Pacific Circuit Rally Introduction

Transcription

1 Pacific Circuit Rally Introduction Welcome Aboard, it's shaping up to be a great year. During the months leading up to the start of the Pacifi c Circuit Rally (PCR) we will provide you with a wide range of information regarding the preparation of your vessel, crew, and arrangements for your forthcoming blue water voyage to the South Pacifi c. Understandably the information tends to be repetitive from year to year as it is primarily produced to be of assistance to those prospective rally entrants who are preparing to undertake their, or their vessel s, fi rst offshore international voyage, but there will also be a lot of information necessary for the smooth running of the event. Please read all info packs with care and, please, if you have any queries or questions, ASK we're here to help. The 2013 Rally differs slightly from the route advertised. The fi rst change is our departure from Opua. The Opua departure in 2013 will coincide with the fi rst Opua Cruisers Festival, a two week fun and information extravaganza, which is open to all cruisers. While there will still be briefi ngs specifi cally for the PCR and we will be forwarding the Opua Program to you in due course, we encourage all participant to plan to be in Opua to take part in the festival which is also organised by ICA. Next change is our arrival in Paradise will see two rallies to Tonga at the start of the season, the Opua Tonga rally, now in it's 27th year and the PCR. The Tonga Rally will clear into Nuku'alofa, the PCR will clear into one of the most beautiful spots in the Ha'apai group, Ouleva Island, where clearance offi cials will be brought down for our arrival. After our departure from Vava'u the PCR heads for Niuatoputapu. From there our route was to take us direct to Savusavu, we have, however, been working with the Fiji offi cials and are now able to confi rm our arrival point into Fiji will be Vanua Mbalavu in the Lau group, a fi rst for any rally. We will then proceed to Savu Savu for the Savusavu Cruisers Festival. This change will require a minor change to the program which will be forwarded to you in due course. Lastly, Our arrival into New Caledonia at Ouvéa is currently under debate. Those listening to the news will be aware there has been considerable tribal tension there and we are in discussion with the New Cal offi cials regards the best alternative, news will be forwarded as it comes to hand. Now onto some notes for your preparation. November "Cruising Prep." Seminar For those that haven't yet attended a cruising prep school this seminar may just save you a small fortune as well as giving you reams of valuable info on everything from provisioning to prevention of tropical diseases. The only schools between now and next April are the weekend of 17th and 18th November in Auckland and 23rd and 24th February in Nelson. For a full syllabus or to register check out the ICA website. The Earlier The Better All experienced blue water sailors and technical experts advise that the earlier you are able to have your yacht totally equipped the better prepared you and your crew will be for your impending blue water voyage. The best preparation you can undertake, as skipper, is to ensure that you and your crew are fully conversant with all your onboard equipment well in

