Florida to Oregon

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nybor

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Nov 26, 2012
15
catalina 350 Cocoa florida
Hi. I am considering sailing my Catalina 350 from Merritt Island Florida to Portland Or. I was wondering if anyone has done/attempted/failed to make the passage. The main question is the Canal. What are the pitfalls going thru it? How much does it cost? If done, how long did it take? (of course wind plays a minor role in the answer!)

thanks in advance
dave bloomquist
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Planning the Panama Canal route or the Lewis and Clake route?
 
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Eddie7045

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Aug 16, 2006
281
Ericson 32 Oregon coast
Going to Hawaii is good advise. The wind is against

you as you go North along the Northwestern coast of Mexico and ports are few and far between. Of the two that I have talked to that made that trip, one tacked 1500 miles offshore and the other motored. The seas tend to get generally fiercer as you go North of Point Conception. Point Conception itself develops nasty wind in the afternoon and should be rounded at night.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
22,985
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
People sail up and down the California coast all the time. Cruising World ran an article many years ago called "The Baja Dash" that described a skipper and crew sailing up the west coast of Mexico from harbor to harbor, anchoring every night.

George Benson has written about sailing from San Francisco up to Seattle: http://georgebenson.us/ His narratives used to be online, but now you can buy it in a book. Harbors between SF and Neah Bay are at most 70 nm apart.

You do NOT have to go to Hawaii - another urban myth.

Google "transiting the Panama Canal" and read for years. www.cruisersforum.com most likely has lots of information, too.

Have a great cruise.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
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Eddie7045

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Aug 16, 2006
281
Ericson 32 Oregon coast
Stu, Sumner is correct. You might consider going to

Hawaii being that you would have to tack nearly that far to sail up the Mexican coast. Once up to California it's a piece of cake although the waters tend to be treacherous further North. Oregon harbors have tricky entrances which must be negotiated at higher tides and with Coast Guard permission.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
I got curious about what Sum said regarding going to HI first.... so I did a bit of digging.

The trip up the coast is 4037 nm in a best case (direct path) scenario (see screen shot from Active Captain) but you would have to buck the currents and the trade winds the entire way (see pic of ocean currents and trade winds). So I'm guessing you would actually sail a bit more than the prescribed 4037 nm. On the other hand... you might get some relief from the trades if you stayed close enough to shore to take advantage of shore breezes.

If you go to HI first, then Oregon, the total distance is 6643 nm (best case scenario).

On the leg from panama to HI (4538 nm), you would have the trades mostly on a reach to close reach and the current would be pushing (aiding) you west. You should make good time on that leg. From HI to Oregon (2105 nm) you would be close hauled and/or have to beat 2105 nm. however there is very little ocean currents in that leg until you get close the the mainland coast.

I guess there would be a lot of other variables to consider ... but it is an interesting idea. It seems quite plausible that you would make very poor progress bucking the currents and trades all the way up the coast... and perhaps you would make comparable time by going to HI first even if this adds 2000+ nm. And it might be a much easier ride... and then there is the bonus of going to HI:dance:

Aloha Y'all
 

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FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,088
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Speaking of the OR coast....

sinnettc said:
What? Are you saying that you can't cross the bar without permission on a calm day? Where's that posted?
Click to expand
He may have misspoke about needing permission, but basically you Do have to plan/time your bar crossings avoid the ebbs, where an outrush of water meets the ocean's wave patterns and the resulting breakers are dangerous.
The USCG gives bar advisories on vhf regularly.

Check sites like this:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/marine/bars_mover.php
And see what the current conditions are and if the crossing is restricted.

Stu's advice on trip planning is great, btw.

Sometimes rounding the "great capes" of California can indeed be rough -- you need to be flexible about when you leave harbor and head into wind n sea. I have personally been in a gale sailing southwards -- thrilling and scary. I should note that the wind speed was not the problem, but the sea state was awesome - breaking seas all 'round, horizon to horizon.
No way could the boat have made any progeress against (northwards) those conditions... But, the weather subsided after 36 hours.

Loren
 
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nybor

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Nov 26, 2012
15
catalina 350 Cocoa florida
wow. thanks to all who responded. I have changed my mind. I will instead sail from Merritt Island Florida to Cocoa Florida (2 miles).

dave
ps. am still considering the "big trip" though.
 
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rlrmystic

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May 1, 2009
96
Hunter 30 Groton, CT
I see no northern passage replies. I suspect that's 7500 -8000 miles but oh what a thrilling trip either way.
 
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