| The Palmyra Gazette |
| Welcome to: PalmyraGazette.org Created by: Michael E. Murray January 2008 Enjoy your visit! |
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The pass into the lagoon is located on the island's southwest side and
should be approached only during the day and with extreme caution, as
it is narrow and unmarked by lights, there are at least two blue barrel
buoys to mark the South side of the channel on the way in. In these
days of satellite navigation, the simplest way to begin an approach into
the lagoon is to enter the following coordinates into your GPS:
5 degrees 51'54" N, 162 degrees 07'19" W. This position is located in
about 50 feet of water, about a quarter of a mile off the entrance to the
pass. It is a safe location from which to take visual bearings that will
help you stay in the center of the pass, and also a good location to
return to should you lose your bearings and need to line up again.
A high percentage (95% +/-) of the boats visiting the atoll scrape, bump,
or find themselves hard on the reef when entering. The vast majority
gets off without major incident, but some have needed extensive repairs
before proceeding. The mistakes committed by the crews are common:
they failed to line up perfectly on the channel's center line, and they
approached when the lighting was poor, which made it difficult to discern
the color gradations distinguishing deep water from the reef flat on
either side of the channel. (Darker water to a light green reflecting the
white sandy bottom) (see NOAA chart # 83157)
From this "safe" position, steering a course of 43 degrees magnetic
will lead you directly into the pass, but it is important to have visual
bearings as well. (A ship mate at watch) To assist in lining up an
approach, A cut in the vegetation on Strawn Island was created. Using
binoculars, it is possible to see a white marker located in the water just
south of Strawn, and beyond that, a brown pole located in the center of
the V or opening. When the white marker lines up with the center of the
V (and thus with the brown pole), you are perfectly aligned with the
center of the channel. Careful use of this range marker, combined with a
sharp lookout for changes in water color, should get you through the
pass with no trouble. If poor visibility or other problems arise, it may be
possible to request assistance on VHF Channel 16 from the Station
Manager on duty or other cruisers (if any) anchored in the lagoon. Steer
left slightly along the islands on the left, pointing at the large building
and dock area. (Shop Building) Once on site, steer right and aim for the
mooring anchor just to the left of the opening of the airstrip.
As you navigate the pass, be careful not to mistake the prominent wreck
of a Korean long liner for the wreck shown on the chart. The latter is a
small dredging barge aground on the reef flat on the north side of the
pass named “Noah’s Ark” covered in plant vegetation, bow points away
from the channel.. The long liner lies one-half mile farther out (on it’s
side), also on the north side of the pass, but in 10 to 20 feet of water.
Once through the pass, follow the recommended course shown on the
NOAA chart (Number 83157) to the anchorage located left of the
airstrip on Cooper Island. (Stay out of line of the runway for incoming
flights to the atoll) The holding is good with a muddy/sandy bottom, but
the lagoon is quite deep in places. Take careful note of the depths in the
area where you anchor and, if possible, consult the Station Manager or
other cruisers (if any) before dropping your anchor. The Nature
Conservancy has a set protocol for incoming cruisers that you will need
to follow. Remember that your visit “now” requires a permit which
information can be found at: palmyra_admin@tnc.org (808) 587-6213
(Phone) (808) 545-2019 (Fax) You are allowed a one week visit. There
are certain times of the day that you can come to shore on Cooper Island
and the TNC Cooper Camp for a visit. You may, or may not be invited for
a meal or two while visiting. There will likely be no fuel or food available.
Upon request, you may be able to collect water off the roofs of the
buildings or if you ask, you might be able to take some from the
emergency system I built in 2008. The water “is not” filtered, so please
keep this in mind! Tell them… Michael Murray sent you and the best of
luck in your travels! Write me and let me know how your trip went, what
you experienced and send along some photos that can be included in the
gazette ~ if you wish.
should be approached only during the day and with extreme caution, as
it is narrow and unmarked by lights, there are at least two blue barrel
buoys to mark the South side of the channel on the way in. In these
days of satellite navigation, the simplest way to begin an approach into
the lagoon is to enter the following coordinates into your GPS:
5 degrees 51'54" N, 162 degrees 07'19" W. This position is located in
about 50 feet of water, about a quarter of a mile off the entrance to the
pass. It is a safe location from which to take visual bearings that will
help you stay in the center of the pass, and also a good location to
return to should you lose your bearings and need to line up again.
