| Page updated July 7 2010 |
Yachts planning to return to Australia from Asia |
Our intention is that this page is to be used as a Notice Board, if you wish to contact other yachts and skippers who are planning to return to Australia from Asia, send us an email with your contact details and we can put them at the bottom of this page. |
The challenge is getting to the east coast of Queensland late enough that the South East trades have lessened but before the cyclone season picks up. There is no doubt the rounding Cape York in early November is a suitable compromise while as late as the first week of December can still be OK but early tropical depressions and cyclones can develop at that time in the area. There are really only three or four basic routes that we are aware of and Jimmy Connell (Noonsite) is often asked this question and his answers are similar. |
Depending on interest Sail Indonesia may consider co-ordinating a return cruise back to Australia from Indonesia if a group of yachts wish to travel together. |
If you wish to travel independently in some cases a CAIT for Indonesia will be needed and Sail Indonesia can offer advice if required. Winds for the area can be studied on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology web site in their Archives Section , look at Gradient Winds in the Western Pacific.
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Option 1
Retrace the west bound Sail Indonesia route back through Indonesia clearing out at Kupang then head to Darwin. You can either head direct from Kupang to Darwin or track along the north coast of Timor until your reach the eastern end of the island before heading south. The currents in this area and around the tip of Timor are fierce. This route gives you a better sailing angle into the south east trades while the direct route from Kupang is almost head to wind and will involve some tacking. However once in Darwin the route to Gove is all upwind and you have to get out past Cape Don then head upwind to the Hole in the Wall then on to Gove. From there it is across the Gulf of Carpentaria then down the east coast of Queensland, all of this is upwind during October and November. |
Option 2
Sail east through Indonesia and then clear out at Ambon or Jayapura in the province of Papua on the island of New Guinea, then head for Gove or Thursday Island. This is again upwind although heading for Gove will give some sailing angle on the wind. Some yachts have found this upwind sailing to Thursday Island very tough. |
Option 3
3. Head east from Borneo or the Philippines and sail over the top of PNG staying north of the equator till far enough east that you can turn SW and sail against the South East Trades. This will take you a long way east (eg past Bougainville Is) as once you come south of the equator the SE trades hit you together with an an adverse current and it is hard yards. Whether to stop in various islands in PNG (eg Manus, Louisiades etc) is an issue to do with security, timing and how much continuous sailing you wish to do. This last option could involve almost a month of continuous sailing if you do not wish to stop or island hop through PNG islands.
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Option 4
One final option is to sail north of PNG via Pulau then south passing east of PNG or the Solomons. |
Russell and Marea Law on the
catamaran In Transit plan to leave Johor Bahru mid August 2010 and ruturn to Australia via the most direct route through Indonesia and would love to have some company for the trip. Contacts are VJN3328@sailmail.com or russell.rea@gmail.com |
The Australian yacht PAMPERO, with Gus and Gabby onboard will be cruising from Malaysia's east coast to Queensland from May to October 2010. The route is North Borneo to West Papua, around the north of Papua New Guinea including Louisiades and on to Townsville. Contact email svpampero@gmail.com |
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