From Noumea to Vanuatu by catamaran: clearance and preparation

In 2026 myCloud sailed from Noumea to Santo and back twice. The crossing is not what takes the most time; it is everything around it: the weather, the boat and the paperwork, at both ends.

A word of caution first: rules change, and what follows reflects what we learned and checked at the time of writing. Before every departure, check the current rules with the official services in New Caledonia and in Vanuatu.

Choosing your window

Vanuatu lies north-east of Noumea. With the south-east trades well established, the outbound leg is usually a reach or downwind, and the return needs more care: a fresh trade wind forward of the beam soon becomes uncomfortable on a loaded catamaran. So we look at the window for the way home as closely as the one for the way out.

The cyclone season, from November to April, shapes the whole decision. Many insurance policies set specific conditions for that period and for the cruising area, so reread yours before you go. We follow the forecasts from Météo-France New Caledonia and from the Vanuatu meteorological service, and we never leave on a forecast more than a few days out without a margin.

Then comes the timing. We want to go through the lagoon pass in daylight with good visibility, and to arrive in Vanuatu in daylight too, ideally on a weekday so the offices are open. That often sets the departure time from Noumea more than the weather itself does. A night at sea is almost always part of the plan, so the watch system is sorted out before casting off, not when tiredness sets in.

Preparing the boat

An offshore passage is a different thing from a day in the lagoon. Each time we go through our full safety checklist, and add a few points specific to this trip, ticking them off over the week before departure rather than on the last morning.

• Check the rig and chainplates, and look at the mast bulkhead through the hatch at the foot of the compression post.
• Fuel, water and spares for both Yanmars and the generator: not everything is available everywhere once there.
• Boat papers, insurance certificate covering the area, passports for the whole crew, crew list.
• Yellow Q flag and a Vanuatu courtesy flag.
• Provisioning planned around biosecurity: little fresh produce on arrival, more tins and dry goods.

The boat must also be properly equipped for the kind of sailing you intend. If you have any doubt about safety gear or registration, the New Caledonia Maritime Affairs department is the right place to ask, well before departure day.

Clearing out of New Caledonia

You can only leave New Caledonia by sea from Noumea. Clearing out is arranged through the Port Moselle or Port du Sud marina office and involves customs and the border police. Offices keep mainly morning hours, so ask the day before to avoid losing a day.

Once you have cleared, you are expected to leave. Ask at the time how long you have, and do not plan any stop in New Caledonian waters after clearing out.

Arriving in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has four official ports of entry for yachts: Port Vila on Efate, Luganville on Santo, Lenakel on Tanna and Sola on Vanua Lava in the Banks Islands. You may not go ashore anywhere before clearing in at one of them. Stopping first at another anchorage, such as Port Resolution on Tanna, needs prior written permission from customs.

• Customs requires an advance notice of arrival by email at least 24 hours ahead, with the boat’s name, recent ports, expected date and time, the skipper and the crew.
• Immigration requires a pre-arrival form before you reach the port of entry.
• The Q flag goes up as soon as you enter Vanuatu’s exclusive economic zone.
• Offices work weekdays; arriving at a weekend or on a public holiday means overtime fees.

To cruise between the islands you can apply for an inter-island cruising permit. When leaving, you clear out at the last port of entry used, and must then leave the country promptly without further stops unless authorised.

Biosecurity and pets

Vanuatu guards its agriculture carefully. Fruit, vegetables and ship’s food may not be landed without approval, meat and eggs stay aboard, and any rubbish taken ashore must be in sealed bags. An animal on board stays on board: you need an import permit, must notify biosecurity several working days before arrival and need a complete veterinary file. A yacht carrying a pet must not tie up alongside the wharf either. If you sail with a dog or a cat, start the process months ahead.

Coming home to Noumea

On the way back you must clear in at Noumea, with no prior stop in New Caledonian waters. Call the marina on VHF as you approach, fly the Q flag, and the whole crew stays aboard until formalities are complete. New Caledonian biosecurity is strict and fresh produce is usually confiscated, so we finish ours at sea. With a pet aboard, expect advance notice and quarantine fees.