SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

On 19 Sep 2006 03:11:36 -0700, "tlindly" wrote:

I'm going to sail a 60 year old, 48' (LOA) ketch from SFO to Seattle.
I was wondering what the best time of year would be for a trip of this
nature.
One fellow told me that now (Sept.) would be a pretty good time but
Life is going to keep me hear untill Nov. at the least.
I've been trying to search for prevailing wind patterns on the pacific
coast but there doesn't seem to be much info out there (or perhaps
google is just not what I thought it ws).

You might want to check the Weather Fax at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/nepacificbrief.shtml.


Anyone made this passage before?

I have not made this passage, nor do I intent to, unless there was a
great incentive.. I know three who trucked their boat from SF to
Seattle after having made the attempt. One friend did it and would
not do it again.


Any suggestions?

I just checked the fax. The 48 hour forecast shows gale force winds
off the California coast.

You might monitor it for a while to get an impression of what you
might face.

The "safe" route from Mexico is via Honolulu, and then north almost to
the Aleutians before turning for the Pacific NorthWest.

Jack

_________________________________________
Jack Dale
ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor
CYA Advanced Cruising Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
_________________________________________

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

Excellent post. I live and play on the Oregon coast. It is frighteningly
beautify but truly NOT for the faint of heart or the neophyte much of the
year!
"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
et...

"tlindly" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm going to sail a 60 year old, 48' (LOA) ketch from SFO to Seattle.
I was wondering what the best time of year would be for a trip of this
nature.
One fellow told me that now (Sept.) would be a pretty good time but
Life is going to keep me hear untill Nov. at the least.
I've been trying to search for prevailing wind patterns on the pacific
coast but there doesn't seem to be much info out there (or perhaps
google is just not what I thought it ws).

Anyone made this passage before?

Any suggestions?

Is there a better forum for this question?

thanks,
tom
=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...


Jimmy Cornell, page 204-205 of "World Cruising Routes," suggests April for
northern California routes, May thru June for British Columbia,
recommending making at least 200 miles to sea from California, before
heading north, to accomodate the prevailing NW winds. He also implies that
this is not a passage for neophytes. In any event, I highly recommend his
book. It's a "must have" in any boat's library, in my opinion.

Winters on the Oregon coast can be quite spectacular -- best viewed from
shore. 30 foot breakers pounding the cliffs are a sight to behold.

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

In article ,
Danny wrote:
Excellent post. I live and play on the Oregon coast. It is frighteningly
beautify but truly NOT for the faint of heart or the neophyte much of the
year!

Same goes down here off San Francisco... people die out there every
year.


--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

tlindly wrote:
I'm going to sail a 60 year old, 48' (LOA) ketch from SFO to Seattle.

Mistake #1: old boat. you better know it inside and out and have just
finished a total refit in the last 5 years.

I was wondering what the best time of year would be for a trip of this
nature.

Summer: winds out of theNW unless some low system at hand then storms
are out of the SW.

One fellow told me that now (Sept.) would be a pretty good time but

Yes if heading south

Life is going to keep me hear untill Nov. at the least.

I'll put that in your obituary.

I've been trying to search for prevailing wind patterns on the pacific
coast but there doesn't seem to be much info out there (or perhaps
google is just not what I thought it ws).


Lets see, how about the phrase, "grave yard of the Pacific." Does that
give you any indication of what youre heading into??!?!?

Anyone made this passage before?

Yep.
Grew up in Newport, OR. Step dad commercial fished the area. I worked
the summers with him as a kid. too many dead friends to list here.

Any suggestions?


If youneed to get the boat north in NOV:
1) give it to a deliver skipper. there is a guy named Bob in WInchester
Bay, OR on an Ingrid who is good. But he will most likely tell you
forget about it. Why? because he is over 60 yo and knows what he is
doing. he got that old doing things right.

2) sail to Hawaii........ enjoy yourself and wait till June. Sail to BC
then turn right for a down wind blow.


Is there a better forum for this question?

The bars are far and few between and closed often in the winter (NOV).
the coast is a series of "sandy cell beaches" seperated by basalt
headlands. even if you are lucky enough to get blown on a sandy beach
the surf will tear you apart. for example, a friend of mine got his
truck stuck on the beach one winter night loading wood. One tide
excahnge left only an engine and transmitin on a frame. Oh, there was
one rim, no tire, left on the rear axel.
Are you getting the picture yet?


