Ahoy - January 2022

January 2022

AHOY! Newsletter

Happy New Year!

Dive into the January Ahoy!

Plans in the sand at low tide Australia Day On The Harbour SW Pacific & Australia Maritime Borders Update 2022 Rally News Diving New Caledonia Can You See Me? AIS Discussion Sailing with No Regrets Equipping A Yacht For Offshore Cruising Do You Know What You Don't Know?

Wind generators Are You A Fan? Rally Partner Directory

Published by Down Under Rally Pty Ltd Contact John Hembrow - Director Website: downunderrally.com Email: admin@downunderrally.com

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n a d S e A h t Lo T n I

As cruisers when asked about our cruising plans we would often begin by saying: "Our plans are written in the sand at low tide" Well, the last two years have proven just how fortunate we are to have adopted & embraced this philosophy, and it would seem that at this stage 2022 is likely to be a "plans in the sand" kinda year.

We still have plans to Go East to New Caledonia & Vanuatu in 2022, but the question remains; Will that be possible and even if it is possible will it be prudent to do so? We had hoped to know by now if it would be possible to Go East in 2022, but unfortunately, that is not the case. There is only so long we can wait until we need to either commit to the 2022 Go East Rally or postpone it for another year.

With this in mind, we have decided that the 1st of March 2022 will be our deadline. If we have no certainty around the opening of New Caledonia and Vanuatu maritime borders by the 1st of March 2022, we may decide to let the tide wash away our plans for the 2022 Go East Rally.

As for the 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally, the sailing date for that rally is planned for early in June. It is, however, possible that should the 2022 Go East Rally proceed, we may need to depart for New Caledonia in June rather than May as we have done in the past. As such, we must wait until we have some certainty around the Go East Rally before we can commit to & confirm the 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally.

So we continue to make 'plans in the sand at low tide' for the 2022 Go East Rally & The 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally.

Thanks to everyone for your continued patience & understanding; we realise this uncertainty is frustrating. Still, our experience tells us it is best not to make assumptions at this time. To all our Down Under Rally members who have formally expressed interest in joining either the 2022 Go East Rally or the 2022 Beyond The Barrier rally, please be assured that we will let you know if we have any updates before March 1st.

John H

Australia Day - Sydney Harbour January 26th 2022

"Australia Day on Sydney Harbour is GREAT, bloody busy and like New Year's Eve it can be a little stressful at times but the atmosphere and the entertainment make for a very memorable day."

8:00am Sydney Harbour Splash 10:45-11:20am Ferrython 11:30-12:05pm Salute to Australia 12:00pm RAAF Fast Jet Flypast 12:05-12:15pm Maritime Mayhem 11:30-1:30pm Navy Helicopter flag display 12:45-2:00pm Harbour Parade 1:00-1:30pm Tall Ships Race 1:30pm 186th Australia Day Regatta 2:00pm - 4:00pm Working Harbour Festival

Full Program Info at: australiaday.com.au/whats-on/australia-day-in-sydney-harbour

Maritime Borders

SW Pacific & Australia As at January 1st 2022

Australia.

Australian Maritime Borders remain closed to all except AUS Citizens/Permanent Residents and holders of travel exemptions.

More information HERE New Zealand.

New Zealand Maritime Borders remain closed to all except NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents and those with Approved Vessel Exemptions.

More information HERE New Caledonia.

With an improved COVID situation and a good vaccination rate, the Government of New Caledonia has decided to reopen its borders to countries with a similar vaccination policy from 1st December. HOWEVER, the entry of ocean liners, fishing boats and leisure boats arriving from abroad into New Caledonian waters remains prohibited (except French government or military vessels). It is however possible to apply for an exemption. The Down Under Rally is currently seeking clarification as to what the process and qualification criteria are for those who wish to apply for an exemption.More information HERE

Vanuatu.

Vanuatu Maritime Borders remain closed in line with the countries State of Emergency for Covid 19 Pandemic prevention and control measures from 1st August 2021 to 31st December 2021. An update is expected later this month.

More information HERE Fiji.

Fiji opened its borders on 1 December to fully vaccinated travellers. All yachts wishing to enter Fiji must declare their interest directly with a Fiji Yacht Agent and Fijian Border Agencies, at least 3 working days before departure.

More information HERE

As soon as we receive official advice from the New Caledonia Government regarding the unrestricted opening of the countries MARITIME borders and what if any conditions and or restrictions will be imposed we will be in a position to confirm if inthe 2022 Go East Rally to New Caledonia will proceed.

Those who have submitted an expression of interest in voyaging to New Caledonia with the 2022 Go East Rally will receive an update from us as soon as we receive any official notification of the opening of New Caledonia borders. More information about the Go East Rally to submit an obligation free expression of interest in joining the rally should it proceed can be found HERE

39 Expressions of interest have been received from vessels for the 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally. Once again this would suggest there is sufficient interest to once again offer the rally. It is therefore likely that the rally will proceed. At this stage, we intend to make an announcement confirming the dates, rally itinerary, route, duration & entry fee in late January / Early February 2022. More information about the Beyond The Barrier Rally can be found HERE

We are looking forward to a time when as the organisers of the Go West Rally and we can once again welcome the international cruising community to our shores without the need for applications and hotel quarantine stays. Let's hope that will be in 2022!

More information visiting Australia by yacht & why it makes sense to Go West with the Down Under Rally can be found HERE

As soon as we receive official advice from the Vanuatu Government regarding the opening of the countries MARITIME borders and what if any conditions and or restrictions will be imposed we will be in a position to confirm if the 2022 NC2V Rally will proceed.

More information about the NC2V Rally can be found HERE

downunderrally.com/preparation-training

As soon as we receive official advice from the New Caledonia & Vanuatu Governments regarding the opening of those countries borders and what if any conditions and or restrictions will be imposed we will be in a position to confirm if the Loyalty Islands Rally & The Mystery Islands Rally will proceed.

More information about the Loyalty Islands Rally & The Mystery Island Rally can be found by clicking the relevant image above.

Assuming New Caledonia opens its maritime borders to visiting yachts in 2022 The Down Under Rally as a joint venture with Island Cruising NZ intends to offer cruisers who are in New Caledonia in October 2022 the opportunity to voyage to New Zealand in company.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

The Down Under Rally in association with Island Cruising New Zealand (ICNZ) intends to offer the OZ to NZ Rally in 2023.

If you are interested in voyaging from Australia to New Zealand and onwards to Tonga & Fiji you can Learn more about the OZ to NZ Rally and the ICNZ Pacific Circuit Rally HERE

downunderrally.com/preparation-training

10 reasons why you’ll love diving in New Caledonia

by Richard Chesher, PhD. Creator of the Rocket Cruising and Travel Guides to New Caledonia.

In my honest opinion, New Caledonia has the best diving in the Pacific. Here are 10 reasons why I’m convinced you’ll agree with me when you come to explore the world’s largest coral reef lagoon.

