Port Boise

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 09:48, 22 March 2013 by Peter McHugh (Talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search

Port Boise, New Caledonia

Small info.png (Click links for more information)
World icon.png
DD°M.M′N/S, DD°M.M′E/W
Photo icon.png
Photo gallery
Chart icon.png
Local chartlet
Port Boise Beach
Click for larger view

Port Boise is a sheltered bay in the SE corner of New Caledonia, 5 nm from Havannah Passe. It offers good anchorage, an opportunity to explore ashore and good reefs to explore. There is a resort on the NE corner of the bay, but the rest of the bay is very undeveloped. The reef at the entrance offers good snorkeling opportunities.

It provides a sheltered anchorage close to Havannah Passe for vessels planning to head to either the Loyalty Islands or further afield, but requiring a spot to wait for suitable departure conditions.

Pilot boats waiting for ships to enter Havannah Passe moor in Port Boise.

Cruising the region

Port Boise is 5 miles west of Havannah Passe and is an ideal spot to wait for suitable tide or weather to exit the Passe. The lights at the entrance to Port Boise, combined with the Havannah lead lights, make a night departure through the Passe an option if this suits tides, weather or planned trip times.

The next anchorage to the east of Port Boise is Port de Goro.It is 2.5 nm to the entrance. While Port de Goro is closer to Havannah than Port Boise, night navigation from Goro would be more difficult, so, at least at night, Boise is the better jumping off point.

To the west the entrance to Baie de Prony is 5.5 miles away. The only hazard in this short trip is the well marked Recif Ioro. Note when entering Baie de Prony from this direction that the Recif de Prony extends over half a mile from the eastern point. the reef is well marked.

Local Weather

Sources for Weather forecasts:
Local forecasts are, of course, in French, but non-French speakers should find them relatively easy to understand. A very useful vocabulary can be found at How to Understand French Weather Forecasts for Sailors.

The main source of weather information for the area around New Caledonia is Meteo France Nouvelle-Calédonie. The marine section provides a 6 day forecast for the whole region, with details for each of the passes through the barrier reef.

Nouméa radio broadcasts the weather report in French on VHF 16, everyday at 6:30, 9:30, 15:15, 18:30.

There is a set of repeater channels allowing receipt of weather info anywhere in the country:

  • Nouméa area: VHF 26
  • Southern portion of the Grande Terre: VHF 28
  • Isle of Pines and the Southern Lagoon: VHF 25
  • Grande Terre North West coast: VHF 25
  • Northern portion of Grande Terre: VHF 24
  • Ouvea: VHF 23
  • Lifou: VHF 26
  • Maré: VHF 87

Charts

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Chart Source
Chart No
Chart No

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Approach and Navigation

Port Boise Leads
Click for larger view

Port Boise is a short sail from either Port de Goro or from Baie de Prony.

Port Boise Entrance
Click for larger view

The entrance to Port Boise is adequately wide, marked on both sides and there is a clearly visible set of leads. The navigation markers on the entrance are lit, which could facilitate a night departure from the bay if this was desired.


Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

You must clear Customs at Noumea before proceeding elsewhere in New Caledonia. While it might be tempting to stop in Port Boise on arrival through Havannah, this is illegal. The track to Noumea is well lit and carrying on after dark presents few problems.

Berthing Options

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

  • None

Anchorages

Port Boise Anchorage
Click for larger view
View from the SW Anchorage
Click for larger view

While Port Boise is a wide bay, the mouth of the bay is closed off and sheltered by a shallow reef. The entrance is relatively narrow and does not let significant swell enter the bay.

  • The SW corner of the bay, off a red sand beach, is probably the most sheltered spot in the bay.
  • The NW corner of the bay also offers a sheltered inlet.

Note that a shoal extends a considerable distance out from the area in front of the leads. The edge of this shoal is denoted by a green buoy.


Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

  • None

Repairs/Yards

  • None

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
None
Water
None
Electricity
None

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

  • The red sand beach in the SW corner of the bay has a number of tracks leading off it. At the southern end of the beach is a well marked track which climbs up into the bush above the bay and provides an opportunity to explore the local area. It eventually leads to what appears to be an abandoned village development site. At that site is the grave of Chief Charles Attiti, who is mentioned in the Cruising Guide to New Caledonia.
  • There is a resort on the northern side of the bay.
  • There is good snorkeling over the shallow reef near the entrance to the bay.

Grocery & Supply Stores

None

Eateries

Maybe at the resort.

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

None.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

None.

Garbage Disposal

None.

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, 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.

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:




SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Lighthouse, Pedro


Cruising Wiki Navigation

| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | South Pacific | New Caledonia | Port Boise |
Personal tools
advertisement
Friends of Cruisers Wiki