Returning To Oz From Singapore

[Monty4271]

Hi We are bringing a 50Ft yacht back Australia and we are considering the route back, we are considering sailing to the north of PNG and goingthrough the solomons and then Cape York, Gove Darwin.Would like some input from others For and against of course.

Ross

[Auzzee]

G'day Ross.

The trip you propose is certainly the scenic route. By sailing to the north of PNG and then south to Oz via the Solomans, you are adding over 5000klms to the shortest route to Darwin. It may be more efficient to sail through the Idonesian archipeligo to the Tanimbar Islands, then cut south to Darwin.

If you wanted to then cruise PNG and the Solomans, you could either head north on the southeast trades to resume your trip across the top of PNG, or you could await the seasonal change (northerlies) and dash across the Gulf of Carpentaria, through the Torres Strait, then up to the Gulf of Papua, on to Morseby, the Louisades and on eventually to the Solomans. Waiting for the southeasterlies in the Solomans, will then give you a nice (theoretical) beam reach south west to Cairns.

Either way is viable but the northern option keeps you close to the equator, where the southern route will give you more reliable winds, providing you are not considering sailing in the wet season and dodging cyclones.

If you don't already have it, buy a copy of the Admiralty volume "Ocean Passages for the World" and take a gander at the way the sailing merchantmen plied their course through these 'spice' islands back in the days of yore...its invaluable for world cruising!

There is quite a lot to hit in those areas, so the Indonesia Pilot and north Australian Pilot books (also Admiralty) are worth their weight in gold.

Keep in mind the DFAT travel advice for these areas. Political and religious tensions continue to flare on occasion.

Hope this is of some help.

Best wishes,

David

[MMNETSEA]

"Ross

The trip you propose is certainly the scenic route. By sailing to the north of PNG and then south to Oz via the Solomans, you are adding over 5000klms to the shortest route to Darwin. It may be more efficient to sail through the Idonesian archipeligo to the Tanimbar Islands, then cut south to Darwin.

There is quite a lot to hit in those areas, so the Indonesia Pilot and north Australian Pilot books (also Admiralty) are worth their weight in gold.

Keep in mind the DFAT travel advice for these areas. Political and religious tensions continue to flare on occasion.

Hope this is of some help.

Best wishes,

David"

[/quote]

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Hello Ross and David,

Very recently a number boats made their way from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu (good following winds, some storms), Others from the Philippines to Timor , A couple from Suluwesi to Xmas >>> Cocos Keeling. Spoke to them every day on what was happening, how much wind they had etc ....

So Monty if you need to get to Darwin before the North East winds return in the Northern Hemisphere, Here is another way to go, based on recent experiences of cruising yachts :-

Leave Singapore with the Straits current behind you, in a South West wind - pass Kuching >> make for Miri (new marina) >>> continue NE with the wind behind you >> to Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu. Leave KK and head for Kudat at the Norther tip of Borneo - Kudat has haul out and repair facilities. Take on Diesel and other stores. Leave port - now to make your way south towards the east coast of Sibutu Island, WP = 4d 57.2' N x 119d 31.9 E once south of Sibutu head for Tawau, WP 4d 08.4 N x 118d 01 E (nice place) Of course this is where you will be checking in to Indonesia with your C permit. When you leave Tawau your next WP will be the Equator x 119d 30' E >>>>>> WP 2d 30'S x 118d 00E >>>>

WP 6d 00'S x 119d 00'E >>>> 8d 00's x 121d 30'E Then its using the land/sea breezes along the northern coastlines of Flores and Alor until you get to the eastern end of Alor. From there to the Eastern Cape of Timor then a heading of 130 degrees

to the west coast of Melville Island - phone Darwin to get the Beer on Ice !!

If you want you discuss different legs of the above suggested passage with the relevant skippers send me an email and I will forward to the yachts concerned (one is in Singapore now!)

Richard

[Monty4271]

Hi David,

Thank you for that information ifyou could pass on my email to those persons who have done the trip it would be appreciated,

The over the top PNG trip is a thought at present, nice to do but a bit hard to pull off, Would like a lot more info before a decision is made.

Thanks again for your help

Monty