Underway - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 109

general strategies and weather forecast sources for sailing from the tropics to New Zeal-
and with the approach of the cyclone season (see also Picking a Weather Window for a
Tonga-to-New Zealand Passage in this topic).
Getting ready for foul weather between New Zealand and Fiji
Moving back into the tropics during the southern hemisphere fall, you will again be look-
ing for a suitable weather window. We noticed that seasoned cruisers who have been
“commuting” between New Zealand and the tropics for many years were invariably at the
back of the pack, waiting patiently for their chance to avoid late season tropical depres-
sions along the route (see also New Zealand to Fiji: the Long Way Around in this topic).
Along the southwestern rim of the Pacific (Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia), the antics
of the SPCZ may cause squally conditions. In addition, systems moving eastwards to the
south will periodically disturb the trades in the by-now-familiar pattern. This is not neces-
sarily a bad thing, though. Some popular passages in this stretch of ocean can be challen-
ging in strong southeasterly trade winds (for example, sailing to the southern end of Fiji's
Lau Group from the bigger islands in the north) and a passing trough over New Zealand
may just give you that favorable wind shift.
As you sail towards Australia, you will be on the lookout for lows that stall and deepen in
the Tasman Sea. Even if their strong winds don't reach you farther north, they can cause
ugly seas. You also want to watch for lows that come off the coast of New South Wales.
These typically form out of troughs farther inland and can be quite ferocious. These lows
are typically smaller in scale and fast-moving.