info sailing north Mex to cnd. (april)

[barniclebobca]

need info on going north from Mex. to Van. Isl. Cnd. in April or May. If 200 miles off shore can I find different wind paterns? do I need to head to Hawaii then head east? can it be done in less than say 30 days? Bob

[Charlie]

How fast does you boat go? Do you plan on sailing or motoring? Have you looked at the Costal Pilot or pilot charts? Its about 1900 miles from Cabo to Victoria. But it is upwind which will add distance.

[Aussiesuede]

Hawaii would definitely be the natural choice to break up that 45 day voyage, but it'll be a yucky LONG voyage. I personally could not beat my brains out for that long of a consistent duration with no relief, but I suppose I'm just wimpy. I'd push towards the end of May before I'd even consider the possibility as April still provides too much adverse weather opportunity for comfort once you get north of San Francisco. But all things considered, there would have to be one hell of a compelling reason for me to seriously consider that voyage.

Perhaps some of our more seasoned veterans might find at least one redeeming thing about such a trip as a sail, but I certainly can't come up with one. I'd preference sailing down to Esmeraldas Ecuador, gassing up on the cheap <1/10 the diesel cost>. (yeah the law changed this year but it's still easy to get a local to fuel ya) and plan on motoring the entire way up close to the coast. Seems a lot better than attempting that sail imo. Do that, and you can come in under 30 days. But sailing it?