Pacific NW to Marquesas

[jeff47912]

We are considering a route direct from the Pacific NW (Victoria) to the Marquesas Islands (Nuku Hiva). I'd like to connect with anybody who has done this route - have lots of questions about weather, timing, etc. Reply here or email me directly at jjmckay@comaxis.com. Thanks.

[Tulavak]

I am interested in any further feedback on this route as well. Jimmy Cornell speaks of this direct route favorably ("most logical and convenient") in World Cruising Routes, 4th Ed. (route PT17), although I have not been able to find any first-hand accounts. Most cruising boats heading to the S. Pacific from the Pacific Northwest seem to most typically head south to California or Mexico (or Central America) prior to departure for the Marquesas. Perhaps a reason is that the direct route is only marginally shorter overall, yet includes a significantly longer passage (3600 nm from Cape Flattery to Marquesas vs. 2800 nm from San Diego to Marquesas). Is this the primary consideration/difference?

However, for those boats wanting to maximize their time in the S. Pacific before tropical storm season there (without wintering over in, say, Mexico awaiting a departure for the Marquesas the following March for an earlier start to the season), and those boats okay with the longer passage, the direct route would seem slightly preferred. What am I missing?

Tristan

[Paul Elliott]

I think the reason so many hug the coast until Cabo or Panama is because they want to visit those areas and perhaps the Galapagos before reaching the Marquesas. One issue is the seasonal weather along the WA / OR / NorCal coast, which can be pretty brutal. You need to time that with the northeast Pacific hurricane season, and then the south Pacific hurricane season. Breaking the journey into two or three legs gives you more flexibility with the weather.
But if your goal is to get to the Marqueses and then continue west through French Polynesia, etc, then there's no reason not to head out from Cape Flattery with a favorable WX window. A friend of mine left San Francisco in May and sailed directly to Hiva-Oa, then continued on to Fiji. Departing from Cape Flattery adds less than 900 miles to the trip. Leaving in May worked will with the hurricane seasons.

Here's his blog for the trip: Bon Voyage! « Intention

And a nice shot of his Crealock 37, taken from my boat as we escorted him out the Golden Gate:

[David Hughes]

I thought boats moved South to get into the trade winds before turning west. Leaving southwesterly from up North isn’t likely to have you beating directly upwind, but it’s a lot of cold water and certainly unlikely to be downwind sailing. I’m no expert, but I’d rather head out from Panama than the PNW any day.

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by David Hughes

I thought boats moved South to get into the trade winds before turning west. Leaving southwesterly from up North isn’t likely to have you beating directly upwind, but it’s a lot of cold water and certainly unlikely to be downwind sailing. I’m no expert, but I’d rather head out from Panama than the PNW any day.

Yes, but if you are based in the PNW you've got to get south one way or another so you might as well sail the boat. It's usually a deep reach south to get past the SE corner of the Pacific High (which may be pretty far south and unfocused in the Spring), and then you aim southwest through the trades to where you want to cross the ITCZ. Then it's a tradewinds run to the Marquesas.

[robert sailor]

Many boats have limited motoring capability so it's always a game as to where to cross the doldrums. We decided we were not going to motor on that passage and did a stint of very light air sailing but it was skinny where we chose to go thru and it wasn't long and we popped out to the trades. Your course angle is around 30 degrees different leaving from Cape Flattery than mainland Mexico. Cruisers start leaving in March/April from Mexico but as suggested May would be a lot better choice from the PNW and even then it would be very chilly for awhile. I guess if I had the time I would do some Mexican time as I really like it down there. Leaving from the PNW in May doesn't interest me much but it would have when I was younger. I guess you could use the NW winds to scoot down the coast, maybe even drop in here are there once in Calfornia or even the Pacific side of the Baja and then when you are around 20 degrees latitude head direct to the Marquesas. They are drop dead beautiful islands with the rolliest anchorages I've ever been in. Make sure you have a good stern anchor. Just looking again and that's a long crossing from the PNW..depending on your boat and winds your going to be out there a loooong time if you leave from the PNW.

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Just looking again and that's a long crossing from the PNW..depending on your boat and winds your going to be out there a loooong time if you leave from the PNW.

My friend made it from San Francisco to the Marquesas in 24 days in a heavily-loaded 37 ft boat. He's not a racer. I've done Cape Flattery to San Francisco in five days, but we weren't dawdling. Still, the whole trip might take someone about 30 days (- a few / + a lot). That's a pretty long trip, but not outrageous.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

My friend made it from San Francisco to the Marquesas in 24 days in a heavily-loaded 37 ft boat. He's not a racer. I've done Cape Flattery to San Francisco in five days, but we weren't dawdling. Still, the whole trip might take someone about 30 days (- a few / + a lot). That's a pretty long trip, but not outrageous.

5 days is what I do that trip in as well, done it several times, never found light winds for more than a few hours on one trip. That trip could take a smaller loaded up boat 35 or 36 days and that is about as enticing as getting teeth pulled. We did it from PV to Marquesas in 19 days and never motored a mile, good sail.