A Hunter 28 Sailing from Vancouver to Panama?

[eliems]

Is this a journey I should contemplate on my Hunter 28? She is well equipped and in top condition but I am just beginning to build my skills. I would have a second season of sailing before heading south in September 2013.

I was thinking about taking her to the Caribbean via the canal and then using her as a weekender while renting suites here and there.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by eliems

Is this a journey I should contemplate on my Hunter 28? She is well equipped and in top condition but I am just beginning to build my skills. I would have a second season of sailing before heading south in September 2013.

I was thinking about taking her to the Caribbean via the canal and then using her as a weekender while renting suites here and there.

Seems to me this journey could be an endless series of 50-80 mile coastal hops.

Certainly some challenges, I wouldn't want 30 days across an ocean in a Hunter 28, ok I wouldn't even contemplate that but what you propose is doable.

Get lots of sea time in crap weather and crap seas. How you spend your season will determine how much new experience you get. Bad weather forecast for the weekend? Get out there. Thunderstorms? Get out there. Limit yourself to sunny, 10kt day sails and I doubt you will be ready.

Make sure you get some long weekends. Move on the boat Thursday, anchor out, don't get off till Monday. Spend your two or three week vacation the same way. On the boat as if you have no home port to run home to. Anchor out for three weeks. Learn what works and doesn't in terms of provisioning, anchoring gear, boat power (electric capacity), how much water you use, how much propane. If you haven't done a couple weeks at a time on your boat without taking her back to her dock, I don't think you are ready.

[Sailmonkey]

It is doable, just plan for weather, and plan for shorter hops.