WeSailors.com is a community of sailors. You have an opportunity to share with your experience and meet peopole with similar interests. Publish your photographs, videos and relations from your cruise
WeSailors.com is also a biggest multimedia yacht database.
Use WeSailors.com to plan your next season and organize a cruise with your freinds!

We are affraid that your web browser is relatively old and requires an update!


Team of WeSailors.com recommends make an update to the newest Internet Explorer version.
Palmerston
(votes: 1)
Rate:
Type Anchorage
Country Cook Islands
City Palmerston
Available places 10
Max depth 5 m
Facilities:
  • Water
  • WiFi
  • Shower
Views: 1579

For boats

This remote atoll is one of the friendliest places cruising sailors will encounter during their voyage. The descendants of William Marsters, who settled this atoll in 1860 with his 3 wives, then 17 kids and 54 grand-kids, have traditionally welcomed seafarers.
 
APPROACH
 
Call Palmerston Island on VHF CH 16. They will give you an instruction how to moor.
 
MOORINGS AND ANCHOR
 
There are 6-8 mooring buoys near the NW corner of Palmerston Island (West Island of the atoll). One of them position is
 
18 02.79S and 163 11.52W
 
All are private and cost 10 NZD per day. The moorings should be treated with caution and checked for strength. The mooring buoys are about 150 m from the reef barrier. They are safe if NE-E-SE is blowing. Westerly winds will push you close to the reef. If the wind is not strong it’s could be OK, but keep a sharp look and do not leave the boat. If your boat is to close to the reef or the swell makes staying danger just relapse the buoy and go away.
 
It is also a good practice to have a completely separate second backup line, tied with a rolling hitch somewhere below the mooring ball/loop, and the other end secured onboard. This can be left loose, but provides a failsafe if any of the mooring-ball associated line/connections fail.
 
At high season (July-October) there may be no moorings available, or you may be requested to move off them and anchor. Anchor hold poor, the bottom is coral.
 
Always call Palmerson Island, you will be guided as to which buoy to pick up, or where to anchor. They will also come to you and help to tie the boat.
 
 
DINGHY LANDING
 
The pass into the lagoon is very narrow, shallow and winding. It’s strongly recommended not to do it yourself. Call your host or other local people and ask about transfer from boat to the shore. It’s safe and free of charge.
 
FORMALITIES
 
About Cook Islands Formalities you can read there ……..
 
Palmerston is not a port of entry, but you can sail there from Atiu, Aitutaki or Rarotonga and then leave the country (to Niue, Tonga or other directions). Inform about your plans the customs during check in port of entry; they will prepare a special permission allowing visiting Palmerston after check out.  
 
Crews must remain on board until administration officer will come and do a clearance. Note that officials do not work on Sundays, in which case you will have to wait until Monday to clear in.
 
On departure, the Island Administration will issue a departure certificate.
 
I’m not sure if Palmerston could be your first port of Cook Islands. If you want to do it – ask the officials on Palmerston:
 
Palmerston Island Administration contact: The Executive Officer, email: palmerstonoffice@gmail.com ph:(682)376 20.
 
There is a fee of 5NZD per person (local tax)
 
BRINGING SUPPLIES
 
The island is very isolated and a supply boat comes only once every 3-5 months. The islanders therefore appreciate it if yachties are able to carry packages (food) if coming from Aitutaki or Rarotonga. Anyone willing should contact William (Bill) Marsters giving as much notice of the expected departure date as possible Bill will contact family members who will bring supplies for you to take to Palmerson (such as eggs, fruit and vegetables).
 
c/o Bill Tuakana Marsters , Palmerston
Tel:+68237636 or +68276106 Fax:(also on Skype)
mardearpalmerston@gmail.com
 
WATER
 
Only water collected from the rain is available. Ask your host.
 
FUEL
 
No fuel, no gasoline,
 
WiFi
 
There is a BlueSky Hot Spot (the same as on other Cooks Islands, you can use early bought codes), but note, is very, very slow.
 
FIRST AID
 
There is a first aid point with a nurse. The have good packs of medicines.
 
OTHER FACILITIES:
 
There are few families on the island. One of them will be your host. They will come to the boat to help with moorings, and say Good morning. They will help you with clearance, transfer to a shore, feed you every day, and take you on a tour of the island and fishing. Laundry is possible. Any questions? Any problem? Ask your host.
 
You will have your own family during your stay.
Because of the isolation of the island and very seldom visits of supplying ship it is recommended to prepare something in return for hospitality of islanders. They will be very glad if they can get from you some food, small gifts, cigarettes or even pace of clothes.
 
FACTS:
 
Ciguatera only on grouper.
Local time is Papeete time.
No bugs, no flies.
No shops, banks, ATM, hotels, bars.
Navionics is off by 1/2 mile (charts are moved S direction)

For crews

 The islands looks to be in the middle of nowhere, but host system is great. Your crew will have a host, one of the families, which help you with everything, and provide adventures on the island.
 
Every day they will transfer you to the island, feed (local fishes), take a tour around island, go fishing, snorkeling etc. Other islanders are also very friendly and helpful, they will invite to their houses and yards and tell their stories.
 
It’s woeful, peaceful and friendly place in the world. Worth to visit.

Fees

Local Tax – 5 NZD per person
Mooring buoy – 10 NZD per day
 
 
 
 

No topics on forum.
Browse the offer for