West Coast - Victoria to Ensenada via International Waters

[catman]

Is there an optimum time of the year to sail offshore heading south form the West coast of Canada to to Ensenada Mexico?
With no stops in the USA.
It looks like possibly October will be the month of opportunity for us.
Thanks

[Calypso43]

catman,

In general I do not recommend leaving the PNW later than mid September for a delivery south. The last time I sailed from Seattle to San Diego in mid October the first 500 miles were miserable (25+ from the South, SE, SW).

A key condsideration is how experienced you and your crew are and how well your boat is set up (and tested) for offshore passages. I always plan for having 12 to 24 hours of 30 to 40 TWS somewhere between the PNW and Point Conception. (Once out of 8 trips I have motored from Cape Flattery and Cresent City.)

If you asked enough people who have sailed the length of the US West Coast you may find a 50/50 split between those that prefer to go 40+ miles offshore and those that travel "one foot on the beach". I am with the group that prefers to go offshore for the searoom, deeper water, and more organized wave trains.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions.

[catman]

Thanks Calypso43,
I am actually inquiring for a friend of mine who wishes to head to Panama this fall on a 46' sail catamaran. I may be part of the crew.
The skipper has crossed the Atlantic many times but not so much on the west coast, had the boat freighted up to here from Caribbean.
If it is okay I may get back to you fro more Q's and A's.
Catman

[zeehag]

sail from canada in august or july and sail ensenada south in late october as i was advised when i went off season....hurrycames do not like cold water. pacific is cold to turtle bay/mag bay. you should only get seas and winds until then.
make sure there are places into which to duck if you dont like the climate and go again when the window allows....
my uninterrupted trip from san diego to mazatlan had 3 stops. ensenada, cedros, cabo san lucas. cabo was merely a fuel stop. we were hit by 60 kt winds north of cabo.
we were nearly hit by a storm north of ensenada....ducked into ensenada.
watch your weather closely. remember some of the weather off mexico does not show on radar. example--chubascos. if it gets COLD then hide. BIIG winds will come.

[Calypso43]

Catman,

Check out the recent www threesheetsnw . com articles regarding sailing down the west coast. Both mention the winds and seas off North California and the advisability of boat preparation and having enough experienced drivers.