Pacific Puddle Jump Signups Begin

Practically every day now we get emails from would-be South Pacific cruisers wondering when we’re going to begin taking signups for the 2017 Pacific Puddle Jump. The answer is: today.

Although dates have not yet been set for our annual PPJ Sendoff Parties in Mexico and Panama, they will be announced soon. Meanwhile, preparations for the Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendez-vous — an annual, three-day arrival celebration — have already begun. Dates are: June 23-25, 2017, beginning on the Papeete, Tahiti, waterfront. Also, if you plan to attend the Seattle Boat Show this winter, we’ll be hosting two seminars on Sailing Tahiti and the Pacific Puddle Jump: 3 p.m. on both January 28 and 29.

Unlike the Baja Ha-Ha and other offshore cruising rallies, there’s no charge to register with the PPJ, largely because it is a rally in only the loosest terms: There’s no committee boat, no mandatory roll calls, and boats depart from a variety of West Coast ports anytime between early March and late May — with the two most popular jumping-off points being Banderas Bay, Mexico, and Balboa, Panama. 

Since coining the phrase ‘Pacific Puddle Jump’ more than 20 years ago, Latitude 38 has put a tremendous amount of effort into promoting this ‘bucket-list crossing’ to sailors, while subtly lobbying the French Polynesian government to view cruising sailors as an important element of its tourism economy. We like to think those efforts helped to loosen several key regulations in recent years, and inspire new yachting infrastructure: 

• With no pre-arrival arrangements, North American sailors can stay in the islands for 90 days within a six-month period (formerly within a 12-month period).

• Following our advice, more and more sailors are applying for and receiving ‘long stay visas’ for six to 12 months.

• Foreign-flag vessels may now stay in FP for three years (although visas are handled separately).

• A splendid new marina was built last year in downtown Papeete, which gives cruisers easy access to shops, restaurants and a wide variety of nautical services.

• A new haulout and storage facility has been developed in the Tuamotus at Apataki Atoll.

• Puddle Jump cruisers are eligible for a special package of services offered by yacht agents at Tahiti Crew that includes clearance, repatriation-bond exemptions, and duty-free fuel certificates.

Click here to sign up for this year’s Puddle Jump, or learn more about it. And stay tuned for event updates soon.