Passage Port Vila Nouméa November 2009

Well SE is not the good direction of the wind ho head to New Caledonia. So we had to wait that the winds shifts ESE to E.

Finally we got a gap for Sunday November first.

On Friday it was a big rush at the Custom office to clear out and get the duty free papers for fuel and alcohol.

Saturday provisioning was on the list.

We left 4 boats on early Monday morning. Jean Claude on Sassafras with Alain and Marie Joe on Ekaza left first, followed by Manu and Valerie with kids Lucas and Ange on Betzi. We left last at 07h30.

While the engine was running almost in idle to cool the fridge we left slowly the anchorage.
We hoist the main with one reef; roll out 2/3 of the Genoa knowing that at the end of the bay protecting us from the sea it will be rock and roll.

So was it. We started with ESE winds blowing 15 knots plus. Close reach Salulami was going her hull speed and we reduced sails to make it less uncomfortable for Pui.

We made a two and a half day passage on the rhumb line passing between Lifou and Mare. 305 miles later we were at 15h30 at the entrance of Havanna passage. We were coming too early so we had to tack to synchronize the time of arrival at the entrance.

To get in you must enter the passage 3 hours after high tide in Nouméa, to get the current with you and avoid the fetch. We were going 9 knots over the ground. The current this day was up to 4 knots. At 19h00 and 16 miles later, we were anchored in Bay de Prony for the night.

Next day we made the last 25 miles in the lagoon to join Nouméa under motor and sails.


Duration of the trip 4 days for a distance of 346 miles and we motored at the end 10 hours total.