Passage Planning SW Pacific to New Zealand

© 2019 -  by John Martin

There are a lot of myths surrounding the passage to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands. Most are the result of inexperience and lack of knowledge. I’ve done the trip personally now 44 times (up and back) and only had one really bad experience, the very first trip. That was back in 1995 when weather forecasting wasn’t what it is today. 

The decision to “Turn Left” though is well worth it, NZ has some of the best cruising outside of the tropics anywhere in the world and if you need work done on the boat New Zealand is a great place to have it done.

I decided after that first trip there had to be a better way so I started gathering information. The first thing I learned is don’t just pick a date and go. As it turned out boats that left just 3 days after we did on that first passage had a great trip.


Weather is the governing factor when making this passage and your strategy will vary depending on your departure point. What doesn’t change is the nature of weather in this region. In the South West Pacific, the weather systems migrate from west to east, low follows high follows low in a never ending succession. Coming across the Pacific from French Polynesia the trade winds blow south east and east with the occasional hiccup to the north and north west as a front or trough passes through. These troughs (unless you are being affected by the SPCZ) are usually associated with a low pressure passing to the south. The strength of the trades at the STR (sub tropical ridge) is dictated by the centre pressure of the high passing below and the latitude of its centre. These are the generalities and I will give you some events to look out for that have an adverse influence on weather for a passage at the end of this article.


The effect a high pressure system has on the trades depends on two factors, the centre pressure and the latitude of the centre. A 1020 centre pressure high will give 15 to 20 knot trades at the STR (where the high meets the inter tropical low), as the centre pressure increases so do the winds along its top edge. This area of wind the STR is the squash zone between the high pressure cell and the inter tropical low which is the general area of low pressure either side of the equator. The latitude of this squash zone is dictated by the latitude of the centre. For example a high of 1030 with a centre at 30 south will give significant winds (30 to 35 knots) from 15s to 25s with the wind decreasing the further south you travel. This same high centred over the middle of New Zealand will have lower winds on its top edge (20 to 25knots) but spread over a larger belt. This high is also likely to have a larger area of little to no wind in its centre. The high pressure centres trend south as summer starts in NZ.
As the high pressures migrate east the direction of the winds change. In the trade wind belt this variation is less pronounced but as you travel further south and move away from the influence of the trade winds will tend to follow the rotation of the systems, both highs and lows. Highs rotating in an anticlockwise direction and lows, clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
As you travel further south the effect and intensity of the frontal bands associated with each low are magnified. The majority of low pressure cells during October and November migrate along under Australia and tend to pop north east in the Tasman, cross NZ and migrate to the east. All low pressure cells will have a frontal band originating well north of the system and rotating around the eastern side of the low, to its centre. The closer to the low and the deeper the low’s centre pressure will dictate how much punch it has. As the front moves through the wind direction will change, (as much as 90 deg) usually to the west and southwest with a disturbed flow. Rain is usually associated with a front with clearing showers behind. The strength of the wind in this area is determined by the pressure gradient. There will also be large variations in wind strength around rain cells.


So to summarize, the more intense the high the more wind you will get on its edge and the punch from a frontal band is greater the closer you get to the low. We also know the wind direction around a high is going to change as the high moves through and this is more pronounced the further south we are. We know further that as the high migrates through it will be followed by a low and its associated frontal band.
In the weeks leading up to your passage we need to be looking at the speed that the systems are coming through. This will be between 5 and 8 days typically. An 8 day cycle is easier to plan for but short is OK too, you just take a different approach. Now however is where we need to consider where we are departing from.


Departing from Tonga.


Tonga, the most eastern departure point has some advantages and some disadvantages. From here we are looking to leave in the top of a high pressure as the wind swings from south east towards the east. But being so far east means that once the wind is in the east the high pressure below is also well east, you will only have its influence for a short time. The advantage is that you can use Minerva reefs as a stop off point if required and sit for the next window. 

From Minerva you are only 800 miles to NZ at an average of 5.5 knots or 130 miles per day this will take 5 to 6 days. Again it’s likely you won’t be able to do this in one weather system so you need to plan to have a frontal system somewhere along the way. This is going to have less punch if you are still north of 30deg south and with the wind direction changing to west and southwest behind the front the plan is to have put in enough westing so that you have cracked sheets for the last leg into NZ. We usually plan to aim for a spot directly north of North Cape, New Zealand’s most northerly point, at 30 south, known as John’s Corner. This means quite a dog leg from Tonga but is well worth the effort. If things change as you head south, then the strategy can be changed. 

