Best Month to Transit from Panama Canal to Marquesas

[Indigo1]

We looking for a heads up on the best weather window to transit the above. The time spent on the Caribbean side vs Pacific is less important than the transit weather itself. I have studied the Pilot Charts and it seems Jan to May is okay, but I am not seeing any obvious better period with in the above months. If anybody had a good or bad sail it would be great to know.
Thank you kindly.

[Dave852]

So January you arrive a bit early for the South Pacific cyclone season though rare to find a storm that far east. May is a bit late as the south west winds will be starting around Panama/Galapagos area. I like March/April but if you dare to go even earlier it gives you more time to cruise before November when you need to put the boat out of harms way.


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[robert sailor]

We have always left in March

[chouliha]

We just spent a year in the Marquesas and saw boats coming from Panama all year round! That surprised us but people were sure doing it.

I think the trade off is how much you want to motor. Waiting to long to depart Panama you will lose the nice push you may get with the Strong trades pushing across from the Caribe. In early May it switches in Panama- Galapagos to be more southerly. Jan Feb and March seemed to be the most popular months. It appears during the past 3-4 years we have been tracking it that the boats leaving closer May from Galapagos had better wind reaching further north. We departed Galapagos in mid May and had wind right out of the box. Boats leaving from there in June had similar winds.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Chuck
Jacaranda
Apataki, Tuamotus





www.jacarandajourney.com

[Indigo1]

Thanks so much for the heads up. We will look at doing the crossing in the first weather window late March/early April them.
Thanks for the info.

[barnakiel]

Better sooner than later, for two reasons:

- you get more time in the Marquesas/Tuamotu/Societies,
- you avoid heavy rains/thunder in Panama (late April/May).

b.

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Better sooner than later, for two reasons:

- you get more time in the Marquesas/Tuamotu/Societies,
- you avoid heavy rains/thunder in Panama (late April/May).

b.

Yep, and the rains flush all the debris down the rivers and out to sea. Full on 100' trees floating in your path.


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[Izenears]

We went through in early April. The trip to Oz was totally uneventfull weather wise.