Sailing Route from the Philippines to US West Coast

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

We are into October, now, and the NW gales have begun.

We have not had a whole lot of experience in gales, but one trip from Kauai to SF, 18 days in a row of them. That far south of the OP's route, it was 22 ft. seas (only 7 m.), quite lively motion, and the motion gave me trouble; also the sound of the wind in the rigging was also tiring, as well as coping with the motion. Definitely unlike a tradewind, off the wind passage.

However, based on that, I would think the northern route would not be great this time of year. July, August, or May, June, probably a lot better.

Ann

Thank you, Ann. We will wait until next spring for sure. 18 days of gales are rough on anyone!

I've had my share of big seas and strong wind. I'm not a fan, although hitting 21 knots in a tropical storm that dropped straight down on top of me in the Philippine Seas was quite exhilarating.

Darren

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by darren_bowls

We will wait until next spring for sure. 18 days of gales are rough on anyone!

The Urdaneta Route was different from the San Lucas Route.

Different date of departure, different waypoints, and different voyage route.

[Alan Mighty]

If there were 'standard' routes, running E at 40N may have been the rule:

[Alan Mighty]

The E-bound route had a much higher rate of failure than the W-bound one.

Several galleons were reported as wrecking on the N America coast.

A few reports of 'mysterious' cargo and even of localized deposits, of minerals likely mined in China and carried on the Manila Galleons, found on the beaches along the W coast of N America have been made.

The majority of losses of E-bound galleons seem to have been weather-related and not just due to the error of being late turning to starboard.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

The majority of losses of E-bound galleons seem to have been weather-related and not just due to the error of being late turning to starboard.

The years in which E-bound galleons were lost are reasonably well-known. I don't know anyone who has done the necessary research to see if those losses were related to, for example, the El Nino/La Nina cycle of ocean-atmosphere coupling known as ENSO.

[mako]

It seems that the great circle route from Japan to San Francisco would work well, although you’re talking about a 4500nm nonstop drive. Good for freighters

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

If there were 'standard' routes, running E at 40N may have been the rule:

Your posts are super interesting.

Knowing my crew, (me, wife, and 6 YO daughter), a 4,000nm + run would likely be too much for them. Or maybe not. That's a 32 day run from Japan to SF at 125 nm per day.

Also, from experience, it seems my vessel develops a shortlist of repairs every 20 days at sea, although the list is growing shorter as I harden in the boat.

I'm still intrigued by this route.

Thanks for the input!

Darren

[GlobalGaz]

Hi Darren, what part of the Philippines are you? My Yacht is near Coron and has been since the start of Covid. Just wondering how you are finding things there as I am planning to try and get back there shortly to pick her up

[JPA Cate]

I'm surprised that you think you'll only get 125 n.m./day. Is this just for the windward part of the trip? Off the wind, I'd expect more.....

Ann

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I'm surprised that you think you'll only get 125 n.m./day. Is this just for the windward part of the trip? Off the wind, I'd expect more.....

Ann

I've had passages with little wind where I barely made 100nm a day on average and less. I use 125nm as a conservative estimate for trip planning and hope for 150nm. But that's just me. I've had days around 180nm, but not for more than a few days at a time.

[wingssail]

Crossing the Pacific is a HUGE commitment, there is no easy way back.

I've known several people who have returned from Asia to North America via Japan and North Pacific Route including some close friends we cruised with in Papua.

They all reported similar experiences:

1. Japan is delightful but bureaucratic and difficult
2. From Japan to the Aleutians and further it is cold and stormy, even in the summer, fog is endemic
3. you will not get much solar and winds will be from zero to 60kts, and sudden.
4. You will be covered in gooseneck barnacles by the time you reach the west coast.
5. it is a very long trip
6. water, fuel and provisions are all issues.
7. small crews will be at each other's throats before arrival on the west coast.

Sailing eastward along the equator (in the ITCZ) is ardous but possible, at least it is warm

Sailing from South Pacific against the trades is also possible. Once you get to Hawaii it all becomes easier.

My advice, work your way east to Hawaii the go around the North Pacific High.