2 advance of your sailing date. To sail without having given your yacht and equipment an extensive work-out prior to sailing is to court disaster. Installation glitches are a common occurrence thus mid-ocean embarrassments, and at time serious diffi culties, can be avoided by early installation and comprehensive testing. First Time Offshore? If this will be your fi rst time offshore you will probably discover that friends, relatives and neighbours will have little appreciation of the amount of planning and preparation that you have to carry out before undertaking a voyage of several months (if not years) and thousands of sea miles. In addition to preparing your boat, yourselves and crew for blue water cruising there are all those personal details to be attended to - like letting or selling the house, the storage of furniture and personal effects, management arrangement for the business or arranging long service leave, etc., etc. Then comes the problem of keeping your patience when handling questions such as where and how do you anchor at night during the ocean voyages? and the placation of loved ones that it is not your intention to sail off the edge of the world, that your yacht really is sea worthy and that it is most unlikely that you will be captured by pirates and sold into slavery. When it comes to sorting out the personal details and placating friends and relatives you are on your own, but if you require advice on blue water vessel and sailing preparation the ISLAND CRUISING ASSOCIATION run an excellent Cruising Preparation Schools, the next school is on the 17th and 18th of November, which you will fi nd to be of great assistance. Plus we have written several books on many subjects pertaining to the cruising way of life and yachting in general. Plan Ahead Compile your own check list and update it progressively but remember the wheels of bureaucracy still turn slowly so, for example, if you need to apply for NZ Ship s Registration we recommend you submit your application early and similarly don t leave passport, insurance/renewal application, or arranging for the Category 1 hull inspections etc. to the last minute. You are likely to require a hull inspection for your Category 1 Certifi cate and for marine insurance, therefore it is cost effective to arrange this to coincide with when you slip your yacht to carry out antifouling etc. Insurance Remember we have access to competitive insurance, Costs you nothing to fi ll in the online quotation request form and get a quote. Start the process now so you are covered in plenty of time. Brian Hepburn is our insurance provider, he's great to deal with and is happy to walk you through the policy so you know exactly what you are getting. Certificates Required There are three basic legal requirements which must be met before a New Zealand yacht leaves for overseas. These are as follows: Certificate of Clearance of a Foreign-going Pleasure Vessel and Search and Rescue Information Form. (Cat 1) Every NZ yacht leaving for overseas must have a Certifi cate of Clearance, (MOT 5277) issued under the provisions of S.308 of the Shipping and Seamen Act This certifi cate may only be issued following an examination of the vessel and the provision of a satisfactory report by yacht inspectors appointed either by the Director, or by the Yachting New Zealand Inc. acting under delegated authority. To obtain details of honorary yacht inspectors in your region, contact your local YNZ Affiliated Yacht Club or Yachting New Zealand, PO Box , Takapuna, Auckland, Tel.:

3 (09) , Fax or contact the Island Cruising Assn. for the latest list. Registration as a New Zealand Ship. Every New Zealand pleasure vessel leaving for overseas must be registered as a New Zealand ship. Advice on how to register a vessel, the forms required and fees payable are available from the Registrar of Ships, Maritime Safety Authority, PO Box , Wellington, or Island Cruising has the relevant forms. Customs Clearance Customs clearance is a requirement of the Customs Act The Customs clearance from New Zealand is essential for entry at the fi rst port of call overseas. A Customs clearance will not be issued without the production of a Certifi cate of Clearance of a Foreign-going Pleasure Vessel, a "10 Minute Search and Rescue Form and a Certificate of Registry or Certifi cate of Registration issued under the Ship Registration Act If you are not familiar with the requirements necessary to obtain your Category 1 (Cruising) Certifi cate we suggest that you immediately purchase a copy of the Yachting New Zealand booklet and carefully study Part II and Part III of the NZYF special regulations. Get alongside your Cat. 1. Inspector as early as possible to seek his advise on the requirements. Rally - definition. Just what is the definition of "Rally"? In this instance the Pacific Curcuit Rally has a number of rally points, places where the boats "Muster", or get together. ICA facilitate events and services at these rally points and act as "Cruise Control" collecting information and making sure you get information relating to the events in a timely fashion. We cannot sail your boat for you and it's up to the skipper of each boat to get their vessel and crew from one rally point to the next. ICA will provide as much information as is available to help, such as weather gribs etc but the interpretation of that information is the responsibility of the skipper. From a safety aspect ICA will also co-ordinate the collection of position reports by way of , radio, skipr.net and will pass that information on to NZSARCC and ARCC in the event of an emergency. While "In Country" boats are not under any obligation to cruise with the group and can explore on their own timetable. ICA will from time to time arrange additional events while in country and will disseminate this information by and over the SSB skeds. There will be a "Cruise in Company" in each country but participants will be encouraged to stretch their legs on their own. Where possible ICA will conduct "Chart Marking" sessions to give skippers a heads up on the local "lay of the land". The information presented at these sessions is not intended to imply suitability, skippers should evaluate anchorages, routes and passages as to their suitability at the time and in relation to their own vessel and conditions. Weather forecast information is passed on based on the information received, again it's the skippers responsibility to interpret this data and plan accordingly. Rally Costs. The rally fee is broken into two parts. A registration fee of $500NZ for two crew, $75 for each additional crew(less any deposit already paid) regardless of where you join the rally plus an ongoing $225 per leg (fi rst leg is included in the registration fee). A discount is offered for full payment by the 31st of March 2013 of 10 %, this does not include the registration fee. Discounts are only available for full payment of the whole rally. Deposits are fully refundable until the 31st of October 2012 at which date the remainder of the registration fee is due. For those wishing to pay as they go, the rally fee can be set up as an automatic

