Island Cruising Testimonials

19 Jan 09
By David McKay

Andrea and I sailed our 48 foot steel Van de Stadt yacht “Diomedea” amongst the islands of the South Pacific during the winter of 2008. After an initial crossing of the Tasman Sea in April we met with the directors of the Island Cruising Association, John and Lyn Martin, in Opua, Bay of Islands. We had joined the ICA so that we could participate in a rally from New Zealand to Tonga in May. We were provided with a wealth of information and support prior to departure, including seminars on weather, safety, passage making, boat preparation and so forth.

Membership of ICA also provided significant discounts on chandlery and other purchases. Our clearance out of NZ was made very easy and quick. Duty free food, alcohol and fuel purchases were facilitated. We arrived in Tonga some 6 days later and anchored at the beautiful Pangaimotu island near the capital of Tonga. All clearing in procedures were done very quickly on the island as opposed to having to tie up to the filthy, rough and rat infested docks of the harbour.

The ICA had organised for the officials to come to us. A series of social events allowed us to begin establishing friendships that would last for the next six months and some of them for much longer. We also soon learned of the skill base available in the fleet of 20 yachts, giving us a sense of security should things go pear shaped. Cruising through the archipelago of Tonga was done independently for all participants but the option of meeting up at various anchorages was always available if desired. There was no fixed agenda when “in country”.

As we had to meet friends in Savusavu, we left Tonga alone and the rally followed us to Fiji about a week later. We eventually regrouped with the rally at Musket Cove in western Fiji in July in preparation for the passage to Vanuatu. Our week at Musket Cove was marvellous with organised and impromptu social events. Customs clearance was again smoothed with the ICA bringing out the relevant officials to the island, sparing us the considerable bother of having to sail back to the mainland. Diomedea sailed to the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. Here, entry was facilitated by officials coming to Port Resolution rather than us spending a ghastly day bouncing in the tray of a 4WD across the island. We then had a marvellous cruise the length of Vanuatu, sporadically meeting rally boats at delightful tradewind anchorages.

The jewel in the crown of ICA organisation was yet to reveal itself however. With the rally increased to 39 boats, we departed Port Vila for the island of Ouvea 180nm away in the French Loyalty group of New Caledonia. Ouvea is not a clearance port but for us it all happened and we could stay at this, the most beautiful of all South Pacific destinations. Normally cruisers have to go to the capital Noumea, 2-3 days away. Those wishing to cruise Ouvea and nearby islands then have to make the return trip.

Alas, our stay in French waters was limited and time came for Diomedea to return to Australia. We said our farewells to our new friends and had an easy five day passage from Noumea to Coffs Harbour. Those that remained in New Caledonia cruised around the Grand Terre and then down to Ile de Pins before heading for either New Zealand or Australia. The leg to New Zealand was an “All Points” rally with cash/goods prizes at the end.

Whilst one could do all of this cruise independently, Andrea and I felt that the “cruise in company” method worked particularly well. At an organisational level, a great deal of time and angst was saved. Costs were reduced in many areas. Advice and support was readily available and made many things achievable for us, being relative novices to cruising in these waters. Personally I learned a great deal from John and Lyn as well as from other rally participants.

The camaraderie was fantastic. One night, Diomedea came into Havannah harbour after a 75nm leg to windward in 25 knot winds. Rather to our surprise, a dinghy from one of the rally boats quickly appeared at our stern and we were whisked over for a BBQ that was already in progress. The perfect coda for a hard day’s sailing. We partied until late before a good sleep. Would I go with Island Cruising Association again in the future? You bet.

Details about ICA can be found at: http://www.islandcruising.co.nz
Their rally program is available for 2009.
See our blog for some pictures from our trip: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diomedea/

12 Dec 08
By Bernd Neumann

Hi John,

thanks for your great job "all point Rally" We really enjoyed it. Hope to see you soon.

