“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.
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."
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 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.
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
-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
south pacific posse communications @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Summerlin LV 89117 USA
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE '23 SEASON RENEW WITH A $ 25 DISCOUNT EXTEND YOUR PANAMA POSSE SEASON WITH A 50 % DISCOUNT
Tracking moves to next season (SPP 3) and all perks start including discounts access to Good Nautical and the SPP 3 line group gets activated
Feb 1, 2023 Burgees arrive in NUKU HIVA & SHELTER BAY PANAMA
Feb 3 2023 SHELTER BAY PANAMA PANAMA POSSE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE MASHUP PARTY
SEMINARS
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 Mar 10 '23 20:30 - 22:30 UTC LOGISTICS, REPAIRS, CYLCONE SEASON STRATEGIES
3) AWARD WINNERS
WINNER OF THE BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT AWARD
TECOLOTE
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
AND WINNER OF THE SPEEDY AWARD
TECOLOTE
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
SY TECOLOTE 🇺🇸 Michael, Sydney, Lorna - Lagoon ‘450 s
WINNER OF THE GALLEY GOD(ESS) AWARD
SKYPOND
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
SY SKY POND 🇨🇰 Carl & Roxy - Seawind 1160 38′
PICTURE OF THE YEAR AWARD
SEAGLUB
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
AND WINNER OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
SEAGLUB
CONGRATULATIONS Chris Thank you for sharing the Safe tracks in Fiji in Good Nautical
SY SEAGLUB 🇺🇸 Chris - Hylas 46′
WINNER OF THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION AWARD
DREAMER
CONGRATULATIONS !!! David for outstanding reporting on your dives in Taveuni, Fiji
SY DREAMER 🇺🇸 David & Gerne - Caliber 40lrv’
WINNER OF THE THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD a.k.a . if it's gonna happen it can happen out there award !
KISMET
"CONGRATULATIONS" on the loss of of forestay en route between Fiji and Vanautu - BRAVO ZULU for overcoming this obstacle - not loosing your rig ... if it's gonna happen it can happen out there award !
SY KISMET 🇺🇸 Kevin - Passport 41′
WINNER OF THE BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR AWARD
RHAPSODY
"CONGRATULATIONS !!! "
SY RHAPSODY 🇺🇸 Sarah & Bob - Jeanneau 49′
WINNER OF THE COURAGE AWARD
INDIGO MOON
"CONGRATULATIONS on the crew's courage to touch life sharks and for suggesting this award category !!! "
SY INDIGO MOON 🇩🇪 Kay, Beata & Crew
WINNER OF THE HIGHEST WIND RECORDED
IBEX
"CONGRATULATIONS on 53.6 knot"
SY IBEX 🇦🇹 Florian & Vicky- Sunbeam 42′
EACH WINNER WILL RECEIVE A ONE FIFTH GALLON OF RUM RATION OR EQUIVALENT IN US FUNDS
Post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin prior to becoming the iconic artist lived in Isla Taboga in Panama. Virtually penniless, as he had left his wife and five children in Paris to try and make a name for himself as an artist. He stopped off at the Isthmus of Panama in 1887. While there he worked as forced laborer on the early, disastrous, French attempt to build the Panama Canal.
Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) is one of the true larger-than-life figures in art history. The key feature in his personal mythology is the constant yearning for an exotic paradise. He sought it in the bohemian arts community at Pont-Aven on the coast of Brittany and later on the South Seas island of Tahiti
In his final years in the Marquesas, Gauguin grew increasingly critical of the colonial society. In particular, he believed that missionary work had disrupted the indigenous culture. He argued in his writings for the separation of the French state from the official French religion..
Gauguin undoubtedly exploited his position as a privileged Westerner to make the most of the sexual freedoms available to him. The artist “repeatedly entered into sexual relations with young girls, 'marrying' two of them and fathering children “
In early May, 1903, morally skittish, and weakened by drug-addiction and regular bouts with illness, Gauguin succumbed and died at the age of 54, on Atuona in the Marquesas, where he was subsequently buried.
John Martin principal of Ocean Tactics has been assisting skippers with weather and passage planning in the Pacific for many years is now an official sponsor of the South Pacific Posse.