4 payment from any NZ bank or by a recurring billing on your credit card. Other costs. As with other ICA rallies where offi cials are fl own in, to do clearance, the costs are split between all participants. A full accounting of costs will be provided before billing is made. All feasts and events are additional to the rally fees unless specifi cally noted on the program. Payment is usually direct to the venue. Immigration, Customs and Quarantine fees are also each skippers responsibility although we are working on a number of fronts for reduction in fees, extension of Visas and Port Dues rebates on your behalf. Ongoing membership of ICA for the duration of your participation is a condition of all ICA rallies. What's included in the registration fee? All rally build up information packs and briefi ng papers. Pacifi c Circuit Rally Battle Flag. ICA Burgee, to be fl own below the country courtesy fl ag at all time throughout the rally. Commemorative "Bulkhead Plaque" 1x Kiwi Cruisers Log 2 x ICA Pacifi c Circuit Rally Tee shirts, we will be asking for sizes in a later info pack. ICA Rally Briefcase/ Satchel for all your paperwork and briefi ng papers. Special Discounts on all ICA Merchandise relating to the areas visited by the rally. Drinks nibbles cocktail parties complimentary beers on arrival and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the tons of information and the promise of a fi rst rate experience. Fleet Position Reporting For the fi rst time, in the 2013 rally, fl eet position reporting will be mandatory for all participants. We have been working closely with Skipr.net and now have the details confi rmed. SkiprPlus membership has a charge of just $45 and comes with all the software and interface required. Positions come through to Windfl ower so we can keep track of you plus all positions are displayed on the ICA website on the Fleet Position Reports page so friends and family can see where you are. The report format also allows you to make a comment on each report. Also an advantage, participating yachts will be able to sign up to receive fl eet positions of all vessels in text format by . This will leave the evening and morning passage skeds free for a weather update and a bit of chatter. SSB Although not deemed a necessity to obtain a SSB for Category 1 Offshore (cruising) Certificate, it"s a great way of keeping in touch. ISLAND CRUISING Rallies require that all participating vessels have either an SSB transceiver or a Sat phone with capability. All regatta yachts, during the voyage of the Rally, are required to participate in daily SSB/ Sat Phone skeds which will be conducted on 4429 at 1830 NZST. An Island Cruising chat time is on every day at 0900 and 1830 on Skipper s Responsibility If this will be your fi rst ocean voyage as a skipper then it behoves us to point out that it is your responsibility to ensure that you as a skipper, your crew and your vessel are well prepared for an ocean voyage. The rallies may sound romantic, and cruising the islands will be, but blue water sailing is another matter, the Pacific can be a brutal tutor for the ill-prepared. At all times and in all respects the safety of the vessel and the crew is entirely the skippers responsibility. "Crewseeker" Members We regularly receive requests from people wanting to crew on yachts, so if you antici-

