We had a pleasant stay in Port Villa and all to soon it was time to leave for Noumea New Caledonia which is 340 miles away. This passage is more to windward and we lucked out with the wind and we could make our course with the wind just forward of the beam. It was another great sail and until we got closer to the island and had to motor for about 12 hours and then the wind picked up and we had a good sail through an easy pass and even got there at slack tide and then it was with us. We arrived in Noumea just before 5pm and found a spot to anchor in a crowded anchorage. The next morning called up Port Moselle Marina on the vhf on chan 67 and they got us onto the visitors dock and arranged for customs and immigration to come down to the boat. We were not allowed off the boat until they came about 2 hours later.
Noumea the capital of New Caledonia is a large modern French city, almost like being in France. This is the first modern city we have been in since leaving Mexico. Prices are similar to back home with some things more expensive and some cheaper. We decided to stay in the marina as it was not very expensive.
We will stay here for about a week and then head West to Bundaberg Australia which is about 750 miles away or about a 7 day passage. Internet is a bit expensive here so can't us it too much.
Info:
Will also do Port Villa at bottom of this after Noumea.
Not much to add to above, nothing unusual here. When we first arrived at Nouema we had trouble finding a place to anchor as it was very crowded and you have to stay out of channel. We anchored in 42 ft at 22 16.834 S 166 25.738 E. Port Moselle Marina was $30 a night channel 67.
The only caution is when nearing New Caledonia and nearing Havannah pass (45 miles from Noumea) it is better to go through it around slack tide, low tide better as flood current sets SW and ebb NE at up to 3-5 knots per the' sailing directions' book. Flood is established 1 hour before LW. Getting there at wrong time can have big breaking seas it says. As we neared the pass we were a bit early so slowed down and we saw 4 other boats all arriving about the same time, had not seen any boats until then. We had no problems, easy going all the way. Havannah pass entrance 22 20S and 167 05 E
Port Villa.
It is no problem entering the main harbor of Port Villa. I believe you to goto Q anchorage first and either call Quarantine up on 16 or yachting world on vhf 68 and they arrange Q for you, and they come to your boat. Since we had checked in at Tanna we did not but went straight to a buoy and then later to customs to check in which has moved to S end of bay by cruise ship terminal, a longish dinghy ride. Later we were told we should have done Quarantine first. We called up Yachting world to get a mooring buoy on chan 68. Lots of buoys here reasonable price, cant remember what. You get water, garbage and a so so shower as well if you pay for a buoy and dinghy dock which is near the overhead wires.
Our position on buoy 17 44.799 168 18.708
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