A high percentage (95% +/-) of the boats visiting the atoll scrape, bump,
or find themselves hard on the reef when entering. The vast majority
gets off without major incident, but some have needed extensive repairs
before proceeding. The mistakes committed by the crews are common:
they failed to line up perfectly on the channel's center line, and they
approached when the lighting was poor, which made it difficult to discern
the color gradations distinguishing deep water from the reef flat on
either side of the channel. (Darker water to a light green reflecting the
white sandy bottom) (see NOAA chart # 83157)
From this "safe" position, steering a course of 43 degrees magnetic
will lead you directly into the pass, but it is important to have visual
bearings as well. (A ship mate at watch) To assist in lining up an
approach, A cut in the vegetation on Strawn Island was created. Using
binoculars, it is possible to see a white marker located in the water just
south of Strawn, and beyond that, a brown pole located in the center of
the V or opening. When the white marker lines up with the center of the
V (and thus with the brown pole), you are perfectly aligned with the
center of the channel. Careful use of this range marker, combined with a
sharp lookout for changes in water color, should get you through the
pass with no trouble. If poor visibility or other problems arise, it may be
possible to request assistance on VHF Channel 16 from the Station
Manager on duty or other cruisers (if any) anchored in the lagoon. Steer
left slightly along the islands on the left, pointing at the large building
and dock area. (Shop Building) Once on site, steer right and aim for the
mooring anchor just to the left of the opening of the airstrip.
As you navigate the pass, be careful not to mistake the prominent wreck
of a Korean long liner for the wreck shown on the chart. The latter is a
small dredging barge aground on the reef flat on the north side of the
pass named “Noah’s Ark” covered in plant vegetation, bow points away
from the channel.. The long liner lies one-half mile farther out (on it’s
side), also on the north side of the pass, but in 10 to 20 feet of water.
Once through the pass, follow the recommended course shown on the
NOAA chart (Number 83157) to the anchorage located left of the
airstrip on Cooper Island. (Stay out of line of the runway for incoming
flights to the atoll) The holding is good with a muddy/sandy bottom, but
the lagoon is quite deep in places. Take careful note of the depths in the
area where you anchor and, if possible, consult the Station Manager or
other cruisers (if any) before dropping your anchor. The Nature
Conservancy has a set protocol for incoming cruisers that you will need
to follow. Remember that your visit “now” requires a permit which
information can be found at: palmyra_admin@tnc.org (808) 587-6213
(Phone) (808) 545-2019 (Fax) You are allowed a one week visit. There
are certain times of the day that you can come to shore on Cooper Island
and the TNC Cooper Camp for a visit. You may, or may not be invited for
a meal or two while visiting. There will likely be no fuel or food available.
Upon request, you may be able to collect water off the roofs of the
buildings or if you ask, you might be able to take some from the
emergency system I built in 2008. The water “is not” filtered, so please
keep this in mind! Tell them… Michael Murray sent you and the best of
luck in your travels! Write me and let me know how your trip went, what
you experienced and send along some photos that can be included in the
gazette ~ if you wish.
| Navigating Palmyra's Channel |
| Wall Paper. Click for larger image, right click to save to your control panel and to your monitor controls. |
| Sunset looking out the channel. (to left) |
| Palmyra Yacht Club |
| To get NOAA chart #83157 click on picture. |
Home Island, adjacent to Sand (on the right
coming in) is still privately owned but It's hard to
get to due to the sand bar. There are two points
of deep water to anchor near. An other area is
beams. Permission and bumpers required.
coming in) is still privately owned but It's hard to
get to due to the sand bar. There are two points
of deep water to anchor near. An other area is
beams. Permission and bumpers required.
Information: By Mark Smaalders, 35-foot sloop, Nomad
<<<< Wall Paper Here!