La Paz to Marquesas - too late?

[Oceangybe]

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice from what is clearly an extensive and very knowledgeable network - whatever guidance you can pass on would be greatly appreciated!

Our tradewinds T40 is finally ready to go. The past two months have been a whirlwind of system modifications, replacements, provisioning, testing, retesting, re-retesting and finally our three man crew is confident that we are ready to do the puddle jump to the Marqueasas, planning to raise new Zealand by November...

Our current departure date is 30June2007, roughly three weeks from now. We are fully aware that this is rather late in the season to go, but situations have been that we could not leave any earlier. My questions is: What is the safest way to get into the southern hemi trades from La Paz at this time of year? I am tempted to go due south and get across the storm belt, but a part of me is telling me to head due west for 1000 miles or so, and head south across the doldrums at that point.

Is there anyone out there that has been in this situation before and/or has any advice to give?

Thanks in advance,
Ryan, Brys and Hugh