Ugue

From CruisersWiki

Ugue, New Caledonia

(Click links for more information)
	21°8.75′S, 165°32.9′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Entrance to Baie de Ugue ]]

Baie de Ugue is a useful over night anchorage, because of the distances involved in getting to other suitable anchorages on the coast. Beyond that, it has little to recommend it. The outer reef is sparse in the vicinity of the bay and it allows swell to penetrate. Some slight shelter can be found behind a shoal patch on the south side of the bay, but expect a rolly night. The local scenery is dominated by the ore loader at the mouth of the bay and the mining on the surrounding hills.

There is no nearby settlement and no facilities of any sort.

Cruising the region

Heading north, the next sheltered anchorage is 29nm away in Touho. The regional centre of Pondimie (pop. 6,000) is passed on this section of coast. This town would be a good stopping point, but there is no anchorage. There does appear to be a small boat harbour 2 nm east of Pondimie, but this is almost certainly not suitable for larger vessels. The track to Touho is relatively straight forward provided you stay close to the coast, with most of the dangers in the form of obvious sand cays. Further out from the coast, there are shoals and reefs, but these are well charted.

Heading south, the next really sheltered anchorage is 22nm away at Kouaoua. There is an open roadstead anchorage described in the Cruising Guide to New Caledonia at Poro. This is another ore loading facility and would seem to have little to recommend it unless you are desperate for an overnight anchorage.

Charts

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Chart Source

Chart No

Chart No

Weather

Local weather conditions?

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
  

Passages

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

List Islands

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

Approaching the bay, the reef on the northern side is marked by a green beacon. The ore loading facility on the southern side of the entrance is surrounded by very large mooring buoys that are used to secure ships using the loader. There is a shoal area (less than 1 metre depth) on the south side of the bay, about half way to the head of the bay.

Entrance

If there is no port of entry in the island omit this section, otherwise submit details about facilities for checking in - where to dock, location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• None

Anchorages

Anchor about half way down the bay, behind the shoal area on the southern side of the bay.

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

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

None.

Eateries

None.

Internet/WiFi

None.

Laundry

None.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

None.

Garbage Disposal

No.

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

Links to relevant websites.

References

Publications, Guides, etc.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Personal experiences?

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Ugue and this page's details validated:

• July 2010 - Pedro

This page has an outline in place but needs completing. Please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to suggest further content or alternatively, if you feel confident to edit this page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Pedro