SOUTH PACIFIC AT A GLANCE

dry season: May-october wet season: November-april cyclone season:

November-april. Active cyclone area: south of 10° S; west of 140° W

distance: Panama to Australia — 8,000 nautical miles Cultural Areas: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia/new Zealand references:

World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell noonsite.com (Virtually everything you will need to know on a current basis will be found on this comprehensive website.)

Atlas South of Pacific, Pilot Charts DMA/NOAA — The Pacific Crossing Guide by Kitty Van Hagen Charlie’s Charts of Polynesia by Charles and Margo Wood

Landfalls of Paradise by Earl Hinz and Jim Howard South Pacific Cruising by David Thatcher South Pacific Anchorages by Warwick Clay

Rocket Guide to Vanuatu & New Caledonia Solomon Island Cruising Guide

by Dirk Sieling

New Zealand Coastal Cruising Handbook by Royal Akarana Yacht Club Lonely Planet South Pacific Travel Guide Selected SSB/HAM WX Nets: Southbound Evening Net: 6516 khz at 0100 UTC Panama Pacific Net: 8143 khz at 1400 UTC Pacific Maritime Mobile: 21.412 MHZ at 2100-2400 UTC Pacific Magellan: 8173 khz at 1730 UTC Pacific Seafarers: 14300 khz at 0300 UTC Namba/sheila Net: 8101 khz at UTC plus 11 hours Gulf Harbor Radio: 8116 khz at 0715 local New Zealand time (There is a host of smaller and temporary VHF and SSB nets throughout the Pacific.)