HINT, CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AS YOU’LL FIND ON THE ROCKET CRUISING GUIDE TO NEW CALEDONIA. WHEN THE IMAGE OPENS BE SURE TO CLICK THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

1. New Caledonia has an amazing number and variety of dive sites.

New Caledonia has the world’s largest coral reef lagoon, 24,000 square kilometres of reefs and islands protected by a 1,600 km long barrier reef. Within the maze of coral reefs, reef passes, and islands, you’ll discover a treasure trove of natural beauty. The astonishing diversity of marine life was one of the primary reasons the United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site.

There are dive sites to please every diver, from novice to super aquanaut; shallow coral reefs in protected waters with magnificent displays of colourful tropical creatures, deep water drop-offs, rip-snorting reef passes, hundreds of wrecks (some easily accessible), manta rays, sharks, sea turtles, dugongs, and swarms of fish and invertebrates protected by an extensive array of marine reserves. All garnished with pristine white sand beaches and isolated lagoon islands.

Ilot Mato in the Great Southern Lagoon

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AND BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

2. Getting to excellent dive spots in New Caledonia is easy.

You will be sailing in protected lagoon waters with good navigational markers. The abundance of excellent dive sites means you can head for one regardless of the wind direction and go from one dive site to another Ilot Canard with ease. And you don’t have to go very far. There are many dive sites close to Noumea, the closest being Ilot Canard Marine Reserve 1.7 km from Noumea’s Anse Vata beach.

Ilot Canard

The Ilot Canard reserve has an underwater trail from a white sand beach that follows a series of buoys in 3 to 5 meters of water. You’ll be amazed by the lush coral growth and the abundance and variety of fish and invertebrates. The fish are so used to seeing humans splashing about; you can swim right up to them to take photos.

Ilot Maitre

The Ilot Maitre Marine Reserve, a 30-minute sail from Noumea’s harbour entrance, is a much larger island and coral reef ecosystem. The marine park here has free moorings so that you won’t damage the corals or seagrass beds with your anchor. This is a great introductory dive location with clear, calm water, healthy coral reefs with swarms of tropical fish. I took the photo above on a reef right next to one of the moorings. Freddy and I just flopped off our yacht and snorkelled over to the reef, where Freddy took some lovely images of the colourful butterflyfish. After exploring the reefs, you can warm up on Ilot Maitre’s lovely white sand beach and stop at the resort for a cooling drink or delicious dinner. How easy is that?

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AND BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

3. Free access to fantastic dive sites.

Most of New Caledonia’s lagoon is open to anyone, and you don't need to ask anyone's permission to go diving, and nobody will bother you. You’ll have free access to the reefs, passes, and wrecks in most areas Ilot Canard around Grande Terre.

Ilot Ua fringing coral reef on a perfectly calm day

On a perfectly calm day, I took this image of the fringing coral reef at Ilot Ua in the great southern lagoon.

The reef is magnificent, and the island’s only residents are sea birds and crabs. We were the only yacht at the anchorage and didn’t see any other yacht that day or the next. If you’ve been cruising in Oceania for a while, you’ll know how special it is to be able to go diving where and when you want without having to find someone to permit you.

In most Pacific islands, and on the New Caledonia islands of Belep, Ouvea, Lifou, Mare, and the Isle of Pines, you need to either go diving with a guide (usually the local dive centre) or visit the chief of the village and respectfully ask permission to dive on the reef. It is, after all, their property, and they have complete control over who can and can’t go to the dive sites and dive or fish on their reefs. That’s not a bad idea because the local divers can take you to the very best dive spots, and it protects the reefs from overfishing. New Caledonia also has closed marine reserves where only qualified scientists with an approved project can go.

The Rocket Cruising Guide to New Caledonia warns you if you need permission to dive on a reef and the location of closed reserves.

4. You don’t have to hunt for the best sites.

Giant Coral Head at Ilot Mato

This Giant Coral Head at Ilot Mato is thousands of years old and located in one of the best all-weather anchorages in the Southern Lagoon.

Like on land, underwater places of exceptional beauty are rare; it takes a lot of swimming (and time) to find the best beauty spots. The active and enthusiastic diving community in New Caledonia has explored the reefs, wrecks, and scenic locations, so you don’t need to hunt for the very best sites yourself.

The Rocket Cruising and Travel Guides give you contact details for all the dive operators who can take you to the best dive sites plus dive conditions, dive spots, marine reserves and regulations.

The Rocket Guides have high-resolution aerial photography of the reefs, so you'll have a good idea of the best spots to go diving based on where the best coral development is.

The Rocket Guides have underwater images, including 360-degree sphere images, of the best dive spots so you find the diving destinations you’d like to explore.

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AND BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

5. Protected Marine Reserves; see coral reefs as they were 100 years ago.

Corals depend on phosphates and nitrates produced by shoals of fish swimming over them. Overfishing removes this critical source of food and weakens corals. Coral reefs are dying everywhere globally, unable to Ilot Canard survive the constant fishing pressure, pollution, and physical destruction caused by local populations and the slow death caused by ocean acidity and climate change.

Ilot Maitre coral reef with snappers

I’m a marine scientist and, over the past 60 years, have explored coral reefs in the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Barbados, Gulf of Guinea, Africa, Panama, Colombia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Yap, the Philippines, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Wallis, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. I have personally documented coral reef decline and surveyed many miles of dead and dying corals.

In 1969 I published an article in Science Magazine ending with “There is a possibility that we are witnessing the initial phases of extinction of madreporarian corals in the Pacific.” By 1999, when I wrote Chapter 5, the Coastal and Marine Environment, for the United Nations 2000 State of the Environment of Asia and the Pacific report, most coral reef experts had come to the same conclusion.

New Caledonia’s extensive network of 34 marine and island reserves has been in place for decades, and they allow you to experience thriving coral ecosystems. The abundance and variety of marine life in the reserves must be close to what a pristine coral reef looked like a century ago. The entire lagoon is now a managed nature reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Rocket Cruising Guide shows the exact location of every nature reserve and has a special section on park regulations you need to know and respect. You’ll love exploring the marine reserves.

6. Dive Centers and Supplies

There are 18 New Caledonia dive centres; Ilot Amedee 8 in Noumea, Marine3Reserve on the east coast of Grande Terre, 4 on the west coast of Grande Terre, 2 in the Isle of Pines, and 1 in Lifou.

Ilot Amedee Marine Reserve

The dive centres can take you directly to the best dive spots in their areas and show you great photo opportunities of creatures you might never discover by yourself. Noumea has top-notch dive shops with anything you might need, from rental tanks, quick air fills, replacement masks and fins, regulator repairs everything. You’ll also find a full range of photographic supplies, excellent restaurants, and a wealth of entertainment activities.