Bob


thanks,
tom
=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

Ryk wrote:
He also suggests that port hopping up the coast about 10 miles out is
a good strategy, especially if you are willing to motor in the late
summer when the NW winds are lighter.


Good idea until you run into a string of crab pots, get a shot of pot
line wraped around your prop and now you are back to
sailing................ if that is possible.

If you think dodging lobsta pots are bad, try dungeness pots.
Bob

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

Bob wrote:

tlindly wrote:

I'm going to sail a 60 year old, 48' (LOA) ketch from SFO to Seattle.


Mistake #1: old boat. you better know it inside and out and have just
finished a total refit in the last 5 years.


I was wondering what the best time of year would be for a trip of this
nature.


Summer: winds out of theNW unless some low system at hand then storms
are out of the SW.


One fellow told me that now (Sept.) would be a pretty good time but


Yes if heading south


Life is going to keep me hear untill Nov. at the least.


I'll put that in your obituary.


I've been trying to search for prevailing wind patterns on the pacific
coast but there doesn't seem to be much info out there (or perhaps
google is just not what I thought it ws).



Lets see, how about the phrase, "grave yard of the Pacific." Does that
give you any indication of what youre heading into??!?!?

Anyone made this passage before?


Yep.
Grew up in Newport, OR. Step dad commercial fished the area. I worked
the summers with him as a kid. too many dead friends to list here.

Any suggestions?



If youneed to get the boat north in NOV:
1) give it to a deliver skipper. there is a guy named Bob in WInchester
Bay, OR on an Ingrid who is good. But he will most likely tell you
forget about it. Why? because he is over 60 yo and knows what he is
doing. he got that old doing things right.

2) sail to Hawaii........ enjoy yourself and wait till June. Sail to BC
then turn right for a down wind blow.


Is there a better forum for this question?


The bars are far and few between and closed often in the winter (NOV).
the coast is a series of "sandy cell beaches" seperated by basalt
headlands. even if you are lucky enough to get blown on a sandy beach
the surf will tear you apart. for example, a friend of mine got his
truck stuck on the beach one winter night loading wood. One tide
excahnge left only an engine and transmitin on a frame. Oh, there was
one rim, no tire, left on the rear axel.
Are you getting the picture yet?


Bob


thanks,
tom
=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...

Bob, you missed this last one. Since I don't have much experience,
crewing for this gentleman sounds like the perfect way to get some.

DT

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:52:07 -0500, dt wrote:

=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...

Bob, you missed this last one. Since I don't have much experience,
crewing for this gentleman sounds like the perfect way to get some.

I assume you're kidding, right?

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

dt wrote:

Bob, you missed this last one. Since I don't have much experience,
crewing for this gentleman sounds like the perfect way to get some.

DT

Okay......... thats it. This has to be a troll.
One point for you, I bit.
Gullible bob

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:52:07 -0500, dt wrote:


=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...

Bob, you missed this last one. Since I don't have much experience,
crewing for this gentleman sounds like the perfect way to get some.


I assume you're kidding, right?

What, going out on an old boat, with a guy who doesn't seem to know what
he's doing, in probably bad weather on a definitely dangerous coast
isn't the best way to start?

Yes, I'm kidding. ;-)

DT
(still stickin' to small lakes, myself)

SFBay to Puget Sound, what's the best time of year?
 

Well,
thanks for all of the responses. Coast pilot data is the best
reccomendation I got from you all. Noaa had old data but still
couldn't find trend data there...

I was rather hoping to here from someonewho had made the trip, but
alas...

I haven't been to the library yet, I guess that's next.

thanks again,
tom
=-==



tlindly wrote:
I'm going to sail a 60 year old, 48' (LOA) ketch from SFO to Seattle.
I was wondering what the best time of year would be for a trip of this
nature.
One fellow told me that now (Sept.) would be a pretty good time but
Life is going to keep me hear untill Nov. at the least.
I've been trying to search for prevailing wind patterns on the pacific
coast but there doesn't seem to be much info out there (or perhaps
google is just not what I thought it ws).

Anyone made this passage before?

Any suggestions?

Is there a better forum for this question?

thanks,
tom
=-==
p.s. looking for crew for this trip...