Bernd Neumann
SY UPPS

12 Dec 08
By Clint and Adair

Dear John and Lynn,

EMMANUEL is in Brisbane and we're in Florida--all safely. We so much enjoyed our brief involvement in the ICA Rally, have recommendedit to others, and certainly wish you all well in the future.

Thanks,
Clint and Adair

4 Dec 08
By Steve

John,

When you are recruiting people to join the rally to New Zealand next year, and for the benefit of those who may be thinking of heading westward in 2009, we have done a rough comparison of the cost of getting work done in Australia and New Zealand. This is not scientific but we are confident in saying that boat work will cost 20% to 30% more in Australia than in New Zealand with the difference remaining in that range whether you chose the small, often less costly, mom and pop yards or go to the big outfits.

Not only is the Aussie dollar higher than the Kiwi, labour rates over here are a tad higher on average as well (e.g. $70 to $75 an hour for a sailmaker or a welder.) To add insult to injury, many Aussie businesses will not give visiting yachties the GST rebate even though Australian law mow allows them to do so. One outfit in Bundaberg said he wasn't going to do paperwork so that I could save money.

If yachties are feeling a little poorer than they used to, they can help themselves out by basing their cruising out of New Zealand for the next two or three years.

You and Lyn will have to step up to the challenge of getting visitors to recognise that New Zealand is as nice a cruising destination as any place in the world with Northland being only the tip of the iceberg, the really spectacular places are, as I think you agree, down on the South Island.

Keep up the good work.

Steve

28 Sep 08
By Bill and Sue Finley (Speedbird)

Hi John and Lyn
Its been great receiving all the club news and as summer turns to autumn here in Canada we're once again preparing to leave for the southern hemisphere. We've had quite a busy time up here while all of you have been cruising the enchanted South Pacific. We were planning to move to Vancouver Island this time around but with all that's been happening in the financial world, we've decided to postpone that till next year when, hopefully,things have settled down a bit. Once again we have been enjoying our expanding family. Golf has replaced sailing as the activity of choice and all the men in the family have been preparing for the hunting season which opens very soon. Then it will be time to leave...

We're excited to see old friends again when we return to New Zealand, not least among them are the fabulous group we met on the Rally to Tonga this year. We're still in touch by email with many and although most are continuing the journey, a few are heading home to NZ where we hope to meet up with them again and continue the party!

What a fabulous decision it was to join the Rally. Being foreigners we were unable to stay in New Zealand last season without paying a hefty fee. Neither of us is particularly happy about making long passages but it seemed that we had no choice as the closest countries to NZ are about 1000 miles away. Just as we were weighing our options, the good ship "Wind Flower" sailed into Opua with news of a rally to Tonga. We cautiously dinghied over to meet John and Lynn just to find out what it was all about.

I have to say we don't usually "join" things and John and Lynn certainly didn't push in any way. As the days and weeks went by we became involved in the various workshops that ICA offered. The great thing was that we didn't have to be members to participate but there was such an upbeat feeling about all that was happening we decided to go for it and join the Rally to Pangaimotu, Tonga after all.

Leading up to the Rally departure there were cocktail parties, barbies and meetings. In no time we had met a wonderful bunch of people with whom we had so much in common, it was like we'd found a new family.

I'd like to say that the passage to Tonga was a piece of cake, but it wasn't! We all had our share of bad weather but the radio sked with Dez, organized by ICA kept us reassuringly in touch with everyone and by the time we arrived in Tonga, the bond between us all was even stronger because of the shared experience. We'd all become so close over the last few weeks it was as if we'd known each other for years!

As you can imagine the parties were wild but also informal get togethers on each others yachts were casual and warm. We sailed up through the Tongan Isles with our group of friends, stopping to dive, snorkel, explore or share a meal. We had always intended to leave our boat in Tonga while we returned to Canada for our summer but I have to say that when the fleet hoisted sail for Fiji in mid June we were hard pressed not to follow it.

Thanks John and Lynn for all your hard work to make that Rally such a success. We have so many great memories and would recommend ANYONE to join as we did.

Hopefully see you next season.

Cheers
Bill and Sue Finley (Speedbird)