Oahu to New Caledonia - Need Help

[CaptSkrV]

I'm new to the forum and really interested in blue water cruising. I'm planning a trip for summer/early autumn of 2011 from Oahu, Hi to New Caledonia and im really in need of some help. I mean any help like books i should read, lists of ports i could stop to restock up at on the way, courses, charts, any help is greatly appreciated. I have a 30' lancer 1986ish(not sure of the year) fractional sloop. I have nothing planned out in my life and i get out of the military in 2011, so i'm thinking the best course would be just to get out and see the world.

Thanks,
Garrison

[cathyoz]

to learn ,
take a person onboard with you , who know most of your question , but as it take times and years to learn ..the best is to take them along ,
and help you to sail along your plan trip.
you will learn as you do it ,

[CaptSkrV]

ha thanks i ment like books for maybe information on weather and courses, like book learning just for some info

[Meridian]

Capt

First, I'm curious why New Cal is your destination. A waypoint on the route to Oz, perhaps? Anyway, we just spent a month in New Cal. Nice place, good cruising, but very French and expensive.
Re books, etc, I'd recommend "World Cruising Routes" by Jimmy Cornell. An expensive book, so maybe you can find a copy used, or at a library. Indispensable, in my opinion.
Remember, you'll be crossing from the N. hemisphere into the S...each has their own cyclone seasons, so you'll put yourself in a cyclone-belt sometime during your (non-stop) trip. An option may be to break up the trip by strategically stopping at certain islands/ countries along the route to allow the cyclone seasons to pass. Again, Cornell's book can help you plan this.
Good luck, have fun, and most of all, thank you for serving in our military.
John

[CaptSkrV]

john thanks ill def have to check that book out, i dont know why new cal is my destination but something is telling me to go there, as strange as that sounds! yea i planned on stopping at the marshall islands and then stop off at vanuatu before making the final trip to new cal. Thanks for the help though any help is greatly appreciated. if you know any other books for sailing cross equator or blue water cruising in general i would also like to check them out. i haven't ever sailed further than 50 miles off the coast of hawaii, so not quite sure what to expect!
Thanks,
Garrison

[barnakiel]

Many possibilities, try to make the most of it, probably even break it into two seasons to see the max:
-Marquesas then FP, Cooks, Tonga Fiji, Vanuatu, NC,
-Kiribati and Solomons if you have time.

Standard charts, US charts very good.
Books:
-Pacific Crossing Guide (I like this one)
-Landfalls of Paradise (and this one too)
-South Pacific Anchorages,
etc.

It is all easy sailing except I cannot say Oahu to Marquesas because have not sailed there.

Provisioning available everywhere but not sure if exactly what you like to eat. Not very cheap though.

If I go there again I would sail half a season in the FP, then up for the summer (to Kiribati perhaps) then down below the Equator for another season. Otherwise it is just to fast and one does not get enough.

b.

[cathyoz]

Originally Posted by Meridian

Capt
but very French and expensive.
John

what 'very French" mean ? it is bad or good ??

cathy

[CaptSkrV]

Thanks for all the help, im sure i am going to need it. So i take it is best not to sail for long stretches too, longest i went was 6 days at sea. Any tips on how to pass time?

[Meridian]

Cap't...Yes, as Barnakiel says, there are a lot of options available to you. Most are dependent on the amount of time you have.
Re New Cal, keep in mind that it is FIRMLY in a cyclone belt. I heard (can't substantiate) that it gets hit every year by a cyclone. Lots of anchorages, some very well protected. Port Moselle Marina, in the capital city Noumea, offers "cyclone" berths. These get reserved early, so would maybe require advanced planning to reserve one.
Usually I wouldn't give quite as much attention (though still lots of respect) to cyclones, but we had a mate lose his boat in Fiji just a month ago in cyclone "Mick". Now its personal...
Take care,
John

[Meridian]

Originally Posted by cathyoz

what 'very French" mean ? it is bad or good ??

cathy

Yes
John

[CaptSkrV]

yea the french thing is one of the main reasons for going there being from southern louisiana i am at home with the french

[Meridian]

Originally Posted by CaptSkrV

Any tips on how to pass time?

The boat, and the trip, will take all the time you have. Romantic visions of lounging in the cockpit, while sailing comfortably on an ideallic sea, may be just that...a romantic vision.
Sleep, food prep, boat maintenance, active (read: heavy weather) sailing, fishing, some r&r...these will fill your days and nights quite well.
One tip...plan your communications gear carefully. SSB with a modem is VERY helpful for getting weather updates, and for maintaining contact with other cruisers, nets, etc.
Talk to people who have done it. Others are just repeating what they have heard.
John

[cathyoz]

Originally Posted by Meridian

Yes
John

yes what ?

Anyway, i know new cal , and perso, i do not like most of the :grand oreille"
the French ones who are from small minded and act like colonialist of the last century...because they get so much better pay by the French goverment, there, and are racists ..
so i will not go there anymore personally , the class difference is too shoking for me , i will not be surprise the day the canack will blow the place up for good..
but not all the French
are like that ,Jhon,like every where in the world there are good and bad

[cathyoz]

[ Any tips on how to pass time?[/QUOTE]

apprendre le Francais , pour parler aux Francaises ...

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by CaptSkrV

Thanks for all the help, im sure i am going to need it. So i take it is best not to sail for long stretches too, longest i went was 6 days at sea. Any tips on how to pass time?

Sleep, adjust sails, check weather, check rig, do the maintenance, cook, read, write letters, sleep.

;-)
b