Cape Town to Caribbean and Mexico to Hawaii; which is more tricky?

[EvilRabbit]

Hi all.

Sailing at the best time of year for each passage; which is more challenging: Cape Town to Caribbean or Mexico to Hawaii?

[jackdale]

You might want to take at World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell.

As well take a look at the pilot charts:

Maritime Safety Information

[MarkJ]

Depends.
The more difficult trip would be Mexico to Hawaii
But Cape Town to Caribbean is much longer 6,500nms.
I have not done either and few have done both... I don't think even Evans Starzinger has, although he has been to all places.


Mark

[jackdale]

I have done Cape Town to Fernando de Noronha, Brasil in September/October last year. I flew home from there. The rest of crew took the boat to the Caribbean. No problems.

Have not done Mexico to Hawaii, but have done Hawaii to British Columbia 3 times.

[donradcliffe]

Neither one is difficult as passages go, but one is a lot longer.

[EvilRabbit]

Originally Posted by jackdale

You might want to take at World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell.

As well take a look at the pilot charts:

Maritime Safety Information

Thanks Jack, I have the book and happy with proposed times of year for our passages. Just want to get some more insight from guys who have done them.

[exnatalia]

Have not done the Pacific route yet, but Cape Town to Caribbean in August/september in a Sadler 32. South Atlantic rough at times but a fast 11 day run to St Helena. After that not bad at all. 18 days to Salvador Brazil. Great place!

[seasick]

Sailed the Mexico to Hawaii route five times and the Cape Town to the Caribbean once.

The pilot charts seem less indicative to reality on that Hawaii run these days. I recommend staying slightly north of the rhume line from Cabo to Hilo for better weather. Lots of squalls.

Cape Town to Fernando was delightful. We stayed on St Helena for a month as a Wahoo nearly severed my foot off. Low visibility along the north coast due to Sahara sand blowing clean across the ocean. Fresh water 300 miles off shore by the Orinoko and Amazon.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by seasick

Sailed the Mexico to Hawaii route five times and the Cape Town to the Caribbean once.

The pilot charts seem less indicative to reality on that Hawaii run these days. I recommend staying slightly north of the rhume line from Cabo to Hilo for better weather. Lots of squalls.

Cape Town to Fernando was delightful. We stayed on St Helena for a month as a Wahoo nearly severed my foot off. Low visibility along the north coast due to Sahara sand blowing clean across the ocean. Fresh water 300 miles off shore by the Orinoko and Amazon.

Wow. I was wondering how far off the African coast you sailed? We're you concerned about African continent pirates?

[seasick]

No, Pirates were not a concern. We straight lined it to St. Helena from Cape Town. Light winds most of the way. Light air sails a big plus.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by seasick

No, Pirates were not a concern. We straight lined it to St. Helena from Cape Town. Light winds most of the way. Light air sails a big plus.

Thanks.