Astoria - Hilo: Turn right @ SF in Nov?

[svtatoosh]

General consensus sez turn right at SF for a Pac NW passage to HI. Does this hold true for Nov? Or...with the Pac high moving south...should you go further south before the turn? Maybe San Diego?

Thanks!
Tom

[Stu Jackson]

I think you're "geographically challenged."

Turn right?

Wrong.

[svtatoosh]

Stu...sailing S from OR...turning right or W or SW at SF...rhumb line to Hilo.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by svtatoosh

Stu...sailing S from OR...turning right or W or SW at SF...rhumb line to Hilo.

Aha, little light bulb. My incorrect assumption was that you would tuck INTO SF Bay, and, upon leaving, turn left.

Sorry about that.

FWIW, you can check the routes of all races from here to HI and find that they all turn left first (south, southwest) and follow the weather before they head west.

[svtatoosh]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Aha, little light bulb. My incorrect assumption was that you would tuck INTO SF Bay, and, upon leaving, turn left.

Sorry about that.

FWIW, you can check the routes of all races from here to HI and find that they all turn left first (south, southwest) and follow the weather before they head west.

I ve looked at the race routes but I m talking late fall...not summer. Different locations for the Pacific high vs summer.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by svtatoosh

I ve looked at the race routes but I m talking late fall...not summer. Different locations for the Pacific high vs summer.

Well, that was exactly my point.

For example, last week and all of next week, the Pacific High is coming back up north. We haven't had rain for a year and that's the reason. The PH keeps the lows from sagging down south enough to get us much needed rain.

And, of course, there's always the "every year is different." If you were here now, you'd find summer conditions, but modified depending on what furrycanes are doing off Mexico.

That's why I agree that in general when you come will matter, but more importantly specific weather at the time is the ONLY thing that should determine your routing.

Good luck, safe journey, it ain't the bees-knees to be sailing south this time of year, as you already undoubtedly know.

[svtatoosh]

Thanks Stu.

[JPA Cate]

I'm an old SF sailor. We said, "Sail south till the butter melts, then make your turn." Apologies for being facetious, but Stu's advice to tailor your anticipated track to the location of the Pacific High when you approach is a good idea, and try and get a good look at the long term forecasts. Avoid late season Mexican storms, but keep an eye out for Hawaiian winter storms, as well.

Possibly hire a weather router.....

Ann

Ann

[roverhi]

At SF, set your self steering for a reach that gives good boat speed and hold the relative wind heading till the wind swings east and allows freer running. That could set you up for anything from a Rhumb Line or down below San Diego's latitude before you make the straight line run to the islands. Take what the wind gives you, don't have a fixed route that may be way less than optimal.

Sailing down to SD will add a lot of miles and time to the trip. That's stopping in SD or staying close inshore to SD's latitude before turning west. Something to be said for getting south though would do it with a SW heading as it's a cold trip for about 2/3rds of the way on a rhumbline from SF. Did a Rhumbline from SF in the summer and froze my butt off for 10 days of the 15 day sail. Water temps were in the 50's and didn't see the sun till I was almost to Hilo.

[01kiwijohn]

Just recently did that trip, from Neah Bay to Hilo, thru the islands and back to Nth Vancouver Island, in my old Cascade 36.
Suggest you use the NOAA Ocean Prediction web site, it's as good, or better than the results you'll probably get from some "professional Weather Router"l; believe me. Ocean Prediction Center
I studied that daily, for a month or so, and plotted my course from those observations. Note the barometer readings and frequently compare those with the Mb at the center of the high, that way, you'll have wind.
Stay well off the Mendocino Ridge (about 200 NM off shore).
As it happened, my track was never more than 20 miles off what I'd originally plotted before I left home.
Have fun, it's a great ride.