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AND BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

7. Springtime all year round

New Caledonia extends from the tropics at 18° S to the Temperate zone at Latitude 23° S and enjoys one of the nicest climates on our planet. There is usually a brisk trade wind for sailing but plenty of calm days and Ilot Canard the chance of a tropical cyclone from December to May.

The Isle of Pines natural swimming pool.

Water temperatures are comfortable, too, ranging from a maximum of 26.8 C° in February to a minimum of 24.2 C° in August.

When you want to go diving, chances are you’ll be able to enjoy a lovely cruise to lots of well-protected anchorages made beautiful by the luminous colours of the lagoon in the sunshine.

8. Sheltered Dive Spots.

The Anse Majic coral reef is right on a very secure and protected anchorage shore.

Anse Majic coral reef

It is part of the Cap Ndua Nature Reserve, and park moorings are available so your anchor won’t damage the corals. When the weather isn’t pleasant for diving in the lagoon, New Caledonia has dive sites in very protected areas where you can still get wet. These are often very different ecosystems from the lagoon reefs; interesting, unusual, and often beautiful like this reef at Anse Majic in the Baie du Prony.

9. Safety

Ilot Amedee Marine Reserve If you have a diving accident and need help, you’ll get it, and fast. New Caledonia has excellent medical facilities, helicopter and high-speed rescue boats, a decompression chamber on 24X7 standby, all staffed with true professionals.

Blacktip Sharks cruising over a New Caledonian reef

In Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, PNG, Fiji, and the other Pacific Islands, you’re in big trouble and a long way from help if you get injured while diving.

The Rocket Cruising Guide to New Caledonia provides rescue and emergency services contact details. Plus, the guide includes a section on dangerous marine animals, emergency treatment, and (necessary) how to avoid getting hurt in the first place..

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM AS VIRTUAL REALITY SPHERE IMAGES AND BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE FULL-SCREEN ICON TO REALLY DIVE INTO THE SCENES.

10. Fabulous beaches

After your dive, you'll find wonderful white sand beaches near most of the dive sites, so you snorkel over a beautiful coral reef and turtle up onto a pristine beach; the perfect ending to a day’s diving in paradise.

Ilot Canard I’m very sure you’ll love diving in New Caledonia.

Ouvea Beach, one of the hundreds of beautiful beaches in New Caledonia..

About The Author

Richard and Frederique Chesher began cruising the South Pacific in 1976 aboard their Kelly Peterson 44 Cutter and first arrived in New Caledonia in 1980. Richard is a PhD marine biologist with a specialty in Anse Majic coral reef coral reef ecosystems. Freddy is a professional photographer and artist. From 1977 to 2000, Richard and Freddy created a wide range of environmental education projects in the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand.

Richard Chesher

Frederique Chesher

During this time Richard & Frederique conducted extensive coastal and underwater surveys in association with Pacific Island governments making bluewater crossings of the region at least twice a year. In 1998 they decided to create the Rocket Cruising Guides to Vanuatu and New Caledonia based on highresolution satellite & aerial imagery.

That was 7 years before the Google Earth Internet viewer was born.

The first version of the Rocket Cruising Guide to Vanuatu was published in 2000, and the Rocket Cruising Guide to New Caledonia came out in 2002. Since then, the cruising guides have been updated, expanded, and improved several times a year. After seeing the cruising guides, the tourism departments of both New Caledonia and Vanuatu asked them to create guides to train travel agents around the world about the tourism facilities on offer in their countries. Richard and Freddy, both avid photographers, then enjoyed visiting, photographing and describing the best tours, activities, trails, hotels, restaurants, museums, parks, cultural productions throughout both countries.

The Rocket Travel Guide to Vanuatu was first published in 2004, and the Rocket Travel Guide to New Caledonia was first published as in 2005. The travel guides are updated annually. More than 100,000 copies of the Rocket Travel Guide to Vanuatu DVDs were distributed to every travel agent in Australia and New Zealand, and most other countries of the world and public members at travel trade shows around the world. Over 60,000 copies of the Rocket Travel Guide to New Caledonia DVD were distributed by the New Caledonia Tourism departments to individuals and travel professionals worldwide.

Contact Richard On Facebook: facebook.com/rocketguides OR rocketcruisingguides.com

DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS GET 20% DISCOUNT VIA A REBATE FROM RICHARD WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR ROCKET GUIDES VISIT: downunderrally.com/rocket-cruising-guides

https://yachtsalesco.com

https://www.multihullsolutions.com.au

I recently spoke with Jock from Boat Harbour Marine at Scarborough Marina about the new CORTEX system

by Vesper Marine. We discussed the various reasons AIS can be unreliable and the common causes, and I found him very knowledgeable.

Who Is Jock?

In a deep dark past, Jock was a telco network engineer who discovered the light in the form of commercial yachts and is now the owner/operator of Boat Harbour Marine. I asked if he would be willing to put pen to paper, actually fingers on the keyboard, and share his knowledge with our members and subscribers of 'Ahoy' on the subject of AIS. Below is what he wrote.

Types and History of AIS AIS stands for Automated Identification System and uses VHF channels to transmit vessel identification every 6 minutes and position data every 2-30 seconds in up to 4500 talk slots per minute. We have four typical types of AIS units out in the market today – Class A, Class B, (colloquially) Class B+ transponders and AIS receivers. Class A units are the realm of large commercial shipping both in requirements and costs, whilst Class B is intended for the recreational market.

Class A and Class B were initially differentiated by their transmission techniques which is a bit techie but worth understanding in today’s market. AIS is effectively a crowd of people all trying to talk at the same time – working out whose turn it is to talk can be complicated. There are two main techniques for doing it, CSTDMA (Collision Sense Time Division Multiple Access) and SOTDMA (Self Organised TDMA) - in basic terms, CSTDMA waits for a lull in the chat and shouts when it’s quiet. At the same time, SOTMDA uses a “talking stick” method with elected masters passing the stick around. SOTMDA are elitists and will talk over the top of the CSTDMA unit, who will then have to listen for a new quiet patch to speak in.

As technology got cheaper and the AIS crowd got larger, it became practical to roll out SOTMDA technology to the recreational market, and Class B+ was born (officially Class B SOTMDA). Given that the B+ is a little more thoughtful about how it talks, they are allowed more transmission power at 5 watts versus 2 watts on a standard B unit (and 12.5W Class A). B+ gets to talk a little more often, every 15 seconds rather than 30 seconds, they are elitist oppressors of CSTMDA, and they can send SAT-AIS messages to be picked up by satellite receivers (remember, VHF is a line of sight… you cannot see a satellite).

At the end of the day, all AIS transponders are doing the same job, and there are several considerations for their installation.

Example of satellite AIS tracking via a Marine Traffic Satellite Tracking Subscription that Northland Maritime Radio provided The Down Under Rally for participants in the 2020 Down Under Dash to use as proof of an uninterrupted voyage to Australia during Covid related border closures.

GPS AIS needs to know where it is relative to the boat; as such, AIS transponders need a dedicated GPS antenna; they can share their GPS data out to the rest of your instruments but can’t receive GPS information from another source; it must be inhouse to the AIS unit.

