Solomons, PNG & Palau

[Glenn C]

Hi from memory there wasnt much surf, too close to the equator to get much swell, except on the surroundimg reefs. I recall some surfers used to get a little practice in on one of the entry points to the outer reef surrounding the Kieta harbour....but I was a diver rather than a surfer, so wasnt hooked into he culture, I will check with some ex colleagues. As for diving we had a visit from Calypso, and they said the diving in Arova channel was the equal they had seen anywahere with magnificent fan corals at about 20m. Brilliant drift dive. Glenn

[Steve Pope]

As far I recollect there was little or no surf at Bougainville, as I said in an earlier post
20 knots was considered a gale and I never saw wind anywhere near that in the 10 months that I was there. Most of the races at Kieta yacht club were generally drifters, there was an old Woolacott cutter that used to be called "Jacob Dom" she was built at Devonport (NZ) and often used to win on handicap as she was heavier that the more modern designs and once moving seemed to carry more momentum sometimes even getting line honours.
I last saw her on the hard in 1986 and wonder if she survived the conflict.

[Boracay]

When I worked in Wewak (North Western New Guinea) a few years ago there was a small surf break off the Western side of the point on which the hospital is located.

I surfed it a few times on a boogie board but it was just too close to the coral for any real joy.

[surfingminniwinni]

Hi Boracay,

Thanks for the info, I know Kavieng has great surf, I guess I will have to wait until 2009 to find out for myself.

[masalai]

Watch the seasons (the positions of the monsoons on the satellite), SE trades blow further north in the southern winter. likewise the NW trades blow further south in the northern winter stopping in the vicinity of the monsoon trough where the weather is variable
There used to be a very dedicated bunch of surfers around Port Vila (Vanuatu) who would shut shop and fly off when they heard the surf was up somewhere...
Hideaway Island, in the Port Vila harbour area used to have some very good diving.
Louganville, Santo Island has the President Coolege as a deep dive (150m) and "Million Dollar Point". Michners cottage and Champagne Beach of "South Pacific" Bali Hi fame are worth a visit - donations/fee may be asked...
Sola, on Vanua Lava is worth a visit - the locals will show you a "healing pool" look out for salt water crocks - nasty and sneaky creatures... On the opposite side of Vanua Lava is a waterfall that you can get your boat under Solar is an exit port for Solomons

Solomon Islands, a port of entry is in the Santa Cruz Group, the administrative centre on Lord Howe Island, I think.... -10.68 deg S, 165.85 deg E is the island side near Ndeni?

Lots of places to see and explore, have fun...

[palauboy]

Regarding Palau I have lived there for the last 8 years...Actually just left 4 weeks ago. The cruisers always come through in the early spring when the trades are blowing. Palau has the most awesome beaches and the water is beautiful. There is great island reef surf if your timing is right. The advice to get in touch with Sams Dive Tours is good...the General Manager Dermot is a very experienced sailor and will give advice to get you into the lagoon...DON'T COME IN AT NIGHT...too many stories of yachts getting pulled off the reef. Good mooring off of Sam's.

Regards

Brian

[chicagodrifter]

I sailed PNG and Solomon's 2 years ago.
PNG does vary a lot.
You will be solicited for bribes and porn in Buca (PNG) from the local militia.
You will be relatively safe in New Britain (anchor by the Yacht Club in Rabaul, dive Walindi near Kimbe) and Kevieng.
Moresby and Lae stay at the Yacht Club (don't risk your life). Get the stupid visa so you are not trapped for 3 weeks in your entry port.
Madang, Wewak ok if you make some friends with the fishermen.
You can actualy make money in PNG but you will need a second trip or a long stay to know how.

Solomon (I got married there)! Diving OK mostly for WW2 wrecks. You may not be welcomed to some of the resorts (some white owners can be agressive). Follow Bilikiki for diving spots. Good looking young women! Don't miss Malawagi (Florida Island and World Cruise wreck), Gizo (great wreck with tanks and amo on deck), Wagina (Choisel has 2 National Park islands with turtles, whales, crocks etc).

For both countries you can trade fishing hooks, rice, canned meat, cigs etc for fresh fruit, veggies, lobster, etc. Rice, canned meat, cigs can be bought in bigger cities and traded in villages so you don't have your boat full with stuff for 2 long. STAY AWAY FROM LOCAL BARS AT CLOSING TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE DRUNK (more in PNG than Solomon)!

My friends went to Phili and Palau and enjoyed it greatly!

[chicagodrifter]

I sailed PNG and Solomon's 2 years ago.
PNG does vary a lot.
You will be solicited for bribes and porn in Buca (PNG) from the local militia.
You will be relatively safe in New Britain (anchor by the Yacht Club in Rabaul, dive Walindi near Kimbe) and Kevieng.
Moresby and Lae stay at the Yacht Club (don't risk your life). Get the stupid visa so you are not trapped for 3 weeks in your entry port.
Madang, Wewak ok if you make some friends with the fishermen.
You can actualy make money in PNG but you will need a second trip or a long stay to know how.

Solomon (I got married there)! Diving OK mostly for WW2 wrecks. You may not be welcomed to some of the resorts (some white owners can be agressive). Follow Bilikiki for diving spots. Good looking young women! Don't miss Malawagi (Florida Island and World Cruise wreck), Gizo (great wreck with tanks and amo on deck), Wagina (Choisel has 2 National Park islands with turtles, whales, crocks etc).

