyclone long-range forecast region bounds
3) AWARD ENTRIES
COURAGE AWARD NOMINATION
100% perseverance during extreme stressful, highly personal and life-changing situations
ENTRY INTO THE ’22 SPP PICTURE OF THE YEAR AWARD – VA WE |SAIL
7) PICTURES OF THE WEEK
This is Nawi Island Marina. We went here because of the discount we got through the Posse and would definitely recommend. The facilities are excellent. Photo taken by my brother in law as he flew in to join us.
SY CERULEAN 🇳🇿 Helen & Stephen – Seastream 43 Mk3′
send us good ju ju… anchored in Suwarrows – has been blowing a steady 30+ for over 24 hrs. No sign of it going down. We’re above the reef, but barely and to top it off our snubber snapped – broke. We doubled up and put our smaller one on the other side- but it’s not totally happy. Was chaffing already- through fire hose. I’d not buy this product! There are 4 other boats here now. A solo guy somehow managed to fall out of his dingy doing something up by his bow. He got back in…. But did say he hit his head. He later scuba dove for his camera… yes in 45 knot winds ????
Everyone seems to be holding ok…. So far. Another anchor watch night.
Apia – Western Samoa
At anchor
SY NANAI 🇺🇸 Chris, Kay, Kevin & Mark – Tashing,Taswell 49′
8) THE FINAL STRECH FLEET TRACKING FOR PARTICIPANTS
About Tracking:
Designed to give interesting parties an overview. For specific vessel details including their floatplan, 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.
We are pleased to let you know that Gulf Harbour Marina will offer a discount on berthage plus a Welcome Gift valued at $200 for participants upon arrival at our marina.
Lisa de Ruiter Gulf Harbour Marina
Lisa de Ruiter
Customer Services Manager
36°37.23′ S 174° 47.2416′ E
10) 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
Christmas Island, also known as Kiritimati, is part of the Republic of Kiribati, located in the central Pacific Ocean. The island was discovered by Captain James Cook on Christmas Eve in 1777, hence its name. Covering an area of about 388 square miles (1,006 square kilometers), it is the world’s largest coral atoll.
In the years following its discovery, Christmas Island had several uses, including as a coconut plantation and a stopover for whalers and fishermen.
During the Cold War era, the island was the site for nuclear testing conducted by the United Kingdom and the United States. The island’s indigenous population was evacuated during these tests. Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, and Christmas Island became a part of this newly independent nation.
Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio, in the extreme southwest of Tarawa Atoll.
The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical Central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the Pacific War that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. Previous landings had met little or no initial resistance, but on Tarawa the 4,500 Japanese defenders were well supplied and well prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the United States Marine Corps. The losses on Tarawa were incurred within 76 hours.
Today, the island is primarily known for its rich biodiversity, including an extensive variety of birds and marine life. It has become an attractive destination for ecotourism and is especially popular among recreational anglers, divers, and birdwatchers.
The island faces various challenges, such as climate change, which poses a significant risk due to rising sea levels. Kiribati’s government and various international organizations are working to mitigate these issues and preserve the island’s unique environment.
Shark tooth weapon from the Gilbert Islands, made in the mid to late 19th century.
12) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC PRESS
A few more pics from the Nawi Island South Pacific Posse event
13 MEET OUR SPONSORS
PREDICT WIND
PANAMA CANAL AGENT ERICK GALVEZ CENTENARIO CONSULTING