If you do decide that the high is moving slowly enough that you change your mind and head straight for NZ, make sure you can get there before the front comes through because those lovely NW winds you are enjoying will be right on the nose after the front passes. You are also likely to get an uncomfortable 18 hours as the front passes. It’s this decision to take the shortcut that causes most of the horror stories you will hear about.


So in a nut shell, leaving Tonga.

If you plan to stop at either North or South Minerva (North is a more secure anchorage) then wait until a high pressure ( of around 1020 to 1025 centre pressure) is giving an easterly flow. You should be 21/2to 31/2days to Minerva with the wind tending northerly when you get there. Because you will be looking to put some westing in, on the next leg, you can leave from there on the front of the next high when the wind is still in the southeast. Another advantage of taking a more westerly route rather than a straight line approach is you’ll likely sail most of the passage following the outer edge of the high rather than through the centre where there is little or no wind. Depending on your progress and how fast the high is moving will dictate your strategy as you progress south. Remember it’s better to take a front at 30 south even if you have to hove too for a day and wait for it, better still use the time to get further west. Remember the old expression, west is best.


Departing From Fiji


Fiji on the other hand doesn’t have the advantage of a stop on the way and is the longest of the passages at 1260 miles, so you will need to leave a little earlier as the high starts to fill in; you are still looking for a high of around 1020 to 1025 centre pressure. This will undoubtedly mean leaving Fiji in a little more wind than most would like but again you will want to get westing in from here too, so ease those sheets and go for it, a word of caution though if your path takes you well west Civa I Ra or Conway reef comes into play. 

There is quite likely to be a squash zone along the coast of Viti Levu if you are leaving from the Lautoka area, this usually starts to drop 12 to 18 hours out. By leaving on the front of the system you are also more likely to run through the middle of the high as you progress south where winds will be light. Your strategy forward from here will be dictated by your use of the motor. If you have plenty of diesel and don’t mind the donkey clattering away put peddle to the metal and start heading for the same point as described above, 30 south directly north of North cape. If the high is slow and you will make it in before the next front then great, go for it. You should get strengthening northerlies and northwesterly winds on the back of the high. Remember when it swings to NW the front is imminent. Regardless of how you think you are doing, don’t vary your approach too much. If you want to cut the corner and you feel you have the time, change your waypoint from the one above but make North Cape your next waypoint. The fronts have a tendency to jump up from down south very quickly, if you are hugging the Northland coast by then you will be in relatively protected waters.

Departing from Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Vanuatu and New Caledonia departures can be regarded as having the same strategy. Leaving from Vila, unless you wait for easterlies (when the high is directly below) you will be hard pressed to get past the Isle of Pines on port tack. From there you are looking to head for Norfolk Island. There is no need to be hard on here as the high will go through and give NE, North and then NW before the next system/ front comes through. We have waited at Norfolk for the systems to pass and reached into NZ on west and SW winds, on the beam.


Tips and Tricks
 Things to look out for.

If you are leaving later than early November keep a good lookout for anything with a closed isobar in the tropic region to your west, if you see one, DON’T leave until it passes or disappears. As you get later the likelihood of low pressure cells forming in the coral sea and particularly just south of New Cal increases. If there is any chance of one of these lows forming on your passage don’t leave.
General strategies; look for a high of between 1020 and 1025 (or less), get west, take fronts north of 30 south, motor if your speed drops and don’t cut the corner unless you are sure of getting in before the next front. The only other advise I can give you is to pick just one weather source. If you allow yourself to get into groups that are discussing weather and they are using different sources you’re in trouble, we call this analysis paralysis, you may never leave.

Get the right Info.
We use PredictWind via our Iridium GO. We’re on the unlimited data package again with PredictWind so we can pull weather down as many times as needed, usually twice a day. 

If the forecast is changing rapidly between downloads the systems are unstable and your confidence in the forecast is reduced. Make sure you use all the information available, on PredictWind I always pull down the Gust, CAPE and Wave as well as the rain. If the Gust wind speeds are more than 30% stronger than the average, the system is disturbed and unstable and you’re likely to see squally showers and embedded trough lines. The Rain gives a more accurate idea of where the frontal bands are and the CAPE is an important tool, highlighting thunder cells and convergence bands. Useful late in the season, convection breeds Cyclones.

Last but not least and this pertains to any passage, I’ve seen more boats damaged because of a need to be somewhere on a schedule. It may be crew member has to catch a flight or get back to work or any number of other factors but please, give yourself time, a good weather window will present itself if you wait for it.

© 2019 Passage Planning SW Pacific to NZ -  by John Martin