My mate and I may be looking at a move to the South Pacific country of Tuvalu in the near future for work reasons. My question is this: Does anyone have cruising info for that area? Tuvalu is what was formerly known as the Ellice Islands and neighbors the Gilbert Islands. It is approximately half way between Hawaii and Australia.
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Work reasons?
If I may be so bold as to ask Art, your work would take you to the South Pacific? How do I get that kind of work? Sure wish I could help but all my experience is East of the Mississippi. I'll guess that there is not a lot of experience in cruising there. Will you take your boat? Best of luck.
If I may be so bold as to ask Art, your work would take you to the South Pacific? How do I get that kind of work? Sure wish I could help but all my experience is East of the Mississippi. I'll guess that there is not a lot of experience in cruising there. Will you take your boat? Best of luck.
Tuvalu is a rare gem!
Earl Hinze's "Landfalls in Paradise" gives a very useful description of how to best enter Funafuti lagoon in order to go through customs at the wharf in Fongafale. Funafuti is a near-perfect 10 NM dia. atoll with one of the most beautiful lagoons in all of the Pacific. Another navigable lagoon exists in Nukufetau. The other 7 islands of Tuvalu tend to have unsheltered anchorages with often poor holding ground and are rarely visited by cruising yachts. Even in Funafuti lagoon chances are you will be anchoring there alone or in the company of only 1 or 2 other yachts since Tuvalu is too far North of the Coconut Milk Run (which brings most yachts from the Marquesas to Fiji via Tahiti, Tuamotos and Tonga via the well-worn downwind trade routes). In 1998 "Rivendel II" stopped in Funafuti lagoon for 2 weeks on the way from Hawaii to Australia (5000 NM) vial Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The following 2 years we worked hard at the development of a medical and educational support program for Tuvalu, at the request of -then- prime minister Bikenibeu. Alas, in 2000 we had to give up on the Tuvalu plan because of political complications in Fiji (our bridgehead) and in Tuvalu itself. So now this program -- known as Project MARC -- is running in Vanuatu instead, or we might have met you there next year..... There is a "Tuvalu Online" website with a ton of information about Tuvalu as well as some pretty useful charts. Unfortunately, Tuvalu does not have a safe anchorage to leave your vessel throughout the cyclone season (November thru March) , unless it is a light multihull that can be pulled on land somewhere, perhaps. So, your best chance may be to leave your boat in Fiji, e.g. in Vuda point marina (near Nadi) or perhaps in the Bay of Islands (near Suva). Have a great time! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43, hull #1)
Earl Hinze's "Landfalls in Paradise" gives a very useful description of how to best enter Funafuti lagoon in order to go through customs at the wharf in Fongafale. Funafuti is a near-perfect 10 NM dia. atoll with one of the most beautiful lagoons in all of the Pacific. Another navigable lagoon exists in Nukufetau. The other 7 islands of Tuvalu tend to have unsheltered anchorages with often poor holding ground and are rarely visited by cruising yachts. Even in Funafuti lagoon chances are you will be anchoring there alone or in the company of only 1 or 2 other yachts since Tuvalu is too far North of the Coconut Milk Run (which brings most yachts from the Marquesas to Fiji via Tahiti, Tuamotos and Tonga via the well-worn downwind trade routes). In 1998 "Rivendel II" stopped in Funafuti lagoon for 2 weeks on the way from Hawaii to Australia (5000 NM) vial Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The following 2 years we worked hard at the development of a medical and educational support program for Tuvalu, at the request of -then- prime minister Bikenibeu. Alas, in 2000 we had to give up on the Tuvalu plan because of political complications in Fiji (our bridgehead) and in Tuvalu itself. So now this program -- known as Project MARC -- is running in Vanuatu instead, or we might have met you there next year..... There is a "Tuvalu Online" website with a ton of information about Tuvalu as well as some pretty useful charts. Unfortunately, Tuvalu does not have a safe anchorage to leave your vessel throughout the cyclone season (November thru March) , unless it is a light multihull that can be pulled on land somewhere, perhaps. So, your best chance may be to leave your boat in Fiji, e.g. in Vuda point marina (near Nadi) or perhaps in the Bay of Islands (near Suva). Have a great time! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43, hull #1)
Work is but a tool...
My partner, Jane, is a University administrator/faculty member/facilitator, finishing a stint with a local institution. When considering the future, our eyes cast about for a new and excitng challenge, both professionaly, as well as expanding our cruising dreams and horizons. We've both reached a point in our lives where Mark Twain's words "you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the things you did", have a new sense of urgency. At 44 and 47, we're fit enough, and ... We all know our dreams, the hardest part is deciding when the time is right to pursue them. Cheers!
My partner, Jane, is a University administrator/faculty member/facilitator, finishing a stint with a local institution. When considering the future, our eyes cast about for a new and excitng challenge, both professionaly, as well as expanding our cruising dreams and horizons. We've both reached a point in our lives where Mark Twain's words "you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the things you did", have a new sense of urgency. At 44 and 47, we're fit enough, and ... We all know our dreams, the hardest part is deciding when the time is right to pursue them. Cheers!
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