|
Detailed
Route Plan for 2004 |
|
Date |
Ports of
Call |
|
Jan
- Mar |
Fiu is in a
charter fleet of
Horizon Yacht Charters a small
reputable Charter company
based in
the
Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, British
Virgin Islands |
|
April |
1-5 |
Fiu’s
outhaul. |
|
5-20 |
Sailing
from Tortola to Antigua via St Martin, Tintamarre, St Bart, St Kitts &
Nevis.
|
|
These
islands between the British Virgin Islands and Antigua represent a
fascinating mixture of the modern consumer world in the duty free zone
of
St
Martin
and the old world quaintness of the towns on
St
Kitts & Nevis.
At the
same time Tintamarre, a tiny island just off St Martin provides
peace and tranquillity and great diving opportunities in crystal clear
waters.
St
Barthelemy
(St Barth) retains signs of its past Swedish influence, for example the
name of its capital, Gustavia. The island was sold by the French in
1784 to Sweden and bought back 1878).
|
The final
choice of which islands to visit will be taken jointly with the crew onboard
at the time. Tortola, St Martin and Antigua in particular have good airport
facilities for joining or leaving Fiu. |
|
23-30 |
Fiu will
most
likely
participate in the
Antigua
Sailing Week. |
|
May |
1-9 |
During the
first week of May we will sail in the waters of Guadeloupe and Dominica.
We will stop over in Anse Deshayes on the west coast of Guadeloupe,
anchoring in front of the village. Guadeloupe claim to have 180
different colours of sand on their island! (http://en.webcaraibes.com)
And then of
course the Iles Saintes situated 6 miles (10 km) from Guadeloupe.
These islands have a peculiar history and in particular Terre-de-Haut stands
apart from other places in Guadeloupe; since the island was too hilly and
dry for sugar plantations, slavery never took hold. Consequently, the
population is largely comprised of 'blue eyes' who still trace their roots
to the early seafaring Norman and Breton colonists. Home to most of the
island's residents, Bourg des Saintes is a picturesque village with a
decidedly Norman accent.” [
http://www.lonelyplanet.com ]
It is also
a spectacular experience to sail along the west coast of Dominica with the
steep hill sides covered in rain forest with few signs of habitation.
Dominica is still home to the once fierce Carib Indians.
|
|
9-16 |
After
Dominica we shall explore Martinique and St Lucia followed by the
best part of the Caribbean, beautiful and lush islands and atolls of The
Grenadines.
|
|
16-31 |
Sailing
from St Lucia to the best part of the Caribbean, the beautiful and lush
islands and atolls of the Grenadines :Bequia, Canouan,
Petit St
Vincent, Mayreau, Tobago Keys, Union Island,
and then
onwards to
Grenada.
|
|
June |
1-13 |
Cruising
westward towards
Netherlands
Antilles (Bonaire, Curacao & Aruba)
via the
wonderful offshore Venezuelan islands Los Roques. |
|
14-20 |
Aruba to
the little known San Blas Islands, in Panama |
|
21-27 |
The second half of June will be spent in the San Blas Islands and Cristobal,
crossing Panama Canal and visiting Panama City for provisioning. Panama City
has an international airport and there are daily connecting flights to
Porvenir in San Blas. |
|
The San Blas Islands are located off the Caribbean Coast of Panama.
There are over 350 islands and islets, only 60 of which are inhabited. The
San Blas Islands are known for the beauty of the white sand beaches, the
crystal clear turquoise waters and the friendly inhabitants who live on the
tiny islands dotted with palm trees and thatched-roof Kuna villages. The
Kuna Indians are one of the few pure races existing in the world, a people
of great simplicity and charm, who conserve their traditions, beliefs, their
myths and their Gods. |
|
|
28-4
July |
Panama Canal and Archipelago de las Perlas
Fiu will start her journey across the Pacific Ocean during the first week in
July by going through the Panama Canal and with a brief stop-over in Las
Perlas. The Archipelago de las Perlas lie about 38 Nm South of the Panama
Canal in the Pacific Ocean. These islands with its uninhabited islands and
untrodden shores make this a desirable cruising destination both for
Panamians who come here during weekends and for yachts on their way to
Galapagos. Some of the islands serve as giant rookeries for thousands of
cormorans, frigates and pelicans. |
|
July |
4-11 |
Sailing from Panama to Galapagos islands. After a few days in Las Perlas,
Fiu will sail on to the Galapagos Islands. This crossing represents about
850 Nm or an average of 6 days offshore sailing, all depending on the
weather conditions. |
|
11-18 |
Exploring
Galapagos islands.
We will spend a week visiting this extraordinary place before continuing
onward to the Marquesa Islands (Isles Marquises) in French Polynesia. |
|
18-8
Aug |
Sailing from Galapagos to Marquesa Islands, approximately 3000Nm or
an average of 21 days offshore sailing. |
|
Aug
|
8-22 |
Cruising
Marquesa Islands.
