Passage St. Maarten to Pacific through Panama

[tbkahuna]

So I am picking up a 42s7 in St.Maarten's and want to make the passage through the Panama canal. My nephew who is joining, says we need weeks to get used to the new boat before attempting to get to the canal, as he says it is common for 50 knot gales to come up out of nowhere in that part of the Caribbean. Does anyone know if this is a real concern?

[old pirate]

For many circumnavigators the worst seas encountered are off Columbia with the 50 not winds comming from the land !
After you get to know your boat I would sail west below the Virgins Puerto Rico etc and only turn south for Panama/San Blas when you hear the regae of Jamaica.
Fair Winds

[MarkJ]

No it BS.
St M to Colon is outside the area of the Andes katabatic zone.
Just go the rhumb line and if you pick up too much wind as you approach Suth America just keet a bit west.

Its a good run.

[boatman61]

Marigot Bay, St Martin to Colon... straight across... 7 days... worst wind a F6...

[kiltym]

We have friends that got hammered on that trip (straight SXM to Colon) and had to run and hide in the Columbian offshore islands, so I guess pick your weather window wisely, based on the opposite spectrum responses.

[12BCruzn]

Can happen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzJu17GiN9E

[bvimatelot]

Done it twice from BVI to Panama in the last 2 months. 48kt winds quite large seas. Western Carib always seems to me to have larger seas: I suppose the poor old water has no-where else to go!

Perfectly ok with well reefed sails! Tony