Palmyra Atoll
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* Just give 'Palmyra Island' a call on ch16, there is no one else around for hundreds of miles. | * Just give 'Palmyra Island' a call on ch16, there is no one else around for hundreds of miles. | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 13 June 2011
Palmyra Atoll
 (Click links for more information)
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 | 05°53.08′N, 162°05.35′W |
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 | Photo gallery |
 | Local chartlet |
Click for larger view
Background
Palmyra Island has an isolated location, and since there has been no human activity for 60 years since the navy left, the coral reef is as pristine as you are likely to find. Since the end of WW11, the island has been owned by various concerns, including a Judge in Hawaii, a fishing concern that never got off the ground until the Nature Conservancy acquired Cooper Island. A permit, acquired in Hawaii, is technically required to visit the island, with a limit of 2 yachts visiting at any one time, and a limit of a week total visit. Check if the rules have changed prior to going.
Palmyra is one of the Northern Line Islands (southeast of Kingman Reef and north of Kiribati Line Islands), located almost due south of the Hawaiian Islands, roughly halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa. It's 9 mi (14 km) of coastline has one anchorage known as West Lagoon. It consists of an extensive reef, two shallow lagoons, and some 50 sand and reef-rock islets and bars covered with vegetation — mostly coconut trees, Scaevola, and tall Pisonia trees.
The islets of the atoll are all connected, except Sand Island in the west and Barren Island in the east. The largest island is Cooper Island in the north, followed by Kaula Island in the south. The northern arch of islets is formed by Strawn Island, Cooper Island, Aviation Island, Quail Island, Whippoorwill Island, followed in the east by Eastern Island, Papala Island, and Pelican Island, and in the south by Bird Island, Holei Island, Engineer Island, Tanager Island, Marine Island, Kaula Island, Paradise Island, and Home Island (clockwise).
Charts
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
- Just give 'Palmyra Island' a call on ch16, there is no one else around for hundreds of miles.
Weather
Local weather conditions are just at the edge of the NE trades, and it rains, a lot averaging 175".
Sources for Weather forecasts:
- NOAA weatherfax covers this area.
Entry is 052 degrees from the SW (avoid the foul ground to the west) This is a dredged channel from the navy. We saw depths of 26 feet, but if you wander the edge is very abrupt and 2 vessels have been lost by being too far west. Sand Island to the east, wooded, is the dredge spoil from the channel. The channel is over a mile long, and there is a range marker. The range markers may or not be visible in the distinct clearing. The range marks are a long distance across the lagoon, and it is easy to mistake the concrete block as one of the marks. The surf breaks on Penguin Spit to the south.
There are buoys shown on the chart at the outer entrance to the channel, and they are no longer there. We used C-Map charts, and the detail was adequate. Use your eyeballs for deep blue water depth and follow the obviously deep water in.
Once in the lagoon, follow the deep water over to the concrete apron and the obvious buildings and anchor. Anchoring near the end of the airstrip is prohibited as the aircraft/mast issue.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Marina, no. Yacht club, minimal.
Anchorages
- The chartlet shows 'ruins', which is not the case, as the researchers using the island have their small boats there on the existing launch ramp. Most visiting boats anchor off the bulkheading there, and duck over to the little dingy dock near the 'yacht club'. TNC does not want you to anchor elsewhere, as the spots shallow enough to anchor are either near the airport approach or near bird nesting sites, and there are lots of birds here.
Tourism & things to do ashore
Cooper Island is under the control of the nature conservancy, the rest is US Fish and Wildlife. Cooper Island has well established walking paths, and has been cleared of leftover WW11 explosives, mostly. The 'yacht club' has an assortment (that have been defused) should you have any doubts about staying on the paths. The other islands are off limits.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Nothing available here, all barged in from Hawaii once a year. The original Navy cistern is in use, and the significant rainfall is used for keeping the tank filled, if well supplied, very limited quantities may be available.
Laundry
- No
Grocery & Supply Stores
- None
Eateries
- No, but a picnic at the North Beach lawn chairs is very scenic, and if you have brought a garbage bag, pick up a bag full of plastic from the beach while you are there!
Internet/WiFi
Available if you have your Iridium phone working...
Motorbike & Car Rentals
- Bring flip flops
Marine Stores & Facilities
- Nil
Repairs
- None available.
Garbage Disposal
- Pack it in/Pack it out
Transportation
Transportation (local and/or international)
- Truly a sail in/sail out destination. Only an absolutely life threatening situation might get a flight chartered from Hawaii.
Routes/Passages To/From
Roughly 900 miles to/from Hawaii, we made the trip in 5 days in a very fast boat in June when we had a good window with strong NE trades and reached the whole way. The system moved just as we got there, and then the trip would have been much slower. On our way back from Samoa, we were hard on the wind and never got enough easting to get there, so tacking would have been in order, so if coming up from the south, make all the easting you can, when you can. To make it to Hawaii, most experienced skippers try to make it to Fanning Island before heading north, So Palmyra is too far west.
References & Publications
Publications, Guides, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Links to relevant websites.
Personal Notes
- We had a great time here. There are buoys to tie up to so that you can tie up and leave your dingy to dive/snorkel and not damage the pristine coral. There are no supplies, so plan on having everything with you.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
- Concerto was here June, 2006. This Wiki page updated Jan '10.
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