Fiji -Panama

[S/V Antares]

Thinking of taking a crew position from Fiji to Panama starting in Mid October... any coments? Concerns? Weather you have seen? btw.. 90ft well found "explorer"... steel. Not worried about the boat... only the weather in that zone and in that time. What do you think?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Thinking of taking a crew position from Fiji to Panama starting in Mid October... any coments? Concerns? Weather you have seen? btw.. 90ft well found "explorer"... steel. Not worried about the boat... only the weather in that zone and in that time. What do you think?

Is this 90' well found explorer a power or sail boat?

I assume you know that you will be going dead against wind and currents on the direct course to Panama? Hope the boat has a really good motoring range.

[Roy M]

What about the counter current (ITCC)? I have had friends use it to great advantage.

[MarkJ]

I would go the other way... via darwin, South Africa.

Mark

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Roy M

What about the counter current (ITCC)? I have had friends use it to great advantage.

Well I cannot say from personal experience since I've never sailed the area, but from what I've read from those who have and looking at the pilot charts for the area you might get 0.5-0.7 kts in the counter current but you will also be in the ITCC with lots of calms, light winds and what winds you see will still be predominantly from the east.

And you have about 7000 miles to cover. Even a 1 kt counter current if you don't have winds to sail or range to power won't help much.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I would go the other way... via darwin, South Africa.

Mark

That was my thought. Many more miles to go but at least you would be going with the winds.

[S/V Antares]

Sorry, should have mentioned it is a long range "Expedition" style yacht. No pesky sails. It is the weather patterns that I am interested in. Thanks!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Sorry, should have mentioned it is a long range "Expedition" style yacht. No pesky sails. It is the weather patterns that I am interested in. Thanks!

if you stay near the equator to 10N it will be HOT!,humid,rainy,but with very little wind against you till nr galapagos then wsw wind with you,currents 0.5-1 against,should be an easy trip on a motor yacht

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Sorry, should have mentioned it is a long range "Expedition" style yacht. No pesky sails. It is the weather patterns that I am interested in. Thanks!

Sorry, didn't recognize explorer or expedition as a designation for power only vessels.

On a power boat you'll be fine. Like atoll said, expect hot, humid weather with little wind. You will see thunderstorms but not generally serious or life threatening. Otherwise, no worries.

[S/V Antares]

Thanks! Hotter than the gates of H...... here in Maryland and beyond humid.... I have been fishing in Panama 7 deg N and remember the water at least being reasonably cool.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Thanks! Hotter than the gates of H...... here in Maryland and beyond humid.... I have been fishing in Panama 7 deg N and remember the water at least being reasonably cool.

My mama, who is a very polite person, always said "hotter than the hinges of hades". Either way it gets the point across. Been that way in FL the last few weeks as well. Plus 99.99% humidity to make it even more fun.

[MarkJ]

A motor boat???????????????????????????????????????

Like that wasnt relevant information!!
Go along the ITCZ, switch on the airconditioning, turn on the TV and stick in a dirty video.


mark

[ab1974]

Out of interest what is the name of the boat. Guys in the next slip to us in Auckland headed off to the islands a few months ago to then head to Panama on their 90ft steel explorer. The name of their boat was something like Contina

[S/V Antares]

ab1774... Yes, How did she look?

[ab1974]

Boat looks very solid. Would be the sort of motor launch I would want to do long distance cruising in. More of a Toyota Landcruiser than a Ferrari. Whip and his wife seem really nice. Say hi from us (Andrew from Fruition - cat next to them at Bayswater) if you do the trip.