Sailing Cancun, Mexico to British Columbia

[KCee]

What would the large considerations be for a sailing trip on a 34 Gemini from Cancun Mexico, to British Columbia through the Panama Canal? Someone told me since the wind direction is mostly from the northwest I would be looking at too many tacks, and would need to head out to Hawaii, which I don't feel confident to do... I thought I could sail up the coast, in intercoastals.... any views from the pros would be appreciated.

[highseas]

Unless you truck it or sail around Cape Horn,the Panama Canal is your only option.You say you want to sail to B.C.,the only way to do that is sail across the Pacific to Hawaii,takes around 50 days from Panama,then a 25 day stretch to B.C.

[Joli]

Good news though, it's only one tack.

Originally Posted by highseas

Unless you truck it or sail around Cape Horn,the Panama Canal is your only option.You say you want to sail to B.C.,the only way to do that is sail across the Pacific to Hawaii,takes around 50 days from Panama,then a 25 day stretch to B.C.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Joli

Good news though, it's only one tack.

Not quite.

I just returned from Maui to Victoria.

Close hauled starboard tack for several days out of Maui.

Got through some of the high under power.

Close reach port tack to San Juan de Fuca. Wind died about 100 miles off; powered in.

Left July 27, Arrived August 15

The high was just not cooperating. At one point there were three of them across the whole of the Pacific. The it tracked north which gave us north winds, up to 25, for the last several days. Another boat with whom we were in communication had a 36 stretch of 35-40 knots.

[highseas]

Jackdale,how far north did you get before turning east?That is a fairly quick passage you made.How many days motoring?I am returning next summer on same route(my second time).Thanks

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by highseas

Jackdale,how far north did you get before turning east?That is a fairly quick passage you made.How many days motoring?I am returning next summer on same route(my second time).Thanks

This is a link to our track.

TinyURL.com - shorten that long URL into a tiny URL

Jack

[zeehag]

watch your weather and hurricane season....

[rgscpat]

If your beam is only 14', sailing to Corpus Christi or Houston and trucking the boat to Anacortes might be the least wear and tear option.

Another option would be to hire a delivery captain and get a crew to help you get the boat through the canal, bash through the papagos, and then out into the ocean. Autumn weather in the northern Pacific is not too far away but there would be worse things than leaving the boat (and yourself) in Hawaii for the winter, grin.