Yacht transport: Mexico to China

[Lantau]

I am trying to find a way to transport a 43-foot sailboat from La Paz, Mexico, to Hong Kong, China. Alas, none of the big names in yacht transport are willing or able to do it. Can you anyone suggest a solution? I have learned already that this won't be easy.

My budget is up to 50K point to point, mast-up and in the water in Hong Kong (either delivered with the mast up or including taking the mast down, cradling the boat up, putting the mast back up after delivery, etc.).

If anyone reading this wants a yacht delivered on the same route, more or less, please reply. Together we might be able to induce a company to do it.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[daddle]

Sail her there? An easy route, but long. Paradise lies betwixt.

[homeless]

Best option would be to sail it across. The route is mostly downwind with the trades in decent conditions, so minimum fuel and motor usage. Timing may depend on typhoon season depending on route. Cost for a delivery captain should be a lot less than 50K (depending on what currency you are using).

Any reason you don't want it sailed ?

[Lantau]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm considering all options. The problem with sail delivery is time, and timing: typhoon season is starting up in the western N Pacific, so departure would have to wait until about November. Add time for the trip and it's almost a year from now before the boat arrives. But this might turn out to be the best option.

[daddle]

The typhoon problem can be greatly reduced by staying well south thru Micronesia. Then idle in Palau or southern PI until November for the short hops to HK. A southern course is slower but safer. Can be adjusted to suit the conditions. The first 2/3 of the trip is fast.

[boatman61]

+A1... Wot ^^^HE^^^ sed...

[senormechanico]

+1 to all of the above.

[David M]

Is there a boat in SE Asia that you would rather own? Just throwing out an option.

[Lantau]

Wouldn't that be nice! Alas, the kind of boat I want rarely reaches these parts. I did make an offer on one passing through once -- about an hour too late, so that someone else got it.

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

[Pelagic]

Agree with Daddle’s advice.
The trip is called the ‘Milk Run’ because it has such favorable winds.

Is your new boat set up for cruising or racing?


If cruising...About 5,000nm straight shot to Majuro then 2,700 to Philippines, staying in the North Equatorial current


Google Image Result for http://i38.tinypic.com/312z0wp.jpg

[Macau]

Hi, Lantau:

Maybe I can help. I am delivery captain bases HK and had done trans-Pacific journey.

Cheers,

Macau

[stillbuilding]

Typhoons are everpresent risk I the North Pacific as you know.

Follow Daddle's advice, wait for a window then go for it. Why wait for some unreliable designation of "typhoon free"

Palau to PI, hide if required, quick hop to HK.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Macau.

[Lantau]

Thanks for the suggestions. Can anyone propose a specific route?

She's a 44' cruising sailboat (not a racer by any means), very conservatively with 500 nm range when motoring, not a lot of bunk space (one double cabin and a couple sea bunks in pilothouse). No fancy electronics (example: no MF/HF radio yet).

Thanks again.

[daddle]

Honolulu, Majuro, Pohnpei, Palau, Surigao, Puerto Galera, Subic, HK.

Many options between Majuro and Surigao.

Leaving Palau before November would be considered typhoon risky unless you stayed S of PI.

Or sail straight thru: 60 days maybe.