Determining the best departure times for your route planning, the following links will provide weather conditions and forecasts in this area:
Philippines
Japan to Philippines, Pacific Northwest
- http://www.oceanweather.com/data/
Singapore, Indonesia, Malacca Strait, Philippines
Asia
World wide
Underway, the following are voice frequencies and schedules.
The Mobile Maritime Net of Southeast Asia is hosted by Richard Donaldson-Alves. The Net is operating on 14,323 MHz on the 20 meter band at 0025 GMT. At 0055, Wx forecasts are relayed. It covers Japan to Seychelles - Hong Kong to Northern & Western Australia. (Specifically: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Northern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The Andamans & Nicobars, Chagos). Note: Richard has indicated that there is almost no propagation with the Philippines, but far off stations are okay.
Richard reports on severe storms regularly here.
Allan Riches has spent years promoting the southern South China Sea/Sulu area for tourism and alternative cruising area other than the usual route from Darwin to Bali to Singapore to Phuket. Brunei Bay Radio is the regional gateway for the Sailmail network.
It provides the following services:
- Low cost HF SSB radio e-mail service for recreational vessels - This service is suited to cruisers who need more daily connection time than a standard SailMail subscription, i.e. children's long distance education or running a business while cruising. It is also for commercial vessels and for remote land sites. For more information, check here.
- Voice services - For schedules and frequency of voice services, visit here.
- Cruising notes - If you want to send or receive cruising notes on west Borneo, southern Philippines and a route from here to Makassar, email Allan directly at radio@bruneibay.net.
I encourage readers who may have more information on “nets” and communication in this area to share by leaving your information in the “comments” section or by emailing me.