Cruising in the South Pacific: season, routes and crew
Long passages from the Americas to French Polynesia and on. This page sets out the season and routes from named sources, links the Pacific Puddle Jump, and names the authority for entry rules.
Season
- Typical The South Pacific cyclone season runs from November to April and safe cruising is from May to October. Boats leave the Americas between February and May, and are usually out of the South Pacific, or in New Zealand, Australia or north of about 5 degrees south, by November.Source: Pacific Puddle Jump (organiser or official source), seen 1 October 2026.
Typical routes
- Typical Passages run from Panama, Mexico or California to the Marquesas (about 3,800 to 4,000 nautical miles), then to the Tuamotus, Tahiti, Tonga and Fiji.Source: Cruising World (article or trade press), seen 1 October 2026.
Rallies
Each rally has a page with what we have checked, its organiser and the passages tagged for it.
Entry rules to check
- Reported French Polynesia: non-EU nationals need proof of repatriation (a ticket or a bond) and tourist stays are limited to three months. The ports of entry are Nuku Hiva, Tahiti and Mangareva, and yachts may stay for 36 months temporarily duty-free.Source: Noonsite (article or trade press), seen 1 October 2026. Check with Noonsite: French Polynesia clearance before you rely on it.
Check your own passport and your own days with the authority before you travel.
What this page does not state
We cover French Polynesia only. We have no source that meets our standard for the entry rules of the other island groups.
Organisers and authorities to check with:
Last checked 1 October 2026. The facts above come from the sources linked beside each one. We have not opened every source page ourselves; check with the organiser before you rely on it. Dates, fees, deadlines and entry rules change, and only the organiser or the authority can state them.
Open passages
No passage is open here right now. If you are a captain, you can be the first to post one.