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by GlobalGaz

Hi Darren, what part of the Philippines are you? My Yacht is near Coron and has been since the start of Covid. Just wondering how you are finding things there as I am planning to try and get back there shortly to pick her up

I'm close to Legazpi, Luzon, not too far from you. This is a virgin cruising ground here. No services or marinas. Very pretty and challenging at the same time. It's also typhoon alley. Six typhoons in eight weeks rolled through here in various strengths last fall. Another cruiser I and built typhoon strength moorings in Sula Channel to secure our boats because we are in the wrong ocean 12 months out of the year here. lol

Palawan is gorgeous. As far as covid, for most of the past year, you wouldn't really know it's happening here if the media wasn't blasting covid news 24/7. It's no worse than a regular flu year in most places in the country. Not sure about Manila or other urban centers. Everything is open. Masks are required in public and you have to queue in a short line at some larger grocery stores. Flying in is a different story. Two-week quarantine for the unvaxxed for sure. The government is still not allowing foreign visitors unless they are married to a citizen or have citizenship here. No tourists allowed.

If you can get here, there's no reason to delay a trip.

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by GlobalGaz

Hi Darren, what part of the Philippines are you? My Yacht is near Coron and has been since the start of Covid. Just wondering how you are finding things there as I am planning to try and get back there shortly to pick her up

I'm close to Legazpi, Luzon, not too far from you. This is a virgin cruising ground here. No services or marinas. Very pretty and challenging at the same time. It's also typhoon alley. Six typhoons in eight weeks rolled through here in various strengths last fall. Another cruiser I and built typhoon strength moorings in Sula Channel to secure our boats because we are in the wrong ocean 12 months out of the year here. lol

Palawan is gorgeous. As far as covid, for most of the past year, you wouldn't really know it's happening here if the media wasn't blasting covid news 24/7. It's no worse than a regular flu year in most places in the country. Not sure about Manila or other urban centers. Everything is open. Masks are required in public and you have to queue in a short line at some larger grocery stores. Flying in is a different story. Two-week quarantine for the unvaxxed for sure. The government is still not allowing foreign visitors unless they are married to a citizen or have citizenship here. No tourists allowed.

If you can get here, there's no reason to delay a trip.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by darren_bowls

I'm close to Legazpi, Luzon, not too far from you. This is a virgin cruising ground here. No services or marinas. Very pretty and challenging at the same time. It's also typhoon alley. Six typhoons in eight weeks rolled through here in various strengths last fall. Another cruiser I and built typhoon strength moorings in Sula Channel to secure our boats because we are in the wrong ocean 12 months out of the year here. lol

Wah! You mean you're living in Legazpi City (and let me, ask in #6 above, the dumb question about whether you've met a placename 'Legazpi' or 'Legaspi'?).

And you have a mooring in the channel between Luzon and Cagraray? Must be due east of Mayon, no?

The chart suggest some tight but deep sections of the Sula Channel, so depending on the height of vegetation and land around, it might be a super good typhoon refuge.

When we lived in the Philippines our land base was in Legaspi Village, Makati, MM and we sailed in and out of Subic.

I don't remember visiting Legazpi City. My job responsibilities were mainly in Visayas and Mindanao that kept me busy and away from other parts of Luzon (sure, I was promised everything including a helicopter tour, but that was never delivered).

[darren_bowls]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Wah! You mean you're living in Legazpi City (and let me, ask in #6 above, the dumb question about whether you've met a placename 'Legazpi' or 'Legaspi'?).

And you have a mooring in the channel between Luzon and Cagraray? Must be due east of Mayon, no?

The chart suggests some tight but deep sections of the Sula Channel, so depending on the height of vegetation and land around, it might be a super good typhoon refuge.

Legazpi used to be spelled Legaspi years ago, but for reasons unknown to me, the name was officially changed. It is an hour from Sula Channel by car or two hours by sailboat.

Legazpi sucks for cruisers!!! The is no anchorage, marina, or safe refuge of any kind. There are also zero marine services, barring a few fishing stores catering to the local fishing methods and car mechanics and electricians, all unskilled in marine trades.

Don't even think about anchoring in the port. It's too small and littered with all kinds of debris to snag your anchor on. We know from personal experience. It's dangerous.

Sula Channel, however, is gorgeous and the best refuge from any storm. It's narrow with high hills on both sides offering the best storm protection you can ask for. It's been used as a typhoon hole since the Spanish galleons sailed these waters back in the 1500's. Lots of history here. It's also fun to explore all the back channels in your dinghy or paddleboard.

BUT... I have drug my anchor here more times than anywhere else, or I got it stuck in rocks requiring a diver to extract it. The tide switches the current back and forth two times a day.

The channel has been a great teacher on all things anchoring. I have a Bruce that works well, but the local style anchors that look like the classic ship anchor works well here. I had one made. In the end, building a mooring made a lot of sense, and is free except for the cost of building it.

I like it here, but it's time to head home.