When choosing a system, it’s worth considering if the unit comes with an external antenna or not, an additional “gotcha” cost, and/or if the AIS has an internal antenna, which may work happily without the external antenna in some applications.

Antenna or Splitter? VHF or AIS? AIS uses part of the VHF frequency range for transmission, channels 87A and 87B in the standard VHF channels.

Splitters provide a reliable solution to share your existing VHF antenna with the AIS unit, and some come with their inbuilt splitter. Splitters offer a quick installation and the longest-range solution (assuming a yacht mast) but sacrifice some performance in the splitter loss and use a VHF tuned antenna.

Splitters cost around the same as a second antenna but save on the installation costs. VHF antennas are optimally tuned around the lower channel range (156MHz) to best support channel 16 transmissions whilst AIS is much higher, around 162MHz. AIS can use a VHF antenna but gain a performance boost by using an AIS tuned antenna – around 90% efficient for the AIS antenna versus 75% for the VHF antenna.

Cable and Connectors Cables and connectors are often overlooked in both installation and fault finding. To put some numbers behind this, on a 20m cable run at AIS frequencies, we see the following on common cables:

Each connector also introduces loss to the system and a common fault source.

LED Interference.

The first rule of the LED club is…

"We don’t talk about the effect that LED lights can have on the VHF frequencies."

It’s known that some LED setups can interfere with VHF / AIS transmissions - USCG and AMSA have both published alerts about the issue, but there’s no clarity as yet.

Irrelevant of this AIS conversation (diatribe?), if you’ve got an LED anchor/tri light and masthead VHF – turn on your VHF, pull your squelch back as far as you can and then turn on the LEDs. Alternately, do a radio check over a decent range with lights on and off. If there’s any change, then you have an interference problem.

My personal feelings? – a high end sealed LED unit is a lot less problematic than a cheap LED replacement globe.

Range.

Range is King… right? The high road (masthead) is the default thinking and not wrong.

However, after running with a 40-metre install, I can attest that long-range can have drawbacks. There are limits to the number of AIS talkers, and there’s often a limit to how many targets a plotter can handle – random targets dropping out combined with Murphy’s Law can be interesting.

The low road (Targa bars, lower spreaders or davit mounting – 4 metres, not deck/rail mount) is often disregarded for antenna mounting locations, especially for B+ AIS units with AIS tuned antennas. For AIS, how far do you really need to see?

If we run modelling for a low road installation (4m height, less cable, fewer connectors, dedicated AIS antenna) versus a high road installation (15m height, splitter, VHF antenna), we see this:

Image Legend antenna mounted at 4m talking to another 4m antennae (e.g. another yacht) gives us a range of 8 miles (inner red)

talking to a 15-metre install (e.g. a ship) put us at 15 miles (outer red) moving our antenna up to 15 metres only gives us another mile or so (green line at 16 miles).

Comfortable margins for the size of vessel we’re dealing with.

NB – this modelling, cloudrf.com, is run from a land station with geographic blocks, the consistent range in the SE shows open water range.

Sideshow Alley.

We’re remiss, not to mention some related systems in this conversation.

Firstly, DSC VHF – uses the MMSI as a phone number to request a chat on a given channel; if they accept, then both VHFs jump to the channel, and you can start chatting. It replaces the channel 16 calling process and is why commercial ships are no longer required to listen on 16; without a DSC VHF, you are unlikely to raise them, even in an emergency. With DSC, you identify an AIS target you want to talk to and initiate a DSC call to them either via manually entering it in or triggered via NMEA 2000 to the VHF, and away you go. In an emergency - you lift the guard cap, press the red panic button, and an alarm is transmitted over DSC to all stations in range, invaluable if commercial shipping is likely to be your rescue team.

The other is MOB SARTs; they use a special AIS message to trigger an alert on AIS receivers in range. They can be installed into an inflatable lifejacket and configured for automatic activation when the jacket inflates. The action depends on the display unit, but a full klaxon alarm is relatively easy to configure and my “go-to” for cruising couples doing solo watches.

Choices All the big players – Raymarine, Simrad (B+G/Lowrance), and Garmin have dogs in the fight, and there are several AIS dedicated players – at the end of the day, it’s all NMEA inter-compatible. The significant differentiators in the market, Integrated splitter – do you want an integrated VHF splitter?

Dedicated screen – do you want an AIS screen or just the overlay on your plotter?

Network capability – output data to NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, USB and WiFi Network bridging or multiplexing – feeding data across networks, e.g. old NMEA 0183 wind data to your new NMEA 2000 plotter.

External GPS Antenna – included or additional?

The other item which is often overlooked is power consumption; AIS are sometimes wired to an always-on bus with bilge pumps, which can present a significant load.

Probably the biggest AIS dedicated manufacturer in Australia is Vesper coming out of NZ.

I know John Hembrow is a fan of the Vesper Range, as are many other experienced bluewater cruisers.

I have provided a summary of the Vesper Marine AIS range on the following page, and I invite you to contact me (Jock) at Boat Harbour Marine to chat about the range and which Vesper AIS is going to best suit your intended use and your budget.

So thats it from me! I hope you found this information of interest. Safe Sailing, Jock For expert advice, recommendations or support on anything boating, please reach out to the friendly team at Boat Harbour Marine - We're always happy to help!

W: boatharbourmarine.com.au E: sales@boatharbourmarine.com.au P: (07) 3880 0111

XB6000 - RRP $1129.00 Vesper’s XB6000 is their entry level Class B product.

• NMEA 0183 • NMEA 2000 • USB • Bridging/Multiplexing Fantastic if you’re upgrading some aspects of your instrument system at the same time and have a mixed bag.

XB8000 – RRP $1459.00 The XB8000 adds, • WiFi • Collision Alarms • Anchor Watch Alarms (position and wind) • MOB Alarms (AIS SART) • Device Integration (Phone/Tablet/Watch) • Inbuilt VSWR meter (the thingo techs use to fault find antenna and cabling) The device integration gives you a dedicated screen via your tablet or phone.

XB9010 Vision 2 – RRP $2459.00 The Vision 2 takes the XB8000 and adds a 5.7’’ colour touch screen – great for an external helm where exposure can be problem for tablets.

For expert advice, recommendations or support on anything boating, please reach out to the friendly team at Boat Harbour Marine - We're always happy to help!

W: boatharbourmarine.com.au E: sales@boatharbourmarine.com.au P: (07) 3880 0111

Cortex M1 Hub – RRP $2809.00 The Cortex moves a bit outside this progression, and there is nothing else to compare it to on the market.

Everything you’re seeing on the XB8000, plus, • Class B+ AIS • Integrated splitter • Remote 4G/LTE networking • Sensors (voltage, heading, barometer) • Five configurable sensor ports (up to you - bilge alarms, motion sensors, door alarms, etc.)