Nuku-Hiva,
Ua-Pou, Hiva-Oa, Tahuata, Fatu-Hiva. |
|
23-31 |
After exploring Marquesa Islands for two weeks we shall continue westwards
to
Tuamotu Archipelago.
This part of the journey will comprise approximately 3 days of sailing in
order to reach these islands. Of the 76 islands the following have lagoons
with sufficient draft for deep keel boats to enter and therefore represent
the best anchorages for Fiu: Manihi, Ahe, Aratika, Kauehi, Raraka, Fakarava,
Toau, Apataki, Rangiroa, Tikehau Rangiroa, Fakarava & Apataki are
particularly worthwhile a visit. Before the age of modern day electronics
this Archipelago were known to the early navigators as “the dangerous
archipelago” because of the multitude of low lying atolls that are difficult
to see without radar. |
|
Sept |
1-30 |
From Tuamotu Islands we will continue onward to the
Society Islands
which are also part of French Polynesia. During most of September we will
explore as many of the islands and atolls as feasible (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora
Bora and many others). The Society Islands have been named the most
beautiful islands in the world. Join us to find out!
By the end of September we will sail (3 to 4 days sailing) onwards to Cook
Islands followed by the Kingdom of Tonga |
|
Oct |
1–11 |
Cook
Islands.
The Cook
Islands is a self-governing dependency of New Zealand with its own
parliament. Rarotonga, Suvarov & Penrhyn are the three of a total of 15
islands that offer safe anchorage for yachts.
Some of the other islands are worth visiting on a day tour from Rarotonga,
in particular the exquisite Aitutaki Lagoon which offers pure escapism with
uninhabited islands to visit and gorgeous beaches with tranquil lagoons. If
weather permits Fiu will be able to anchor off some of these less
accessible islands.
http://cook-islands.com |
 |
|
11-31 |
 |
Kingdom of
Tonga
“Further
north is Vava'u, the main tourist attraction. Here is one of the great
sailing destinations in the world with a maze of deep water channels and
tiny coral islands. It also offers the best place in the south pacific to
watch humpback whales when they come to the calm protected waters to calve
between June and October”.
Official ports of entries are at Nuku'alofa (Tongatapu), Pangai on Lifuka
Island (Ha'apai), Neiafu (Vava'u) and Falehau (Niuatoputapu). The
international Fua'amotu Airport is on Tongatapu with internal connections to
Eua, Lifuka Island in Haapai, and to Vavau, so it can be arranged for crew
to join Fiu in Tonga.
www.pacific-travel-guides.com/tonga-islands/
or http://tongaholiday.com/
|
|
Nov |
1-25 |
We will head towards
New Zealand
before the cyclone season starts.
It is a little over
800 Nm from
Tonga to New Zealand. We'll briefly explore Northern Island and then head towards the
Lord How island.
|
|
25-5
Dec |
Cruising towards Sydney, Australia which will be our
final destination for the Fiu Odyssey 2004. |
|
Dec |
Early Dec.
we'll
be arriving to
Sydney
just
in time to prepare Fiu for the Sydney to Hobart race which starts
on
December 26.
This year's Sydney to Hobart race is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is
expected to be a very big event with more then 150 sailing machines taking
part. Although Fiu has currently more than 8 sails for this occasion Fiu
will get few more sails required for offshore racing events (heavy weather
spinnaker, storm trysail, etc.). Fiu is already fully booked for this event. |
|
Jan 05
to Feb 06 |
Once the S2H race is over, we shall
spend few days exploring Hobart and surrounding and then slowly cruise back
to Sydney. We are planning to cruise approximately 2 weeks along the
beautiful Eastern side of Tasmania, Bass strait, Eden, Jarvis bay and back
to Sydney.
During the first few months of the year 2005
several off-shore trips are planned to the Lord Howe island, New Zealand,
Fiji, New Caledonia, Great Barrier Reef - details to be announced
later. |
|
|
Fiu will most likely continue the Circumnavigation some time in Feb. 2006 -
details will be announced later.
|
|
The Cost |
Fiu
Sailing Adventure
is run as an Adventure sailing trip as well as a Sailing School.
Students/crew
are
expected to
contribute to the cost. The contribution is between
Au$ 100
and
Au$ 200
per
day/person.
The cost
will
vary depending on
the destinations/leg (route)
- for details please check the table on the top of this page.
|
|
What is
included |
Boarding
and
breakfast. The cost of all other meals is shared between all members of the
crew.
Crew is expected to make their own flight-transport
arrangements.
For more
details please read
Frequently Asked Questions. |
|
Booking |
To book a
crew position on Fiu Sailing Adventure trip from Caribbean to Australia
please contact
your
nearest
Agent
or send an
e-mail
directly
to
Ivo. |
|
|
To view details of previous cruises click
on:
2003
Itinerary,
2005 Itinerary, Photo Album. |