6) LICENSE TO KILL 🏴☠️ CROWN OF THORNS
The crown-of-thorns COTS is a large starfish that preys upon hard, or stony, coral polyp. The crown-of-thorns starfish receives its name from venomous thorn-like spines that cover its upper surface, resembling the biblical crown of thorns. It is one of the largest starfish in the world.
It is perhaps most common around Australia, but is a nuisance and reef danger across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of Central America. It occurs where coral reefs or hard coral communities occur in the region.
The first recorded outbreak of COTS was in the Ryukyu Islands off Japan in the 1950s
The first COTS outbreak in Australia was recorded in 1962 at Green Island. There has now been between 3-4 recorded outbreaks in Australia.
The Crown of Thorns has only a few predators, which include
triton’s trumpet, the white spotted puffer fish
the lined worm
the harlequin shrimp
two species of triggerfish (yellowmargin triggerfish and titan triggerfish)
The red emperor, spangled emperor and parrotfish are also known to eat juvenile COTS before the starfish grow their spikes.
COTS spawn on the Great Barrier Reef between October-March when water temperatures are at their highest. Female COTS release eggs into the water and nearby males release sperm, which then fertilise the eggs. Large female COTS can produce up to 65 million eggs per season.
COTS start off as larval and drift along on top of the water for weeks before settling at the bottom of the ocean floor. They are most vulnerable to predators as juveniles before their spiky spines have grown. At about one year of age they develop spines and begin to feed on coral.
Adult COTS can grow up to a 1 meter ( 3 feet ) in diameter and have up to 21 arms. If they shed an arm due to stress or injury they regrow within six months.
COTS spines are long and sharp and covered with an epidermis containing the venom ‘plancitoxin’. They are toxic to both marine life and humans.
COTS eat by everything their stomach through their mouth and then spreading it out over the surface of the coral using their tube feet. They then digest their food externally.
Adult COTS almost exclusively eat scleractinian. They can survive without feeding for up to nine months.
Predator removal: In the pelagic stage any filter feeder, including hard corals, will eat the starfish larvae. After reaching juvenile stage, fishes such as wrasse, damsels, and snappers will eat the starfishes. But once they become adults very few predators will eat be able to eat the toxic starfishes (except some triggerfish, pufferfish, and large snails like the triton trumpet.) Unfortunately all of theses species are targeted or removed as by-catch in the fishing industry.
HOW TO FIGHT AN INVADING FORCE OF COTS ?
Physical Removal
Experienced divers can use a wooden stick, PVC pipe, metal spear, boat hook or some other easily manipulated rod to remove the starfish off the reef. COTS have the ability to hide in small holes or crevices by using their tubefeet to suction onto the reef. This can make collecting COTS challenging, that is why using a rod or stick to pry the starfish off the reef is the best tool. The collected starfish can be placed in large canvas bags, rice/flour bags or mesh bags and brought to the boat or shore. The sharp poisonous spines of the starfish can penetrate the bag so please use caution. The process can be facilitated by locating a small boat near the divers, with bags of starfish sent to the surface using ropes or lift bags. In shallow water, starfish can be removed by snorkeling, but SCUBA is more effective.
Chemical Injection
Citric Acid Injections: An Accessible and Efficient Method for Controlling Outbreaks of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
The most common and environmentally safe chemical used currently is oxgall and Bile Salts No.3, as well as vinegar. However more toxic chemicals such as bleach, copper sulphate, sodium bisulphate have been used in the past. Chemicals are held in a sealed container connected to an injection gun with a high pressured hose. The poison is injected with a needle or a continuous injection system at the base of the starfish arms.
This method is more efficient than manual collection of starfish, however; some chemicals are toxic to the environment and other organisms.
7) MARINA SPONSORS
🇺🇸 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
🇫🇯 Royal Suva Yacht Club - Fiji
🇫🇯 Copra Shed Marina - Fiji
🇳🇿 Gulf Harbour Marina - New Zealand
🇫🇯 Sau Bay Resort, Spa, Dive Center and Moorings - Fiji
1) NEW CALEDONIA OPENS UP 2) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE GROW TO 31 YACHTS FROM 13 FLAG STATES 3) RIVERGATE MARINA 🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA SPONSORS THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
1) NEW CALEDONIA 🇦🇺 OPENS UP
Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre Noumea designe by Renzo Piana
Our maritime borders to New Caledonia which boasts the worlds largest continuous barrier reef are finally open!