• Two configurable switches (anchor light, bilge pump, etc.)

With the configurable sensors and switches, it’s up to your imagination but, storytime – You anchor up and putter the tender into the local refreshments. A few hours (brews) later, the breeze shifts and picks up, and you start stressing… are we holding? You can check via your phone, and all is well. Ten minutes later, the anchor drags, and the Cortex alerts you on your phone; you run back down the beach, the suns set and it’s hard to see where she’s moved, flick on the anchor light via your phone so you can pick her out and run straight back out.

All feasible with this setup.

A Cortex H1 handset ($1119 RRP) comes in wired and wireless flavours and extends the Cortex M1 hub with full DSC VHF capabilities, as well as all the device functionality you’d see on your tablet or phone. In short, you can initiate a DSC call from the AIS plotter or Collision Avoidance screen with a couple of taps.

Down Under Rally Members Visit Boat Harbour Marine an receive 10% off in-store purchases*. *10% discount valid on store stock only. Excludes some items.

Boat Harbour Marine are part of the Scarborough Marina complex located between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. The waters of Moreton Bay provide an ideal location for fishing and pleasure cruising and the store is well stocked to meet the needs our varied clientele. From paints and finishes to rope and rigging, our local knowledge coupled with extensive technical and practical experience set us apart in the marine retail industry.

For expert advice, recommendations or support on anything boating, please reach out to the friendly team at Boat Harbour Marine - We're always happy to help!

W: boatharbourmarine.com.au E: sales@boatharbourmarine.com.au P: (07) 3880 0111

Like most things, when you ask for peoples opinions on wind generators the response you get can be quite different from person to person.

Personally, I am a fan (pardon the pun ). 😂 Written by John Hembrow We have had a few different wind generators over the years, the most recent being a Rutland 1200 made by Rutland Windchargers / Marlec Engineering Co Ltd and we were pretty impressed with it.

It was fitted to Songlines which had 1kw of Solar Panels. When we are at anchor & it was sunny they pretty much took care of all our power generation needs. But when it is not sunny or we were on passage and the sails are shading the solar panels we struggled to keep up with our power demands and of course at night well the solar panels are of no help.

When our old wind generator died soon after leaving Australia back in May 2019 the hunt began for a replacement. After considering many options that ranged in price from $1000.00 to $3000.00 (AUD) we opted for the Rutland 1200. Our rally partners Stella Gold Coast at The Boatworks Gold Coast are the distributors for Rutland Windchargers so we purchased it through them and had it sent to Fiji.

On our passage from Fiji to New Caledonia, we had average wind speeds of 15-20kts and it was mostly overcast. Songlines used about 220 amps per 24hrs when on passage. The Rutland 1200 consistently delivered between 10 -15 amps per hour 24/7 which pretty much covered our power consumption (see images above). At anchor, in 10-15kts it would deliver around 6-8 amps per hour. (see images above) The Rutland was also pretty quiet, not silent but not what I would call noisy either. In fact, we hardly heard it from a wind noise point of view however we did have some vibration issues that related to our installation method which with the benefit of hindsight could have been avoided by mounting it on a separate pole rather than as an add on to the davits.

Stella is the Australian Distributors for Rutland Windchargers and they are a Down Under Rally partner business so members who purchase a Rutland Windcharger from Stella will get a discount!

To learn more or to contact Stella visit: downunderrally.com/marine-windgenerators-charging-systems

Chris & Jo are...

Sailing No Regrets

As rally organisers, we often don't get to know our participants until after the rally is done & dusted.

That was certainly the case with the Rose Family. Of course, we had exchanged many emails in the lead up to the rally & we met on several occasions at rally-related events before departure. Still, as I say, we didn't get to KNOW these guys until the rally fleet arrived in New Caledonia.

My recollection of getting to know them was one of irony as they certainly faced their fair share of challenges earning them the rallies "Hard Yards Award", making me wonder... if they had No Regrets?

Despite the challenges faced on their first offshore voyage, they continue to have adventures, which, in my observation, is a direct result of their attitude and leads me to share the following long-held belief of mine, especially when it comes to cruising which is...

"The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude."

Bob Bitchin - Creator Lattitudes & Attitudes Sailing Magazine

Having followed the adventures of Sailing No Regrets via their YouTube Sailing Channel for the past couple of years and I find myself having them take me to new places so I decided to reach out to Chris and ask if he might like to share some background about how they came to be Sailing No Regrets & their first ocean passage...

How we came to be...

Sailing No Regrets

By Chris Rose "The seed was planted when we hired a bareboat charter in the Whitsundays 10 years ago and had one of the best holidays of our lives. After returning home, we watched a few sailing YouTube channels, and the dream became stronger and clearer. We have always been around boating, albeit more fishing and water skiing, but the desire to sail away became an ever stronger and nearer possibility. We had both done a little sailing in our younger years, I had windsurfed, and Jo had sailed a Hobie cat plus other small craft, but we were by no means experts.

First up, I had to improve this sailing thing, so I joined a local sailing club and began WAGSday Afternoon Go Sailing. I soon learned racing, Wednesday meant Wednesday, Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays, but in the process, I learned from others gaining valuable skills and knowledge. We planned to get a boat during 2017 and head off sailing the coast in 5 years. As always, life throws you a curveball and our life radically changed in 2018, leading us to sell our newly constructed home and move onto our Seawind 1260 No Regrets as full-time liveaboards from January 2019. The change was significant, but our daughter was finishing year 12 and joining us, so I began to look for somewhere to explore. Looking on the internet, I stumbled upon a Go East Rally to New Caledonia. At this stage, I realised that the dream could go even bigger.

The idea of a rally appealed to us and joining one gave us a destination to strive towards. We love the social aspect of the cruising life, and having the rally's support made this epic trip safer. Several months before our home was sold, we joined the rally. At the end of 2018 we sold our house, all of our contents, put what we thought we needed into our hire car and drove across the country from Adelaide to Airlie Beach to officially move aboard. We knew January was cyclone season, but how unlucky would we be for a tropical cyclone to form at the exact time we move up? Well, the answer is two, Penny and Oma. We further had the tropical low form that dumped over 200mm of rain for several days straight. We certainly had a wild start, but as I say, “it’s all part of the adventure”!

Eventually, we made it down the coast with our daughter and her boyfriend joining us a couple of months after we left, before arriving on the Gold Coast, ready to prepare for our trip to New Caledonia.

We sat waiting in Southport Marina, where we met our fellow rally members. After waiting two weeks, we finally had a small weather window open to sail across to Noumea, 785 nautical miles away. However, the weather did not play its part in our plans, and we had a rather testing five night’s passage instead, but we eventually made it to our gathering point at Ilot Matrie, New Caledonia.

