Just a tip . . . Get a copy of jimmy Cornell's world cruising routes. It will give you very concise details on all the possible alternative routes and timing.
As to the trip from s
cal to
chile. You have two options: (1) Down the coast inside the high pressure system. Against the
wind for much of the sail S of the equator. Administratively difficult in a couple of the countries (ecuador and
Peru ) . (2) outside the high pressure, well
offshore. Great sailing but long trip, can stop at a couple attractive islands - this was our choice for one trip to chile.
Timing . . . Be well north or south of
Mexico For
hurricane season, and don't arrive in chile in the
winter. That can be further fine tuned a bit for most favorable winds. But that's the "safety" aspect of the timing.
You could also go thru the
canal and down the
east coast but that is against the wing and
current until you got past the bulge of
Brazil. We went Down the
east coast for our first trip to chile. It is nice cruising ground - much better than the
west coast (until you get to Patagonia, which is the best in the world).