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Old 07-09-2010, 15:31   #1
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Phuket to Hong Kong

Hi everyone. I am still on schedule to get to Honkers sometime in January. My better half is leaving this week. My boat search by web has raised some interesting boats available in Phucket. My question is as follows. What type of weather could I expect to encounter returning to H.K. late January? Would I be beating my brains in to windward at the wrong time of the year? I'm just wondering out loud with the next four months getting excited about my quest. I suppose I could dig out my "Ocean Passages for the World" but that's too much work and I'd rather listen to some experienced viewpoints. Thanks
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Old 07-09-2010, 21:58   #2
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Never done it but yes I guess you will be beating to windward against the northeast monsoon from Singapore to HK.

However Phuket Singapore should be a blast.

I'd wait till April or buy a good kidney belt.
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Old 07-09-2010, 22:10   #3
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I wouldn't if I was you.

Watch this:



Leave it a month or two and then go via KK, Palawan, Luzon
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Old 07-09-2010, 22:24   #4
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January can be quite rough on the South China Sea. We have friends who crossed from the Philippines to HK last January and had a lively passage. Their friends who crossed a week later got really beat up - losing the anchor, damaging the hard bimini and fracturing a hatch. This was on a very well built 65 footer! Conventional wisdom (for what its worth) says the best passagemaking is either autumn or spring when the monsoons are favourable.

We crossed last April for the China Sea Race. We're planning to do HK-Philippines again this autumn. It's a 4 day passage at 6 knots. Many think the change will be late this year as it was a cold spring followed by a really hot summer. So, a good window could be anytime between mid-October and Christmas.
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Old 07-09-2010, 23:04   #5
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OK, now that we've scared you....

It can be done..... but not quickly or directly. Basically the NE Monsoon will be at it's peak in January, so a direct Singapore to HK run isn't advisable. I could even stretch that to it's bloody stupid.

But the Monsoon comes in surges - So one way is to break down the journey into small bits and pick your weather windows as they come and maybe push on if they let you. Perhaps go along the lines of Singapore, KK, Palawan, Busuanga, Mindoro, Luzon (all the way to Bolinao), Hong Kong. keep them all to starboard.

I've done this trip twice at that time of the year (well feb/mar) and once it was fine and once it was hell.

Personally, I'd be in no rush to do the Luzon to HK bit before March.
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Old 07-09-2010, 23:32   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bewitched View Post

I've done this trip twice at that time of the year (well feb/mar) and once it was fine and once it was hell.
I thought you were a glutton for punishment?
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Old 07-09-2010, 23:33   #7
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The routing suggested by bewtiched is the routing I have heard most often.

The southwest can sit in any time after April. But really can be back and forth, and sometime becalming anytime from March to May. May to November is pretty reliable around here.

I don't know what you time window is like but I would not let the need to rush outweigh prudence and a temptation to make a straight shot - Singapore /HKG. Especially in a new to you boat.

You can delay the purchase, purchase and move to Singapore or Malaysia and have the boat holed up till March/April. Sebana cove is a good place to leave a boat for a while.
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Old 08-09-2010, 02:16   #8
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I thought you were a glutton for punishment?
I was younger then!!!
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Old 08-09-2010, 03:20   #9
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Thanks all. I had my suspicions about posing such a question. I admit that purchasing a boat in Phuket only to sail back to Hong Kong in a newly purchased used boat in a rushed (illprepared) fashion might be a bit... ( many words come to mind). I think I will stick to my plan and spend the months of Jan./Feb. poking around H.K. looking for the right prospects. The only reason I was deviating from my original plan was the chance of buying a Cal 39 (that would be an interesting trip) or a Cape North 43.
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