Sailing from north East Cost of US to San Frncisco

[jonbuilder]

I am looking to buy a boat in Main and sail it to San Francisco. Is it possible to leave Main in the spring when the boat is de- winterized and get through the Panama canal and out to sea along the clipper route in head of the hurricane season. If not where along Florida is a safe place to leave the boat until November to continue to San Francisco

[bartonthedoc]

Just buy mine in Florida and save the trouble

[J Clark H356]

I would think it would be highly possible to do this trip in late Spring, but depending on route, etc. you could possibly see an early hurricane. Would be better to leave Maine in the early fall and head south with the snowbirds. Better weather and less chance of a hurricane, but still possible. Just watch the weather. Forecasts are pretty good for several days out for hurricanes these days.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by jonbuilder

I am looking to buy a boat in Main and sail it to San Francisco. Is it possible to leave Main in the spring when the boat is de- winterized and get through the Panama canal and out to sea along the clipper route in head of the hurricane season. If not where along Florida is a safe place to leave the boat until November to continue to San Francisco

It depends a lot on how you define spring. I brought a boat down the coast from the Canadian Maritime and they would not launch it till late June. If it is really a delivery then maybe 3 weeks to Fla on a new to you boat. A few days+ to fix it in Fla, then 10 days to Panama. Not much waiting for weather. Then you'd head off from Panama into the Pacific hurricane season.

[michaelratinter]

April-May avoids hurricane season. Add a trip to Hawaii then north to pick up westerlies. You don't want to beat your way up the Pacific coast.

[roverhi]

The low pressure systems that build into tropical storms almost always stay between 10N-20N latitude if they are going west. The early storms tend to head west with more northerly tracks later in the season.

Unless you have a ton of fuel you'll want to be above 10N. So we are talking a 600 mile band you'll need to cross to stay clear of the weather following the clipper route. The gulf of Panama is a bit of a crap shoot but with enough fuel to get through the danger zone if winds prove fickle shouldn't be that big a thing. The lows are quite accurately charted with satellites these days so playing the weather is easier. Still no consolation if a storm does something fickle and catches you out.

[icemate]

I waited until early January and sailed to the VI's. After a month sail to Panama when fitted the boat for trip to Marquesas and Pango Pango. Leaving Florida earlier would have had to deal with Hurricane weather and unfavorable winds. Do you homework ,check wind and current for the aera you are going at that time of year. The old timers, (The Traders)called them the Trade Winds. Safety first, comfort second, time ? if you don't have time to enjoy sailing, don't but a sailboat. Safe sailing and have a great time.

[jonbuilder]

Thank you all for the informative replies. Sound like it would be better to sail to Florida, park the boat and return in November to continue through to Panama and up the cost via the clipper route. This way I could take my time sail the north east coast and have time for any fitting or repairs