The New Plan

Our blog has been silent for a while since our plans have been in such flux and we didn't want to jinx things one way or another by being too optimistic.

When we crossed the South Pacific to Australia, we skipped Vanuatu due to time constraints with the intention to go there afterwards.  Category 5 Cyclone Pam hit the islands this past March and we figured we would go spend 3-4 months there helping with reconstruction.   

 

Photo Courtesy of UNICEF via Getty Images

Al ( from SAGITAIRE) and I looked at taking 2 different weather windows at the end of April but got closed out on both.  We then left for the US to take care of the rental houses while TORTUGUITA stayed comfortably tied in a berth at the Gold Coast City Marina.  There was a decent weather window to New Caledonia of 7 days while we were gone but had hopes of having another upon our return.  Well, no such luck.  The windows are running 4 days max and at this time we either have to 'fish or cut bait' as the saying goes.

The people of Vanuatu could really use the help

Destination: Darwin

Since it looks like there is no safe way to get to Vanuatu in the near future, we decided to head to Southeast Asia.  We must transit Indonesia to get to the rest of the countries and will have some flexibility in our route once through Indo.  We are not much for buddy boating, or at least hand holding during our cruising.  However, there are 2 Australia to Indonesia Rallys.  One leaves from Cairns and the other from Darwin.  These events take care of all the bureaucracy and provide support for any problems during the 3 month passage through the islands.  The cost is actually pretty favorable since the option doing a DIY transit is to hire a ships agent and have them handle your paperwork but there is no support or planned events.  The rally from Cairns would be preferable since it is a week closer to the Gold Coast than Darwin but the limit of 50 boats has been reached so they are not accepting any more applications.

Here's the list of boats we will be traveling with:

Darwin to Indonesia Boat List 

The Darwin Rally has room for us but we are pushed up against the 1 month that it takes to get our Cruising Permit (CAIT) and then our Visas from the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin prior to the late July departure.  Not the least is the need to get ourselves to Darwin in less than a month.

So we must get going.  Heading north.  Unlike last year, when we were exploring all the towns, rivers, islands, and marinas, we are just going to do marathon passages to get as much distance under the keel as possible.

We are departing tomorrow and will sail north for about a week with the Whitsunday Islands being our first rest stop.  We pretty much already covered all that territory last year. 

Sorry Vanuatu, it will be a loss for us all.