For both countries you can trade fishing hooks, rice, canned meat, cigs etc for fresh fruit, veggies, lobster, etc. Rice, canned meat, cigs can be bought in bigger cities and traded in villages so you don't have your boat full with stuff for 2 long. STAY AWAY FROM LOCAL BARS AT CLOSING TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE DRUNK (more in PNG than Solomon)!

My friends went to Phili and Palau and enjoyed it greatly!

[yachtdaemon]

Well got through the area over the last year and had a great time with no problems.

Loved the Solomons: Marovo Lagoon was spectacular and SO friendly - could have spent a season there - would have been a good area to sit out the cyclone season in. Thought Gizo was a complete shithole, but Munda was fine. Not much in the way of provisions apart from the staples anywhere, and what is available is likely to be weevily/stale so bring plenty - no problem to trade off any surplus.

PNG, hmmn jury is out. We went to New Britain & New Ireland - liked Kokopo (anchored off the Rapopo Resort) and Kavieng was OK, would be brilliant if you were a surfer, but not great. Not dangerous, just dirty & depressing. Duke of York islands were pretty, but the locals treated you like an ATM - charges for everything from anchoring to walking in the village. You would get invited to see the school then charged a fee for it! Had a wonderful time in the East Islands off New Hanover, especially Tsoi Boto. Infrastructure in PNG is badly broken and not much interest in being helpful from the locals. It was hard work. Make sure you notify all officials when you enter at Kokopo - we called Customs thinking that they would do that, but they weren't speaking to Quarantine at the time, who arrived after in high dudgeon and threatened the skippers with jail time for not clearing with them. We thought the 5 people who traipsed through the boat looking at our food stores and asking about our health were Quarantine, but not so, just Customs being nosy.

Palau - after Melanesia we thought we had died and gone to heaven! Hamburgers! Margaritas! Clean streets! Helpful staff at the yacht club! Sam's Tours is amazing - they provide free moorings, hot showers, dinghy dock & have internet access (writing this from there now) and a good bar/restaurant with reasonnable charges. Ignore Noonsite charges - it is US$50 each to Quarantine (or was that Customs?) & Immigration and extra fees to cruise the Rock Islands. You don't need to apply for a permit from outside the country as Noonsite states.

Our website Home has our travel blogs and photos on it.

Jill

[bangkaboat]

When in the Philippines, clear in at Manila. If you head in elsewhere, they'll keep stroking you for more money everywhere you go. Best to keep a good watch on your boat gear & watch for pirates; they'll negotiate, but they don't screw around. Let's face it; it's the same in a lot of places. If you're going to be around the Davao City area, your welcome to put in at one of our beaches(no charge). pm me & I'll give you a number to call. My in-laws are safe, honest folk. They'd probably make room at the family house, as well.
Mike

[yachtdaemon]

Hi Mike,
We have just left the Philippines after 3 months and experiences were:

Officialdom: cleared in at Puerto Galera after visiting Donsol (to swim with the whale sharks - awesome!) and Marinduque (Moriones Easter Festival). No-one seems to care how late/whether you clear in, but woe betide you overstay! PG was fairly expensive to clear in at, 2500p, but was easy & convenient. We cleared out at Puerto Princesa on Palawan, 500p, and apparently that is the fee to clear in as well.

Crime: Much better than we thought, but had our dinghy stolen in Coron, Busuanga, but got it back the same day. Never felt unsafe. Cruising Balabac in the south on the way to Kudat, no problems.

People: Friendly and helpful, we had some great times. I'd recommend it.

We are heading back again after the typhoon season.

Regards,
Jill

[dana-tenacity]

I was going to say don't miss Marovo but someone beat me to it. Some of the best diving in the world where you are headed, must get back there some day, just so many other places to go as well.

[bangkaboat]

Originally Posted by yachtdaemon

Hi Mike,
We have just left the Philippines after 3 months and experiences were:

Officialdom: cleared in at Puerto Galera after visiting Donsol (to swim with the whale sharks - awesome!) and Marinduque (Moriones Easter Festival). No-one seems to care how late/whether you clear in, but woe betide you overstay! PG was fairly expensive to clear in at, 2500p, but was easy & convenient. We cleared out at Puerto Princesa on Palawan, 500p, and apparently that is the fee to clear in as well.

Crime: Much better than we thought, but had our dinghy stolen in Coron, Busuanga, but got it back the same day. Never felt unsafe. Cruising Balabac in the south on the way to Kudat, no problems.

People: Friendly and helpful, we had some great times. I'd recommend it.

We are heading back again after the typhoon season.

Regards,
Jill

Very good to hear! You may already be aware of this, but I thought I'd point out that Davao City is completely out of the typhoon belt. My wife is flying over to get started on building a beach house on our Samal Island property(Arrives 18 July). She'll be in Singapore for a couple of weeks, in August, but in Davao for most of the next 2 months, spending our hard-earned dough! I picked up a '95 Macgregor26 the other day with the plan to ship it to Davao, for when I arrive. I expect to arrive there in the fall & hang around for 6 months, or so. I decided to get a little beachable for day-sailing, as I'll be building a larger boat on Samal. If you find yourselves in Davao, feel free to contact us, on these forums. We can show you the lay of the land, have a few "connections" and can put you up, whatever you need/want.(That goes for other members, as well) Are you having the time of your life?
Regards,
Mike