Ocean outlook: Red Sea, Caribbean, Atlantic, Mediterranean

Ocean outlook © Noonsite

Red Sea:

The majority of cruising boats use Djibouti, at the entrance to the Red Sea, simply as a convenient stopover port to refuel. SV Anthem, however, chose to spend some time cruising the coastline and were unexpectedly surprised at what an interesting and beautiful cruising area it proved to be. Australian cruisers Sailing CathayOz, currently heading for Europe up the Red Sea, also stopped in Djibouti and took time to discover what lies beyond the port. Their informative video covers the highlights of their explorations ashore to places where cruisers rarely go.

The Suez Canal is busy with northbound transits as yachts head towards the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Cruisers continue to warn about high clearance costs in Egypt, with Suez still being the cheapest place to enter the country and a good spot from which to explore inland. The Red Sea Passage Facebook group remains the best support group and information for yachts in transit.

Caribbean Sea:

It's almost May, Spring is in the air and for many boats it's time to leave the Caribbean and head either north to the east coast of the United States or back across the Atlantic to Europe. Experienced sailor and author Don Street has some sage advice for those planning their voyage, having been discussing the routes and timing with sailors ever since he arrived in the Caribbean in 1956.

The 2023 @NOAA Hurricane Awareness Webinar Series begins next week (May 2) and continues through the month of May! Visit here to register for each of the free webinars.

In many bays in the Caribbean you will be approached by local "entrepreneurs" wanting to help you find a mooring, sell you something or serve as your tour guide. They will normally approach you in their own boats (small fishing boats or even rafts) as you come into the bay and at times, may appear aggressive in their behaviour. Be clear which "boat boy" you are going to use, get their name and tell all others that you have chosen "x" to take care of you. Agree a price beforehand and always leave someone on board when crew go ashore. Alan Wells comments on his recent experience with boat boys at Soufriere, St. Lucia. Read this useful article on boat boys for more details, tips and advice.

In Antigua, entry procedures are changing from Covid to a post-Covid regiment. Joe Karpinski, SSCA Antigua host, has posted feedback on what's new in Antigua. Turks and Caicos also dropped Covid testing/vaccination requirements at the start of April.

SY Kookaburra has posted great feedback from a cruise in the NW Caribbean as they transit SW through the Cayman Islands, to Swan Islands, Honduras and on to Guanaja in the Bay Islands.

Obtaining a temporary import permit for Mexico is now much easier in Isla Mujeres as is clearing in without an agent. More details in this report.

Over in the southern Caribbean, Curacao has introduced a new anchoring permit pre-application form, in an effort to make procedures simpler for visiting yachts.

If heading to Panama, be aware that an old law was dusted off this month meaning that all vessels must pay additional departure fees of $100.

Atlantic:

Cape Hatteras, off the East Coast of North Carolina, USA, has long been known to mariners as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Its fame and reputation come not from the Cape itself, but from the succession of ever-shifting underwater sandbars, known collectively as Diamond Shoals, that extend seaward to the very edge of the Gulf Stream. Joan Conover, President of the Seven Seas Cruising Association, gives an Insight into recent research and how the currents in this area impact on vessels in transit.

A new scheme to reduce pollution and prevent overcrowding on the waterways of Amsterdam now requires most boats transiting the city to purchase a vignette. The Cruising Associations European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) has helped decipher the application process with a 13-page guidance note explaining the fine details of the scheme and providing step-by-step translations of the numerous online pages to be navigated when ordering and paying for the vignette.

The Orcas Location WhatsApp group is becoming very active as more yachts join that are transiting down the coast of Spain and Portugal and report on passages made and any sightings. Find out the resources available to track orca activity on our Orca and yachts page.

Mediterranean:

Non-European yachts cruising in the Med should familiarise themselves with the EU laws re. Schengen (i.e. rules for the skipper and crew), and for VAT/Import Duty (i.e. the boat). The European Union has once again postponed the new EES system intended to replace passport stamps until May 2024. Our European Union page covers everything you need to know.

Cruisers in Turkey report that high inflation means many yachts are leaving as costs become prohibitive. Wade Alarie of SY Joana, who has spent nearly 3 years in Turkey, told Noonsite; "Inflation in Türkiye is wild, much higher than anything reported in the news. I bought two flexible solar panels in October 2022 for 14,000TL. In February 2023, I bought two more panels (from the same vendor) for 21,000TL." Look out for Wade's full report on Turkey in next month's newsletter.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com