Best time to Hawaii

[Jay]

Could someone tell me the best month to sail from San Fransisco to Hawaii. ThePacific Cup Is in early July . What about hurricanes?

 

[Jack Tyler]

Definitely sooner, Jay...

Jay, my impression is that early July departures in the Pac Cup have been acceptable in the past because, during the down side of the storm cycle, few storms presented problems to passages at both ends of the season. I know this logic was in heavy use on the East Coast re: the Bahamas/Caribbean migration in the fall, where a 1 Nov departure date seemed comfortable to almost everyone. Not any longer.My rec would be to contact the Latitude 38 staff and ask what coverage they have provided on this subject, and then see if you can purchase those past copies. Because of the heavy, credible contributions of readers in that mag, along with the experience of the staff, I would expect their coverage to be well worth considering. www.latitude38.com also.Don't be misled when looking at the various year's storm tracks, either. http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/summary.html They will consistently show tracks that are south of your intended rhumb line and/or don't make it to HI's islands...but that doesn't mean the effects of those storms won't be felt well after they are downgraded from tropical storm status. For a little taste of reality, you might want to read Mahina Tiare, Pacific Passages by John Neal - it's a good account of making a departure a bit earlier than the end of storm season, only to be caught out in one...and this was in the down side of the cycle.BTW all the Pilot Charts on in the process of being placed on-line now (along with so much else from NOAA, NIMA et al.). You could check on whether the Pacific set are available yet if you don't have them. Very easily used on-line (sorry, the URL escapes me at the moment). Also you might reach the Sailing Directors published by NIMA, which you'll find at http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/sdr/ We tend to overlook this kind of info but we shouldn't.Jack

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

S.F. To Hawaii

Jay, Jack is basically right.I lived there and brought many boats to and fro, to is better, as once you catch the trades it can be a nice passage, about 2150nm form Mile rock to Diamond Head.I was in two hurricaines there, both in December, that doesn't mean they cannot arrive sooner, but most have lost their punch by the time they reach the islands.I have made that passage in nearly every month, I prefer May, but did it in January toooo, wouldn't recommend that, as we got some nasty gales on the Jan trip.The important factor for me is the Pacific High, is it in place? Are the trades doing their normal thing? Can I get a ticket on the trade train on so and so date?As soon as someone tells you "its all downhill to the islands" you'll get nailed by a gale.May, June, July are good with the high in place, and considered safe from hurricaines coming up from the south.You will get squalls, be prepared to reef, or spill wind they never last more than half and hour, usually much less, unavoidable, I've got 50kts of wind from squalls before, but there are is no wave action, but 'wind waves'.Look at the Pilot Charts for the particular month you fancy to cross, and carry an EPIRB.I'd rather do that passage than take a vessel from S.F. to Seattle...;-)

 

[jayden]

thankyou

Great info Jack & Capt Ron. I'll follow up on your leads and suggsestions.