March 3, 2013 Cruise Summary Ft. Lauderdale to Sydney

This may not be of interest to many, but wanted  to post some stats on our voyage that we will get at the end of each segment.

Captain Andrea Poggi

Port Everglades to Limon     1,200 nautical miles

Limon to Panama Canal          187 nautical miles

Panama Canal to Guayaquil    748 nautical miles

Guayaquil to Callao                 660 nautical miles

Callao to Easter Island          2,033 nautical miles

Easter Island to Pitcairn        1,117 nautical miles

Pitcairn to Papeete                 1188 nautical miles

Papeete to Auckland              2,215 nautical miles

Auckland to Burnie               1,580 nautical miles

Burnie to Sydney                      516 nautical miles 

Total distance travelled from Port Everglades to Sydney is 11,534 nautical miles. (13,273 miles) 

The voyage has taken us from the Florida Straight following the  Northern coastline of Cuba and around the western tip. We followed a South-Easterly course across the Caribbean Sea towards Limon. We then altered to a South-Westerly course around Serano bank to Limon. 

We continued in a South-Easterly course to the Panama Canal. The local Pilot boarded the ship at 07:09. At 08:30 the Pacific Princess approached the Gatun Lock. We were fully secure to the mules at 09:22 and the lock was closed at 09:37. The vessel was clear from Gatun Locks at 10:33. The mules were clear at 10:39 and we continued ahead into the canal. For the remainder of the morning and early afternoon we continued to stream through the canal.  

The vessel passed under Cucaracha Bridge at 13:32. We made our approach to Pedro Miguel Locks at 13:47 and the mules were all fast at 14:10. We entered the lock at 14:13 and the gates closed at 14:16. The lock gate opened at 14:30 and we let the mules go before continuing on to the final set of locks, Mira Flores Locks. We made the approach at 15:00 and the mules were fully secure at 15:25. We entered the first lock at 15:28 and the second lock at 15:46. The vessel exited the second lock at 15:58 and let go the mules at 16:05 and we werefully clear of the Panama Canal. The local pilot was disembarked at 16:11. 

We followed a South-Easterly course following the coastline of Colombia and then Ecuador towards Guayaquil. At 08:23 the Pacific Princess entered the Southern Hemisphere. The local pilot guided us up the Guayas River toward the port of Guayaquil. 

The vessel followed a South-Easterly course along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru towards Callao. Departing Callao we continued in a South-Westerly course across the South Pacific Ocean towards Easter Island.  

Due to 2 to 2.5 meter swells the Captain made the decision that it was not safe to tender and circled the island before continuing in a North-Westerly course towards Pitcairn. Upon the final approach to Pitcairn the Captain slowed the vessel for the local boat to approach and position was held at 09:53 so the locals could embark and they had all disembarked at 13:36.  

We continued on a North-Westerly course towards Papeete. From Papeete we set out on a South-Westerly course towards Auckland. We passed many of the Cook Islands.  

We lost an entire day (February 22) as we crossed the International Dateline at 05:37. On February 24 we entered the Eastern Hemisphere. 

After Auckland we set out on a South-Westerly course for Burnie. We maintained a South-Westerly course across the Tasman Sea.  Departing Burnie for Sydney in a North-Easterly course. In the early morning we entered the Bass Strait and altered on North-Easterly course entering Victoria’s waters.  

End of Segment 1