5 pate requiring crew, please go to the CREWSEEKER page on as we have special membership category of the Island Cruising Association known as the "CREWSEEKER". This list is updated every week on our web page What will the Weather be? That is always the big question? The answer is that your guess will be as good as anyone s. Weather forecasters and other people knowledgeable about the subject all agree on one fact. Nobody, but nobody can predict what sort of weather the South Pacifi c will produce in May and June. Statistically it is apparently highly unlikely that the sort of weather which hit the tail end of the 1994 June sailing will repeat itself in the same region during the same period. Those sort of conditions are just as likely to occur in late April and it could happen in the Tasman Sea, off the Cook Islands, around New Caledonia or between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand. Who knows? Answer: No-one! It could be that this year all ISLAND CRUISING sailings encounter weather conditions similar to those of the last few years - very little wind from any direction and the major problem faced by some was a serious lack of fuel. The only answer is that everybody intending to sail offshore needs to be fully prepared for any eventuality. Purchasing & Installing New Equipment In this day and age most marine equipment is manufactured to a high standard and quality. If you are likely to experience any problems offshore then it is more likely to be installation oriented. If your budget allows it we recommend that you purchase and have installed, as soon as possible, equipment such as GPS, SSB, Self-steering, Radar, etc. The earlier you can become user friendly with your equipment the more enjoyable will be your offshore cruising experiences. There are some who expound the theory that you get the best deals by leaving your purchasing to the last minute. This seems to be a myth because many followers of this philosophy have ended up paying out big dollars to have installations upgraded and/or repaired offshore. The installation of more electronics and additional equipment such as self-steering can mean that your electrical system may require upgrading. This can be time consuming and unfortunately costly so it makes sense to sort this out early in your preparation period. Sponsors We are fortunate by being supported in 2013 by the following major sponsors. SAFETY AT SEA NZ Ltd. MARINE ELECTRICS OPUA DOYLE SAILS OPEN OCEAN WATER MAKERS INSURANCE MARINE ONLINE UUPLUS WHITING POWER SYSTEMS ANCHOR BUDDY TRANS PACIFIC MARINE SEAPOWER NZ SOUTHERN PACIFIC TENDERS GARHAUER HARDWARE YACHTING WORLD VANUATU CATER MARINE OPUA Without the support of our sponsors we could not provide so many services to regatta participants. Therefore we would appreciate it if you gave the sponsors an opportunity to discuss with you your possible requirements.

6 Customs Clearances & Duty Free Supplies Arrangements have been made for Customs clearances to be carried out at the Opua Cruising Club in the Bay of Islands, and for duty free supplies, including GST free fuel, to be cleared for delivery to your yachts in advance of clearance. The fl eet will clear into Tonga at Ouleva in the Ha'apai Group special arrangements have been made for Immigration and Quarantine. Clearance has been organised for departure from Tonga at Nieafu, via Niuatoputapu to Fiji and duty free supplies will be available in Nieafu prior to clearance. Clearance has been arranged into the Lau Group in Fiji with Customs and Immigration completed in Savu Savu. Clearance out of Fiji will be done at Musket Cove for Vanuatu. No duty free supplies will be available here. Clearance into Vanuatu will be done at Anatom in Southern Vanuatu and while Angelawhate is now a Customs Port, special arrangements have been made for Immigration and Quarantine. Clearance out of Vanuatu is at Vila, duty free fuel and alcohol will be available. Clearance into New Caledonia is currently under discussion. Clearance out will be from Noumea. Duty free fuel and alcohol will be available to the fl eet. Clearance into Norfolk island will be dependant on weather conditions. Still to come. In the next info pack. Details on:- Medical, Malaria, Dengue, treatment of water. A full breakdown. Weather and rainfall. Plus frequencies for weather info for all countries. Route planning Duty free order forms for leaving NZ Registration Details at Opua Suggested Provisioning lists Radio Sked Information NZ Departure Info and Approaches to Tonga Tee shirt request forms Detailed notes on each country Detailed Visa requirements for each country. Details of the In country schedules. Updates and info as it comes to hand. Island Cruising Shop. Flags:- We have the full range of Courtesy fl ags in high quality woven fabric plus NZ blue 1yrd ensigns and Red 1 and 1&1/2 yard ensigns. Usual Price for courtesy fl ags is $37.50 plus P & P each. Buy the rally Pack. Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and French for $ plus P&P plus we will throw in a copy of Sail Tonga. 1yrd Ensigns, Blue or Red Usually $76.00 plus P&P for rally Participants $65.00 Plus P&P 1&1/2 yrd Red Usually $95 plus P&P $75 Plus P&P for you. Books:- Electronic -Sail Tonga - Sail Fiji - Rocket guides for Vanuatu and New Cal. Charts and guides for all the places we will visit can be found at Transpacifi c Marine in Auckland andrew@transpacifi c.co.nz

7 Up Coming Events, "Cruising Prep School" held in Auckland 17th & 18th November 2012 Queries If you have any questions about the 2013 events please contact us by Phone or at any time. All the best with your preparations for offshore. Regards, John & Lyn Martin. Joint Directors, Island Cruising Association. web mail snail mail P.O. Box 534 Paihia Bay of Islands, NZ. voice mail yacht "WINDFLOWER"