Almost three years later, I still vividly recall the wonderful feeling of pulling up to this idyllic island paradise after crossing successfully. With the assistance of the rally, we had an easy and express check in to officially enter another country. We had our celebratory dinner and drinks; we were now free to explore this fantastic location and its numerous islands. It was such a memorable time, getting to know many people with similar dreams as your own. Since this trip, many of those we met on the rally are now close friends who we now sail and socialise with, which helps explain how great this group was."

Spend some time 'Sailing No Regrets' Since returning from New Caledonia in late 2019 Chris, Jo & Emma have been actively cruising Australia. They are documenting and sharing their adventures 100% FREE for all to enjoy via their YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.

Click the play button to see 3 years of No Regrets in 50 second

WATCH Sailing No Regrets

Facebook:@svnoregrets YouTube: Sailing SV No Regrets

Have a story to tell?

Share it with us to win!

One of the great aspects of cruising is that whilst we may sometimes visit the same places as others, it is not unusual for us to have a different experience.

There are so many things that contribute to our personal experiences when we are cruising, like weather, boat issues, who we meet along the way and so on.

The one thing about cruising that is consistent is that something memorable usually happens.

Sometimes it might be memorable for all the wrong reasons and other times for all the right ones, but regardless of why it is memorable, there is pretty much always an entertaining story to tell afterwards.

We want to hear your stories about your cruising adventures!

They can be long or short, They can be funny or scary, They can be informative, entertaining or maybe even a little of both!

If you write it - We will read it!

Sharing your story is easy.

Simply type it up in a word document or even in an email, send it along with some photos that help to tell the story and email it to admin@downunderrally.com with the subject line 'My Cruising Story'

Everyone that submits a story will go into the monthly mystery prize draw PLUS...

If we publish your story in 'Ahoy', you will also win a prize!

"There is no need to be soaking wet to enjoy sailing".

Built-in Sweden Hallberg-Rassy Yachts are synonymous with sturdy construction, a well-protected cockpit, nice woodwork, a powerful engine with big tankage.

The looks of a Hallberg-Rassy evolves with the years and still, you can immediately recognise a Hallberg-Rassy as a Hallberg-Rassy, even on a distance, no matter if it is a new boat, or decades old.

A Hallberg-Rassy never goes out of style. Hallberg-Rassy yachts have style; their own. Hallberg-Rassy has always stayed true to this concept and has never tried to do anything but blue water cruisers. That is why you find and easily recognize a Hallberg-Rassy no matter which part of the world you go to.

DBY Boat Sales is proud to be the exclusive dealer of New Hallberg-Rassy Yachts for Australia and New Zealand. Contact us for information about the range of New Hallberg-Rassy Yachts

Sydney, Australia Newport Head Office Princes Street Marina 16 Princes Street Newport NSW 2106 Australia

Head Office Phone: +61 02 9999 3311 Darren Parker – Director +61 0408 112 882 Rod Waterhouse – Senior Broker +61 0416 262 705

dbyboatsales.com.au

22 New Berths in 2022!

Bundaberg Port Marina Bundaberg Port Marina has been operating at the Bundaberg Port for the past 25 years and is well respected in the Australian and International boating community. The easy, deep-water, all-weather entrance that the Port of Bundaberg offers to visitors, day, or night, is one of the many factors that has contributed to an influx of vessels visiting the Coral Coast each year.

A message & an invitation from Brett Hensler, Manager of Bundaberg Port Marina.

Bundaberg Port Marina currently has 160 berths able to cater for vessels from 8m up to 30m and we are now constructing 22 new 20m & 24m berths with T Head having the ability to berth vessels up to 45m. These new berths are expected to be completed in June 2022 and we look forward to this major upgrade to our facility. Bundaberg Port Marina is ideally situated within walking distance from the relaxed coastal township of Burnett Heads. The township offers a modern shopping village with an IGA supermarket, bakery, post office, hairdresser, chemist, and the Light House Hotel Motel. Amenities and services at the marina include Restaurant, Café, Gift Shop and Chandlery.

Haul Out at Bundaberg Port Marina Why not call in on your way north and utilize our hardstand facility for all your annual maintenance requirements on your vessel.

Our 75t travel lift can accommodate vessels up to 25m long and a 6.6m wide beam.

Our hardstand and Dry storage areas can accommodate up to 140 vessels and is one of the largest on the east coast.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality customer service and we can manage and complete all your maintenance from the smallest wash and polish to a total refit of your vessel.

Owners are welcome to complete as little or as much work on their vessel as suits, it is totally up to the individual.

If you are looking for the total one-stop-shop for everything from keel to top side look no further. Our facilities on site are first class and you will have access to numerous trades and services including Shipwrights, Engineers, Electrical (415v, 240v, 12v and 24v), Surveyors, Diesel Mechanic, Upholsterers, Boilermakers, Sandblaster, Painters and Sail loft.

Down Under Rally Members!

Down Under Rally members receive the following offers from Bundaberg Port Marina.

HARDSTAND: Every haul out to the hardstand will receive a free pressure clean OR *7 days on the hardstand for the price of 5.* MARINA: 15% discount on your berth fee.* *Conditions: Only one of the above offers can be utilised during your visit.

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff and contractors are ready to assist.

We look forward to welcoming you in 2022. Contact us now.

Phone: +61 (0) 741595166 OR Email: info@bundabergportmarina.com.au bundabergportmarina.com.au

A Makeover for Mischief Before departing with the June Beyond The Barrier Rally the good ship 'Mischief' had a makeover by the team at Everything Marine Australia, The Boat Works Gold Coast. Below is what Lynne Shaw owner of 'Mischief' had to say about the experience : "At 45 years of age, and still sporting her original gel coat, our classic Valiant 40’ Mischief was due for some TLC. We spent several months researching and making enquiries about the best company to do the work within the usual cruiser’s parameters of fabulous and timely job for minimal cost.

During our research, we had also put our hands up for the inaugural Beyond The Barrier Rally departing in June 2021. By joining the BTB Rally, we became eligible for several substantial discounts and offers from many leading marine businesses and suppliers.

Having received quotes from several companies, we decided to go with Everything Marine Australia based, not just on the competitive quote. They applied the Down Under Rally participant discount without us having mentioned it, but their incredibly accommodating attitude to our lengthy and changing requests list. The discount we received exceeded the cost of joining the BTB Rally!

Mischief now looks better than when she was first launched thanks to the hardworking team at EMA and all for substantially less than we had expected to pay thanks to the Down Under Rally discounts!"

everythingmarineaustralia.com.au

Down Under Rally Members Offer Everything Marine Australia provides Down Under Rally Members with discounts on all products and services we provide.

Please get in touch to chat about what services you require.

Ph: 07 55732258 (Office) Ph: 0418 472 494 (Iain Mobile) Email: Iain@Everythingmarine.com.au

Thoughts on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising

by John Dyer John & Stella set off from the UK aboard their 14.5m Monhull Exocet Strike in September 2014 on what was planned to be a 3-year world sailing circumnavigation. John shares his thoughts on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising in this article.

