Pacific Destination sailing from Port Ludlow WA?

[Tupaia]

If you haven't bought the boat yet, what about sourcing further south. Spending the time to get to know it in better conditions before setting off big time.


Alternatively, if you are convinced you have found the right boat then what about road transport or even ship transport further south.


Just saying.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

If you haven't bought the boat yet, what about sourcing further south. Spending the time to get to know it in better conditions before setting off big time.


Alternatively, if you are convinced you have found the right boat then what about road transport or even ship transport further south.


Just saying.

Not a bad idea even if you just trucked it down to SF bay or started shopping from there south.

[Adelie]

PNW & SF are good places to learn to sail and learn your boat. Further south not so much. But and use the boat in one of those two for a while then thing about getting south.

[Shoalbay]

Originally Posted by MJH

You should spend some time reading World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell and plan your voyage thoroughly. Route PN17 says May, June, and October are the best times for NW to Hawaii. In 2016 we left Neah Bay on May 25 for a nonstop to Hilo. Also, check with your insurance company because some restrictions may applied if you leave later and because you plan to do it solo.

That said you should spend some time to get to know your new-to-you boat before departing. Port Ludlow is a nice upscale place but little to do outside of the harbor. I would recommend Port Townsend, only a few miles north, to get whatever you need done or to haul out. Next stop would be Port Angeles before getting to Neah Bay, your last stop, to refuel and fill up with water then watch for a good weather window for departure. Prevailing NW winds are the norm. Research your choices and make a decision on what you are going to use for enroute weather/communications.

Lastly, the northwest coast is known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, so best be totally prepared before you depart. There are only so many recommended harbors to get into (Charlie's Charts of the U.S. Pacific Coast) and bars rule them. I purposely avoided them all.

Good Luck.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

To feel ready enough, in terms of boat preparedness and knowledge acquisition for the contemplated journey it took me three years starting at 66. But Japan was a blast and crossing the Bering Sea on the way to Alaska made the time invested beforehand well worth it. My two cents. Best of luck.