Sailing from PNG to Thailand

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-04-20 09:59:07
Contributors:
Topic: Routing
Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand

We are planning our passages from NZ to Thailand this season. We plan to be in Thailand by the end of December. I have been given conflicting advice as to the winds from Indonesia to Singapore/Malaysia for September, October, November. I know the monsoons change from SW to NE in September but it is not clear as to the expected impact in the Java Sea and northward. Can you please advise? Thanks.

The best route is via Torres Strait, Bali then north to Singapore, then west of Malaysia. You need to be through the Torres Straits by October (the monsoon changes in November). The other alternative via the north of PNG is longer and more complicated. I hope you have my book World Cruising Routes as it has details on all those routes. Jimmy Cornell noonsite

Thanks Jimmy, We do have Ed. 4 of your Cruising Routes and use it all the time. Is there enough difference in Ed. 5 to make it worthwhile to get? From your answer you did not say so but the winds must be favorable enough to get north from Bali to Singapore after the monsoon changes in Sept/Oct? We will be going via Torres Straits.

Going north from Bali in October should be ok but you may to have to motor a lot. 4th edition is ok. Jimmy Cornell