The Micronesia Compendium A Compilation of Guidebook References and Cruising Reports Covering the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau IMPORTANT: USE ALL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT AT YOUR OWN RISK!! Rev 2016.4 – August 20, 2016 We welcome updates to this guide! (especially for places we have no cruiser information on) Email Soggy Paws at sherry –at- svsoggypaws –dot- com. You can also contact us on Sailmail at WDI5677 The current home of the official copy of this document is http://svsoggypaws.com/files/ If you found it posted elsewhere, there might be an updated copy at svsoggypaws.com. Revision Log Many thanks to all who have contributed over the years!! Rev Date Notes A.0 28-Oct-2013 Initial version, still very rough at this point!! Moved some "outer atolls" around. Added some stuff gleaned from the RCC Pilotage Foundation. I am still not A.1 17-Nov-2013 clear where and who each of the outer atolls that other cruisers have mentioned actually fall in location and jurisdiction. I will resolve this in the next edition. More on Pohnpei and Kosrae, as we prepare to go there, A.2 26-Jan-2014 plus Carina's update on Lukunor. Added Downtime, Savannah's Pohnpei, Swingin' on a Star A.3 14-Feb-2014 and Carina. Broke the "between major islands" sections into separate sections. Brickhouse Inputs on West Fayu, Elato, Olimarao, and A.4 15-Feb-2014 Lorelei inputs on Losap Added section on Traditional Navigation on the Caroline A.5 17-Feb-2014 Islands. Added bits from US Sailing Directions (Pub 126). Added Savannah's notes on out islands and Yap. A.6 20-Feb-2014 More info from Brickhouse and Kokomo Brickhouse updates on Oroluk and Palau. Soggy Paws useful phone numbers in Pohnpei. La Gitana's inputs on A.7 16-Mar-2014 Kapinga and Nukuoro. Some older info on Pohnpei from Carina. Lorelei's notes on diving in Yap. Kokomo, La Gitana, and Soggy Paws reports on Puluwat, A.8 21-Apr-2014 Kokomo on Woleai, updates on Chuuk by Soggy Paws Soggy Paws reports on Woleai and Ulithi. Brick House on A.9 07-Jun-2014 Peleliu, Savannah on Palau A.10 ?? Palau Cell Phone Notes from Soggy Paws B.1 18-Feb-2015 Helen Reef Notes from Noonsite/Vaarwell Pohnpei Update from Changing Spots. Helen Reef and Palau updates from Sloepmouche. Soggy Paws account B.2 28-Dec-2015 sailing from Palau to Philippines, and several inter-island passage notes B.3 29-Dec-2015 Kosrae Update from Changing Spots. 2016.1 25-January-2016 Kosrae Update from Ariel IV. EJII account of stopping Kapinga in 2014 on their way to the 2016.2 23-Feb-2016 Solomons. Carina update on email addresses in Palau. Changing Spots updates on Kosrae and Yap 2016.3 04-Mar-2016 Various updates from Dream Away Updates on Helen Reef and 2016 updates from Carina and 2016.4 20-Aug-2016 Soggy Paws on Palau Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... 3 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE GUIDE .......................................................................................................... 9 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE AREA .................................................................................................................. 9 1.3 TIME ZONE .................................................................................................................................... 11 1.4 WEATHER IN THIS AREA ................................................................................................................ 11 1.4.1 General Weather Conditions ............................................................................................... 11 1.4.2 Weather Sources – With Onboard Email/SSB .................................................................... 13 1.4.3 Weather Sources – Voice ................................................................................................... 16 1.4.4 Weather Sources – Internet ................................................................................................ 17 1.4.5 Tropical Weather (June - October, sorta) ........................................................................... 18 1.5 CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION .............................................................................................................. 19 1.5.1 Pre-Arrival Cruising Permit Required .................................................................................. 20 1.5.2 Immigration .......................................................................................................................... 21 1.5.3 Customs .............................................................................................................................. 21 1.5.4 Health .................................................................................................................................. 22 1.5.5 Stopping at Outer Atolls ...................................................................................................... 22 1.5.6 Pets ..................................................................................................................................... 22 1.5.7 State-to-State Clearances ................................................................................................... 23 1.6 LOCAL INFORMATION AND CUSTOMS............................................................................................... 23 1.7 YACHTSMEN'S SERVICES - OVERVIEW ............................................................................................ 23 1.7.1 Money .................................................................................................................................. 23 1.7.2 Diesel and Gasoline ............................................................................................................ 24 1.7.3 Propane (Cooking Gas) ...................................................................................................... 24 1.7.4 Groceries ............................................................................................................................. 24 1.7.5 Water ................................................................................................................................... 24 1.7.6 Boat Parts & Repairs ........................................................................................................... 24 1.7.7 Medical ................................................................................................................................ 25 1.7.8 Laundry ............................................................................................................................... 25 1.8 EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES ....................................................................................................... 25 1.9 GETTING VISITORS IN AND OUT ...................................................................................................... 25 1.10 COMMUNICATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 26 1.10.1 VHF ..................................................................................................................................... 26 1.10.2 SSB Radio Frequencies and Nets ...................................................................................... 27 1.10.3 Telephones & Cell Phones .................................................................................................. 28 1.10.4 Internet Access .................................................................................................................... 29 1.10.5 Mail ...................................................................................................................................... 29 1.10.6 News ................................................................................................................................... 29 1.11 DIVING .......................................................................................................................................... 30 1.12 HAULOUT, STORAGE, AND REPAIR FACILITIES ................................................................................. 30 1.13 TSUNAMI INFORMATION .................................................................................................................. 30 1.14 CRUISING INFORMATION SOURCES ................................................................................................. 31 1.14.1 Local Websites ................................................................................................................... 31 1.14.2 Cruiser Reports ................................................................................................................... 31 1.14.3 Circumnavigator's Yahoo Group ......................................................................................... 33 1.14.4 Noonsite .............................................................................................................................. 33 1.14.5 Seven Seas Cruising Association ....................................................................................... 33 1.14.6 Ocean Cruising Club ........................................................................................................... 33 1.15 PRINTED SOURCES .......................................................................................................................