Forms needed for entry:
-Medical Health declaration
-Border control temperatures to be sent back to us 48 hrs and 1 hr prior to arrival
-Every person should send us their vaccination certificate prior to arrival.
A test will have to be done 2 days after arrival (48hrs)
Brisbane is striking distance of the renowned Tangalooma Ship Wreck Bay l and Moreton Island
4) ENTRY INTO BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT
To put the catch in perspective Chris lies next to the fish head
SV SEAGLUB 🇺🇸 Chris - Hylas 46′
Captain Chris this season's lead vessel SY SEAGLUB currently sailing in Fiji
5) PUERTO VILLAMIL 🇪🇨 GALAPAGOS
Puerto Villamil is a small port village sion the southeastern edge ofIsla Isabela in the Galapagos Islands.
Traffic jam in Villamil Galapapgos. On
the southwestern edge of town a boardwalk was created by the park with
assistance of US Aid. At the end of the walkway is the Tortoise Breeding
Center which was built in order to help preserve the many species
of Isabela Tortoises.
It leads through mangrove environments passing along saltwater lagoons
filled with flamingo, black-winged stilts, Hudsonian whimbrels, Bahama
pintails, and gallinules that search the lagoons for shrimp.
Poza de los Flamingos is a lake in the western part of the town where flamingos can be observed.
The untouched shore of Isla Isabela
To
the southeast of town are a series of small islets including one known
as Las Tintoreras where a colony of white tip sharks can often be seen
resting in the lava channel
SY IBEX 🇦🇹 Florian & Vicky - Sunbeam 42′
6) 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
The Bora Bora Yacht Club 🇵🇫
16° 29'.3433' S 151° 45.5783' W
A suitable setting for a South Pacific Posse Sunset Rum Party
🇦🇺 Rivergate Marina and Boatyard - Brisbane - Australia
Advanced yacht services available in Australia. Rivergate’s
shipyard carries out more than 500 haul-outs per year, making it one of
the busiest shipyards in the Southern Hemisphere
8) 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
9) MEET THE FLEET
SY KISMET 🇺🇸 Kevin - Passport 41′ currently at 02º 28.261 N 124º 07.788 W
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.
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
During World War II many lagoons and closed harbors where blasted open to allow vessels to enter
The
tight Pass into Hunga Valetoakakau ( # 13) is 30 foot wide - 12.5
feet deep cut at high tide. Located at 18° 41.7216' S 174°
08.1816' W
Wayward Wind a 11' draft schooner made it in with help from Captain Kurt.
Anchor inside a dormant volcanic caldera in the large depression formed after a volcano erupts and collapses.
The
archipelago of Vava'u - a hand drawn Moorings map which uses numbers to
make identifying locations easier for Palangi's . Ta
pan-Polynesian term for a white person or Caucasian. The term has gained
widespread use throughout much of western Polynesia including Tonga,
Tokelau, Tuvalu, 'Uvea and Futuna.
Aerial view of a portion of the Vava'u Archipelago in northern Tonga
Don
Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa, commanding the Spanish frigate Princesa,
was the first European to come to Vavaʻu, which he did on 4 March 1781.
He charted Vavaʻu as Martín de Mayorga, naming it after the man who was
the Viceroy of New Spain at that time. Captain James Cook had
known about the islands a decade earlier, but the people in Haʻapai had
told him it would be no good for him to go there. they told him there
was no harbour. ( THIS WAS A LIE ) They may have told him this to
dissuade him from going there; but Cook heeded their advice.
As
it turned out, Mourelle found excellent anchoring, in Vavaʻu, which he
desperately needed, because he had failed to find a harbour at the last
two places he had tried to land, Fonualei (Bitterness island) and Late.
He gave the harbour at Vavaʻu the name Port of Refuge, although his original port of refuge had been the bay on the west coast of the main island, near Longomapu.
Twelve
years later, in 1793, Alessandro Malaspina visited the area for a
month, following up on Mourelle’s investigations, and formally claiming
the islands for Spain.
Captain Cook and the 'Friendly Islands
13) 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
With few cruisers in far flung places friendly rendezvous' on each other's yachts are the norm - prepare to be boarded ;-) SY Reflections on approach in Lamen Bay Vanuatu
south pacific posse communications @ 9811 w charleston blvd 2262 89117 Summerlin USA
