Visit our Popular Forums

proverb · 24-05-2012, 07:27

Hello,

I am new to forum and new to yachting. That being said, I am purchasing a 46' Taiwan built Bestway sundeck MY in San Francisco. I live in Juneau Alaska.
I need info on what to expect on the open water from San Fran to Seattle.
Open to any and all wisdom that your experience may impart.

My intent is to bring the vessel home myself in at least three legs.
SF to Washington, Seattle, Anacortes or Bellingham. Washington to maybe Petersburg then on to Juneau.

How hard will the Pacific open water be on the boat?

**David M** · 24-05-2012, 07:58

It can be very rough at all times of the year. You can be pretty assured that it will be a very rough slog at times northwards from San Francisco. Be prepared for the worse and hope for the best. There are also not a whole lot of safe harbors between SF and Seattle. It's almost all a rocky lee shore with a prevailing north-westerly.

You may want to do a few shakedown cruises outside the Golden Gate before attempting this. Stay in the channel when crossing the bar and monitor Vessel Traffic Ch 14.

**Cheechako** · 24-05-2012, 08:42

The key will be becoming a weather expert! You dont have much time though, you'll be taxed by CA if you dont get it out of there! Not a coast that someone still low on the learning curve should attempt without help. Have you considered hiring a pro to deliver it and you could go along...? Timed right, you could get some summer calm weather. Do you have a way to monitor the weather?

proverb · 24-05-2012, 20:13

Thanks for the reply. The boat is loaded with electronics and a vhf weather station. Raymarine "E" series. At this point I am planning on a course about 80-100 miles out.

captainKJ · 25-05-2012, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by proverb

Thanks for the reply. The boat is loaded with electronics and a vhf weather station. Raymarine "E" series. At this point I am planning on a course about 80-100 miles out.

Glad you have electronics ,,,,,do you know how to use them????

new to yachting and you want to try this without any help???

hire someone to go with you,,,a pro captain, he will teach you along the way. Too many things to go wrong as you have already stated you have very little experience

proverb · 25-05-2012, 16:09

I am in the process of information gathering. I do know how to use the plotter and read the charts and tide tables and depth finder. I am familiar with how and when to run with or against prevailing current and swells. Also, my wife is an expert in computers and programming. She can easily figure out how to navigate the instruments themselves.
I will continue to look for a captain or someone that has experience that needs time on the water for their license.

captainKJ · 25-05-2012, 16:15

you might want to call you local sea school. Might find a new captain who just got his license. dont forget you need over 360 at sea to get the license so he might have just got it but needed the sea time to get it

**David M** · 25-05-2012, 18:35

I'm glad to hear you are taking along someone with experience who has done this before. Knowledge is important but having someone onboard with experience for a coastline that is this rough is a really good idea.

**hummingway** · 25-05-2012, 18:50

Why not head farther offshore? I take it you're planning on going the inside route after Washington?

proverb · 25-05-2012, 21:10

Actually I am planning on getting off the shelf about 100 kn miles northwesterly staying off the shelf until about 200 miles from the mouth of DeFuca inlet and point northeast to the mouth to the approach. If I get 100 miles out I can plot a course that is slightly northeast to go with the predomitant swells and winds from NW. I think that course will be easier on the boat too.
i have just gotten in touch with the USCG auxillary in Juneau and they are going to send out some emails. They said they know some people that have experience with that run.

**hummingway** · 25-05-2012, 22:02

I've heard it's a much easier run about 300 nm out.

proverb · 25-05-2012, 23:42

Thanks Hummingway. The shelf falls off about 50 miles out. The shelf's longest point point is about 300 miles northwest of San Francisco straight out from Christmas rock which is about 120 miles south of the Oregon border. I just got off phone with a person from the USCG auxillary that worked on boats making the run about 60-80 miles out and said it was fine. She also has friends that do it in recreational vessels. I chose the 100 mi mark to allow me a single change in direction and head on a north northeasterly route going with swells and wind from nw. Of course, going further out would give me a better angle wouldn't it? The difference is about 200 mi. more.

proverb · 25-05-2012, 23:50

Thanks for your suggestion CaptainKJ. I looked up seamanship classes in Juneau and got in touch with the USCG Auxillary. Talked to two different people and both very willing to help. We will be meeting on Tuesday when I get back to Juneau.

**hummingway** · 26-05-2012, 08:02

I think it's less of a head long bash if you go farther out and you won't be working against the current. The California Current is a slow moving current so maybe it's not that big of a deal but I have heard that people often do this trip by sailing straight out about 300 miles and then heading north. The current runs in a southerly direction following the coast of Oregon and California.

proverb · 26-05-2012, 11:43

Thanks Hummingway, I did assume current direction, so that is extremely valuable info.
I suppose I could enter a couple of alternative courses into the plotter.