The Voyage So Far. We joined the World ARC in St Lucia in the Caribbean in January 2015. The World ARC is great for clearances etc., however, your time in port is minimal, which is fine if you want to have completed the circle in 15 months. Fortunately, you can choose to defer your onward voyage with the World ARC, which is what we did we reached Fiji in 2015. We cruised Fiji for a couple of months, sailed to New Caledonia and then onto New Zealand for the 2015/16 cyclone season. We then sailed to Australia & rejoined the ARC fleet in Darwin in September 2016. In April 2017, we found ourselves back in St Lucia, having completed our first circumnavigation.

The Pacific however was still calling us, so we set off again. We departed from Martinique in the Caribbean, and transited the Panama Canal for the 2nd time in February 2018. However, this time enjoyed a leisurely Pacific crossing and enjoyed 'smelling the roses' along the way. Cyclone season (2018/19) was once again spent in New Zealand with the voyage to NZ being made in the company of the Island Cruising New Zealand fleet. We then set sail from NZ in June 2019 for another season in the SW Pacific, before joining the Down Under Rally in Fiji and sailing with the Loyalty Islands Rally from Fiji to Lifou New Caledonia. We then decided to Go West with the Down Under Rally to Australia for the 2019/20 cyclone season. You know what happened next, the C-word! So, two years we are still here in Australia and feeling very fortunate indeed to be 'stuck' Down Under and to have the opportunity to share our thoughts with you on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising...

Thoughts on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising

by John Dyer

Anchor: As big as you can fit, plus a spare! We have 3!

Chain: 100 metres minimum since you may be anchoring in 20-25 metres. It helps you to sleep comfortably. Plus a minimum 5 m double-sided snubber and strong hook, using anchor plait nylon. In strong winds, this is a boon!

Sails: We have a fully battened main with a full-stack pack. Genoa, hi-cut clew, only 100%, so much easier to handle. Permanent inner forestay, we use this a lot; it’s on a furler now, so much easier than having to hoist it on hanks. We also have a laminate code zero on a Karver bottom-up furler. We did have a nylon A sail with a top-down Furler, but this wrapped too often, so we gave it away in South Africa. We have now rigged this so it can be up all the time while sailing.

Downwind sailing: We usually drop the main and run with a poled out Genoa and staysail to leeward. If it gets below 10 knots true, we will also pull out the code zero. Used this configuration from cape town to St Helena and Brazil, and Panama to French Polynesia.

Power: Fit as many batteries as possible, giving you lots of spare capacity. We now have over 1000 aH of AGM batteries!

Solar: As per our thoughts on batteries, when it comes to solar fit as much as you can, with Victron blue tooth controllers, so you can see what’s happening. We have 4 x150 w glass panels on our arch plus a spare 150w one on the coach roof! We get the batteries to float by noon to 1300 in the tropics.

We gave up on flexible panels, not reliable enough!

Other power: Generators are good, but most people we know have had issues. Carry lots of spares and learn how to fix them—running while at sea often causes air ingress, which kills the impeller. We have a DuoGen, i.e. water or wind generation. Very reliable and easy to fit. Spares are not too expensive either. We also have a Watt and Sea hydro generator. This provides a really good amount of power, but I’m not impressed with its reliability. Ours broke after 24 hours, and then while crossing the Pacific, their designed mounting failed. So although the power is excellent, I prefer the DuoGen, which I bought second hand for £100! Plus another £400 to refurbish! DuoGen also works in wind mode at anchor!

Did I mention an arch there somewhere? When we left the UK, we just had a radar on a pole and the DuoGen. No solar, no bimini etc., in any hot country, especially at anchor, in a marina, or even on passage, keeping out of the sun was necessary. We had awnings, well, a tarpaulin to pull over the boom. etc., but always a pain to put up etc. While in New Zealand, we got a bimini fitted with flexible solar panels. Worked ok, especially with a bridge piece from our dodger to bimini while at anchor.

However, we decided to get a much better solution on our second lap. A built-in arch has guard rails to the gate, and we have the radar, Iridium aerial, DuoGen and 4 rigid solar panels fitted. Most people who see it are wowed and think it’s original equipment. If I was equipping a boat again, it’s the way to go! You could even use it for davits. In addition to the bimini, we now have rear and side shades to give even more shelter from the sun!

Hydrovane: Yes, a great backup, we don’t have one, not easy to find space to fit! If you get one, a basic tiller autopilot is a good idea, which will work on it!

Cooking: We have a 2 burner Eno, replaced the original 2 years ago in New Zealand. However, we also have a Magma gas BBQ on the rail, plus we fitted a 240v microwave. We operate that with the inverter. Also, have an induction hob as well! Gas for cooking is always a fun topic. We have 5 or 6 camping gas bottles, which in Europe are easily swapped, and in the Caribbean, they will fill almost anything that will hold gas, but in NZ and OZ plus a few other places, it has to be a country approved tank, so we now have 3 Oz/Nz tanks as well. It’s a good idea to have a few spare gas bottles! Fiji is also great for filling any tank, as long as they have a fitting, which they often do!

Thoughts on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising

by John Dyer

Refrigeration: As much as you can. We replaced our old freezer with a new evaporator, compressor etc., which is much better than the old holding plate. We also have an Engel mobile fridge, which can be a freezer as well as our standard fridge!

Sleeping: We don’t have an aircon as it is not often required and requires electricity to run. We have several 12v fans, plus we can use our Webasto diesel heater in air blowing mode without heat. We have two sprung mattresses in our cabin, with a lee cloth. They are very comfortable compared to regular foam mattresses.

Water: Watermaker? We do have one, don’t use it much. On passage, we rarely shower! Nip outside if it’s raining, maybe! I’m unsure if I would fit one again, lots of hassle, especially with a fully automatic one.

So how do we fill our tanks while at anchor or on passage? On passage refer to above, no showers! At anchor, we started using ordinary buckets to collect rainwater but now have perfected the use of 20litre two-handled tubs, like those you get at Bunnings. One day in Fiji, we harvested over 250 litres in about 2 hours! We also have several 10, 15 and 20-litre water carriers, which we decant into using a funnel with a gauze filter. You can then always collect water from ashore if necessary in them. If a watermaker is on your list, employ the KISS principle (Keep, It, Simple, Sailor). Check out the options from Rainman Desalination.

Drinking water: We don’t use tank water; we always filter on a dock through a 5-micron filter and 1 micron activated carbon filter. But for drinking, we have about 40 x 1.5-litre water bottles, which we refill via a two-filter system; one is the activated carbon one second is a Doulton ceramic filter. Excellent water taste and should be free of bugs.

Diesel: We never fill a tank from a dock supply. We fill Jerry cans from the fuel dock and then siphon them through a filter into the main tank. We carry 12 x 20 litre Jerry cans. Install both a twin changeover filter system and a polishing system if possible. We haven’t yet, but it’s on the list. Always keep the main tank topped up; it’s when you don’t that the potential for micro bacterial issues seems to occur.

