Pacific Crossing - East to West

[victor darling]

We are looking to buy a catamaran in St Martin or the British Virgin Islands. We want to start our sail via Panama to New Zealand around December 2011 or January 2012. I have sailed up and sown between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands a few times between April and October but do not know when it is best to leave Panama coming West. Any advice on a good start date would be appreciated.
Intended route is probably to go Marquisas, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga and down to NZ. Advice also appreciated.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by victor darling

We are looking to buy a catamaran in St Martin or the British Virgin Islands. We want to start our sail via Panama to New Zealand around December 2011 or January 2012. I have sailed up and sown between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands a few times between April and October but do not know when it is best to leave Panama coming West. Any advice on a good start date would be appreciated.
Intended route is probably to go Marquisas, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga and down to NZ. Advice also appreciated.

Most people leave Panama in March and April. The basic idea is not to leave Marquesas before May.

[Paul L]

Most leave Panama Feb to May. Although you see people leave just about any time. Leave in March, stop at the Galapagos then be in NZ or Aust by Nov.

[MarkJ]

I think you're fine to leave Panama as early as possible. December is fine. You want to spend as much time in the pacific as you can as the cyclone season starts the other side in November.

[C-Nymph]

Will be watching your info collection with interest as we are considering doing a similar thing. :-)

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by C-Nymph

Will be watching your info collection with interest as we are considering doing a similar thing. :-)

Welcome to the forum.

There are a lot of people doing it, so it seems.

We're almost freed up enough to do it too, but back to Aus.