YACHTING PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS AUTUMN 2008
24
From the shipyard we made for Porto Cervo, Sardinia to represent ISA in
the Deluxe 2007 Show: a very high-profile and enjoyable event where
Aquamarina really enjoyed the limelight.
Next we met the owners, who enjoyed a month's cruising in Sardinia, Naples
and nearby islands, the Aeolian Islands and Sicily.Then to end the summer
season on a high, we enjoyed centre stage at the Monaco Yacht Show.
Hard to believe then that we had only been cruising for six months and
already covered over 12,000 miles!
With our winter destination of the Caribbean confirmed, we spent two
months in Palma de Mallorca working on warranty items and giving the
crew some leave and prepared ourselves for the coming season.
Caribbean Bound.
After crossing from Palma � blessed once more with favourable
winds and following seas � we arrived in Antigua.The owners joined
the yacht for Christmas and New Year enjoying the festivities as
we visited the islands of St Barths, St Kitts, Nevis, and Barbuda.Then
in April they joined us again,this time in Barbados,moving on to
the beautiful Grenadine Islands of Bequia, Mustique, Canouan,
Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and the Tobago Cays. By now we
were starting to discuss the possibilities for Aquamarina's next
destination.I had noticed the owner's preferences always seemed
to lean more towards the less-frequented,more remote corners of
the world,and so it was decided � we were heading to the Pacific.
Pacific Adventure.
Cruising across the Pacific, however romantic and exciting it might all seem,
is not something to be taken lightly.You need to be confident of certain
factors and have contingency plans well in place should events go awry.
Entering the largest ocean on the planet means you will always be furthest
away from help when you need it � medical
emergencies and breakdowns need full
shore-based support. From a captain's point
of view, knowing your management team is on
24-hour stand-by with proven ISM procedures
instils great confidence and reassurance as
well as allowing you to focus on the on-board
operating procedures such as ensuring the
yacht is fully manned with experienced crew;
checking your planned maintenance system
and inventory of onboard spare parts and even
contracting the services of a weather-routing
organisation.
To enter the Pacific you must first transit the
Panama Canal.Although this is an extremely enjoyable experience,the
paperwork involved can be quite complicated.The use of a reputable agent
is a must.Most yachts,as per Aquamarina, transit the canal at night � though
if requested day transits are possible � an interesting proposition for owners or
guests.With all transits booked in advance the golden rule is:"Do not be late!"
Prior to transiting,you are updated with you position in the convoy � in our
case,that was following a submarine!
From Panama, fuel range dictates the route.As our next owners'cruise was
in Fiji, over 6,700 miles west,we needed to make certain fuel stops � our first
being the wild, rugged, wildlife-packed Galapagos Islands. On arrival we
experienced a mechanical failure, which I was uncomfortable continuing
with until it was resolved.Once again,we looked to Yachting Partners for help
and within a few days the technicians were flown in and the problem rectified.
The delay did,however,allow us to explore a little and,from what I could see,
cruising the Galapagos would be truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The next leg took us over 3,000 miles to the Marquesas Islands. Fuel supplied
in Nuku Hiva can be quite an interesting
and slow affair � it arrives through
a very small hand pump whilst you
are berthed to a petrol station.The
Marquesas are in the middle of the
Pacific and from a distance strike a
very dramatic,foreboding pose with
their impressive jagged mountains.
I couldn't help but imagine what
it must have been like for the first
explorers in the 1700s.
Thereafter,it was an 800-mile hop to
Tahiti,the centre of the Society Islands:
the perfect stop-over for any yacht with its secure marina,excellent services/
shore supplies and dry-docking facility.Although the owners were not on
board,this area is a perfect cruising destination.The outer islands of Moorea
and Bora Bora are stunning (photos do not do them justice) with crystal-clear
lagoons,lush mountains,waterfalls,top-class diving and some
of the world's most beautiful spa resorts.
Leaving French Polynesia,we transited the final 2,000 miles to Fiji, anchoring
close to Marina Denarau and the owners' pick-up point of Nadi Airport on
Viti Levu.
The three-week itinerary offered as many of the islands as possible in the
time allowed.Starting from the Yasawas and transiting east to the unspoilt,
traditional Lau islands before island-hopping our way back to Nadi.
As I write now,we are five days into the cruise.So far,we have moved from
one paradise anchorage to another.The beaches are white and never-ending,
the water warm and crystal-clear; the diving top class.A legal cruising permit
supplied by your local agent is required and if you can see a village when you
anchor off,you must go ashore to ask the tribal Chief's permission to stay.This
invokes the traditional ceremony of`Sevu Sevu'where Kava is drunk and gifts
are offered � ours were children's school supplies and rugby balls!
We have two more weeks left to explore this amazing place and I have a
sneaking feeling it may well be our best cruise to date.
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Left
Captain Richard Carr.

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