Food: We always carry, especially on passage, at least one extra month’s supply of long-life food, just in case! We store tinned items in plastic boxes in the bilge, with the contents felt-tipped on top in case the labels come off. It has not happened yet. We also have some excellent food grade tubs with pasta, rice, flour etc. We also keep a provisions book and try to keep it up to date, so we know what is where!

Getting food is pretty easy in most places, even Galápagos, which surprised us! The most difficult was the Marquesas and Tuamotos in French Polynesia. But you manage. There is nearly always fresh stuff somewhere.

Communications: We fitted a used Icom M710 SSB, which I picked up on eBay. Pretty easy to fit. I also bought a used Iridium Sat phone on eBay, which worked fine, but now have an Iridium Go with a marine antenna, which has proved to be an excellent upgrade. When on passage, we buy the PredictWind unlimited data package. This whole bundle is very effective.

Spares: I carry masses. Filters, for engine oil & diesel, a minimum 10 of especially diesel filters. I have many spare impellers, both the main engine and Genset. Spare Water pumps? Yep for the Genset and the main engine as well. I have a spare alternator and starter motor. Oil: Enough for at least two oil changes to the main engine, so that’s 10 litres for me. Plus extra for Genset. We also carry gearbox oil & antifreeze / coolant. A spare main domestic water supply pump is a must-have; I think we are on at least our 4th one; they don’t like almost constant use.

Steering: We carry two spare steering cables, plus an autopilot ram, pump and hose already to swap out. If you have room to fit both! Also, spare autopilot electronics! I now have spares for the wind instruments masthead wand. If it is in the budget, a Hydrovane also provides redundancy in this regard.

Emergency Covers: We carry wooden blanks and have a method to fit them to most of the various hatches.

Thoughts on equipping a yacht for offshore cruising

by John Dyer

Other items: A printer and spare ink cartridges are really useful. Bear in mind regional variations in cartridge availability. We are on our 4th printer now!

Gorilla tape, I always have loads, it’s great.

Sikaflex always comes in useful.

Sewing machine, now there are just two of us, we have space and we have made a lot of use of this!

Good sail repair kit, with a proper hand awl. plus loads of sticky back Dacron!

Diving kit, minimum of snorkel but scuba gear is better, with wetsuit etc.

Mosquito nets for sleeping under!

Cockroach killer, so easy to get them on board. We like the gel syringe-type you can get on amazon.

Mechanical egg timer, for use on watch.

Rechargeable head torches, with a red light.

Li-Ion drill and angle grinder. The latter is to cut the rigging if the rig drops.

Make sure your Dodger has an opening at the front, essential in an anchorage and marina for airflow.

Dinghy and outboard! A hard bottom dinghy is a real godsend, like a Caribe, or AB. Plus a two-stroke outboard if you can get one, so much lighter!

Whilst the thought of gathering and storing much of the above may well be exhausting the list above is far from exhaustive! There are bound to be loads of things I’ve missed however with 50,000 nm having passed under our keel I think the items on this list will go a long way towards preparing your yacht for offshore cruising.

As a side note to the above, below are my thoughts about Yacht Rally's As you have read we participated in several rallies. We participate not because we need our handheld but because there are real benefits such as opportunities to arrive in countries in locations that are not official ports of entry such as The Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia and The Lau Group in Fiji. We also enjoy the camaraderie that comes with being part of a rally and having the option to participate in as many or as few of the organised events along the way. There is no substitute for local knowledge when cruising and rallies are a great way of gaining access to local knowledge which helps us make the most of our time when we reach our destination. This is in no way intended to be an advert, but the Down Under Rally (John Hembrow) and many of the other rally organisers such as the World ARC, The Pacific Puddle Jump and Island Cruising New Zealand have been a huge help to us and many other members of the international cruising community who have faced some quite unique challenges over the past couple of years.

A final word about crew.

We started out with 2 additional crew members. We parted company with one after the transatlantic crossing. We thought we knew him, obviously not. Our 2nd additional crew member, whom we’ve raced with for over 20 years became a trial after a few months as well. We persevered but at the end of the trip, we are no longer in touch. So, with extra crew, it’s often fraught with challenges, falling out, arguments etc.

Do You Know What You Don't Know?

It's a strange question but one that deserves some consideration...

Often it is not until we are faced with a challenge that we realise we don't know what to do because we haven't experienced the type of event we are now experiencing.

So, how do we know what to do when things go wrong?

Chances are, if you accept that you don't know everything, you will be more open to spending time learning. Learning can be done by doing, and I hear many people say, 'the best way to learn is to get out there and do it. To an extent, that is true, but the consequences and outcomes of this approach can be and are often severe due to a lack of preparation due to a lack of knowledge.

A combination of learning by seeking information from those who have 'been there and done that' and then using that information to be prepared is, in my opinion, a far better approach.

However, knowing what to do is only part of the learning experience. You also need to know how to do it. That is where the 'get out there and do it' part comes in, by practising what you have learned.

The more time you spend learning, the more you will come to know what you don`t know and, in the process, become more informed and hopefully better prepared!

Learning Opportunities The Down Under Rally Offshore Cruising Preparation Course content is a combination of lessons learned by our own experience and the experience of others.

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Watch the course content online via the members portal as often as you like for as long as you are a member!

Become a Down Under Rally Member for just $125.00 AUD for a 1-year membership and receive Unlimited Access to our Offshore Cruising Preparation Course.

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Above and Beyond Boating exists to help the boating community learn about boat handling and safety and teach the broader skills needed to confidently and safely skipper their boats. They deliver the leading courses to skipper a boat. Their e-learning is perfect for sailors who are open to learning and developing their skills, are passionate about being on the water, and are excited to become safer and more talented skippers.

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Discounts on charts and cruising guides for Down Under Rally Members. www.downunderrally.com/charts-flags

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For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

BECOME A DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER TO RECEIVE...

Discounts & Special Offers all year round on a wide range of marine-related products & services from participating rally partner businesses & sponsors.

Unlimited Access to our Offshore Cruising Preparation Course. Watch the course content as often as you like for as long as you are a member.

Access to our Members Only Portal. This is where we share articles and stories that we believe to be both of interest and use to anyone that owns a cruising yacht.

Down Under Rally Burgee.

e-Help. Contact us via email, telephone or even via video conferencing as often as you like for advice on anything related to your vessel, your cruising plans and goals. Plus assistance and support when cruising in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.

Priority Rally Registrations.

Our rallies have a maximum number of participants. DUR Members will get advance notification of rally registration opportunities to help avoid disappointment.

Discounts on all Down Under Rally Registration Fees.

Access to our Members Only Facebook Group. Being a member of this group provides you with the opportunity to interact with other Down Under Rally Members, many of whom will have a wealth of knowledge and experiences to share about all things sailing & cruising!

Full Membership $125.00 AUD Per Year downunderrally.com/membership