picksea transoceanic After the one week passage to Cabo San Lucas, you have the choice of either heading north into the Sea of Cortez or sailing directly over to Puerto Vallarta and cruising the Mexican Riviera until its time to make the crossing to French Polynesia in March or April. Its a good target to stay between 45 to 50 degrees south for this part of the voyage. You might choose to go on the northern route, crossing through the Torres Strait, or the southern route. In order to have enough time to cruise Polynesia, you will need to make the sail north to Hawaii during hurricane season. boat square sails sail folding too ships As with any sailing voyage, the speed of your journey will depend on the winds. You must make one very long crossing, the 3,000 miles from the Galapagos Islands to the Marquesas, but this is usually fast sailing with a favourable current bringing the passage time down to one similar to a transatlantic crossing. The next challenge is the ITCZ, which we have discussed in further detail in a previous section. The ice limit in the Pacific is a little further south than the Indian or Atlantic Oceans, so once you pass New Zealand its usually safe to sail a little farther south. The good news is the further south you sail, the more favorable the sailing conditions will get. america north south grimaldi acl europe The ideal time of year to cruise the Med is in the summer, when the water is warm and the sun is shining. We've made a super convenient map that gives a complete overview of the cyclone seasons across the world. The route through the canal is complex and you run the risk of being delayed during peak periods. For US-based West Coast sailors, the Strait of Juan de Fuca is a common choice for starting the journey across the Pacific. Most sailors only turn east once almost to 40 degrees south, which is the official start of the Southern Ocean. Once the trade winds set in and the crew have adjusted to life at sea, its time to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world the open ocean. Seas are gentle with long, lazy swells and, apart from the very rare trough reaching up from lows in the south, it is settled tradewind sailing. Sailors in a well found and properly prepared seagoing yacht should have no problem. If you arrive in the Marquesas in April, you should have three months to cruise French Polynesia before its time to turn north toward Hawaii. You may want to be prepared to keep your boat in Alaska for the winter in order to avoid crossing the North Pacific Ocean in the stormy winter season. The longest passage you should have to make on this route is under one week, so this route is a good choice if long offshore passages arent your thing. Of course, to sail this part of the world you will need to be prepared to spend a lot of time waiting for the weather and ice. 2. Brochure cruising in the turquoise, sheltered water of a typical French Polynesia atoll. As you make your way east, be careful to watch the position of the Azores High. Planning for a return passage to Europe from the Caribbean is a little more complex. Photos: Tor Johnson / Dan Bower / Olivier Parent / Alamy. This step means youll be more familiar with the challenges youre likely to face once youre out in the open ocean. If you arrive in Gibraltar by May or June, you have the whole summer to cruise the Med. But how long does it take to sail all the way across? If you choose instead to depart from Mexico, you will want to plan to depart Southern California in late November and cruise Mexico through the winter. It requires hard work, perseverance, the ability to adapt, and the willingness to take on a certain amount of (calculated) risk to run a remote business at sea. The authorities also dont like any growth on your hull they can turn you away or make you go out of the park to have your hull cleaned (an 80-mile round trip), so its worth pressure washing in Panama and getting all through-hull fittings thoroughly cleaned if youre unsure. If youre planning to sail through the Torres Strait and into the Indian Ocean, you should aim to be through the Torres by late August to early September at the latest. Cape Horn itself is only a few hundred miles from Antarctica. To answer that question, first you need to choose a launching point. This circuit is very doable in 6 or 7 months, but if you find yourself wanting to slow down there are many options available to wait out the hurricane season. There is also a free daily shuttle to the customs office downtown. 9034 GD Marsum In 1969, the first nonstop sailing circumnavigation was completed in Falmouth by Sir Robin Knox Johnston, and to this day most round the world sailing races depart from either Britain or France. Any drugs youll be taking with you should all have prescriptions from a qualified doctor. Before you know it, three weeks will have passed and you will be scanning the horizon for the first glimpse of a paradise island in the Caribbean. The distance from Panama to Australia is 8000 nautical miles but the time it takes to sail this distance depends on the winds, the size of the vessel and stopping times. When sailing across the Pacific, the two main points of departure are: Below we'll go over both these journeys in more detail, and what to expect for both. Here you can wait for the ideal weather window to sail the 700 NM to the Canary Islands. routing ocean transoceanic silversea It is tempting to rush off to the Society Islands (which include Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora) and tackle the inevitable jobs list, but most people regret it. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Weve made this Pacific passage three times, and we reckon its easier sailing than on an average ARC. It is 8,000 nautical miles from Panama to Australia (you can cross the Atlantic in 2,200 miles) and, because of the scale of the charts and the size of the islands, it appears to have little land. The best way to manage this passage is to motor-sail directly south along the coast of Colombia and Ecuador until you are past the Equator. ecoclipper Of course, with more time, one could plan endless variations of this route, with hundreds of detours and side trips. In the same period of time, 286 such storms were recorded in the North Atlantic region. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. I still have yet to close a circle around the world, but I have a heck of a lot of experience planning offshore sailing routes across the oceans. Regardless of how you choose to spend your summer in the Med, you will definitely want to make sure to be back at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar by September or October. albatross In Yachting World August 2022 issue we talk to one of the biggest names on the offshore racing scene, Kevin Escoffier and take a look around his brand new foiling. The route you choose will determine how long the journey takes and the time of year will also have a big part to play, not to mention any decision to stay a while and explore the islands along the way. Its over 8,000 NM to the Cape of Good Hope, which should take the average cruiser two months if the conditions are favorable. If you are planning to sail to French Polynesia, you can choose one of three options: 1. If you are departing from the East Coast of Canada or Europe, it makes sense to leave in May or June and cruise the coast of Labrador or Greenland while you are waiting for the NW Passage to open up. Personally, I find offshore passages like this to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of the cruising life. When is the Best Time to Sail Across the Pacific? If a world cruise through the tropics sounds a little too tame, then a circumnavigation by way of the Southern Ocean (called the south by Southern Ocean veterans) might be for you. The sail from the Canaries to the Caribbean is about 2700 to 3000 NM depending on your routing and your port of arrival. The advantage to this option is the ability to circumnavigate the world even if you only have one year available, and to get to sample a wide variety of countries around the world in a short period of time. Its also a beautiful cruising ground of its own well worth the extra miles for the adventurous sailor. Start with your boat and do a thorough, honest evaluation - is your vessel ready for the journey? This gives you plenty of time to stop at Saint Helena Island, and cruise the coast of Brazil before closing the circle in the Caribbean. Alternatively, you could sail down to Mexico and Cabo San Lucas if youd prefer to start further south. This is a great option for sailors who want to take a year off to sail offshore and see much of the world, but dont quite want to commit to a round the world sail. This time of year, its only north of the Equator where there is risk of encountering a hurricane. Sasker van Heringawei 16E ovation alaska The challenge of the next section of the voyage is to cross the entire South Pacific and Indian Ocean in six to seven months in order to arrive in South Africa by October. Fortunately, the region between Panama and the Marquesas is not affected by tropical storms. I can remember quite clearly when I first decided that I wanted to sail around the world on offshore sailing routes. In some cases, commercial freighters have broken in half because of the incredible size of the waves. vancouver passenger freighter china seattle freighters east sailing cruises asia One notable variation on this route is to sail around Africa by way of the Suez Canal instead of South Africa. Leave your boat here and fly home until April. Onwards from here you are never far from the next anchorage. vabre casiraghi transat You cant spend too much money even if you want to because there is nowhere to spend it! Out here there is no rush hour traffic or pollution. We will discuss this route in further detail in the next section. Copyright 2022 ImproveSailing.com This voyage might not be for everyone, but if someone were to make the offer I would take it without second thoughts. Those departing from the Pacific Northwest will want to sail down the coast of Washington, Oregon and Northern California between May and October. After youve passed Tahiti, part of the Windwards group of the Society Islands, your journey opens up before you. Either way, you are likely to encounter rougher seas in the Indian Ocean. Then turn west, and you will be sailing across the prevailing winds and currents the rest of the way to the Galapagos Islands. Cape Horn marks the pinnacle of any Southern Ocean circumnavigation, and fortunately, its usually much easier sailing from here on out. If you leave the Canary Islands in December, you should have three or four months to enjoy the Caribbean before closing the circle on the East Coast USA. You should have a pleasant sail through the SE trades up the coast of South America, and then cross the ITCZ for the second time. I like to leave Hawaii with enough fuel to motor for 1,000 NM, and I have always had enough for the entire passage. On the other hand, leaving earlier in the season gives you plenty of time to complete your journey without the pressure of the cyclone season bearing down on you. After you pass the Azores, its simply a short downwind cruise to the English Channel and the finish line. Now you are in the beautiful southernmost city in Africa, which is an excellent jumping off place for the final leg of your circumnavigation crossing the South Atlantic Ocean back to the Caribbean. We will begin with a one-year sailing circumnavigation of the North Atlantic from the East Coast of the USA. Some people take decades to sail around the world and dont regret it one bit. We do our best to give you an honest assessment of products on SailAndProp. Then you are in the perfect position to safely complete your transatlantic sail to the Caribbean (described in the previous section, Trans-Atlantic Sailing Routes). Its favourable effects can be felt under your keel as you head towards the Galapagos, and make for a bracing first swim. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. The average cruising vessel should be able to make this crossing in under three weeks. Find a secure marina (there are lots of excellent options) and trade your boat for a camper van or RV for an antipodal road trip through NZ and Oz. You can lose a lot of friends when youre sailing across the Pacific. For people who plan to depart from Northern Europe, its a good idea to make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to Southern Spain or Portugal before the weather gets ugly in October or November. You will likely sail short passages from port to port along the South African coast until you get to Cape Town. Keep in mind that all of the ports of the Pacific coast of Washington and Oregon are river bar crossings, and thus can only be safely entered when conditions are calm. You may want to wait until November to make the final sail up the Caribbean Islands back to Florida in order to time your arrival with the end of the Atlantic hurricane season. longest transoceanic route As you prepare to sail across the oceans there is no better way to keep up on the latest boating information than on this site. But its no easy task to sail eastbound across the Pacific. It is estimated that 10,000 sailors died trying to round the Horn in the age of sail. Make sure you complete any jobs or essential maintenance you have been putting off. panam clipper Marina Coral is complete with its own hotel, restaurants, showers, swimming pool, spa, and jacuzzis and its a perfect place to begin the good life south of the border. If the Pacific High is located further south, you may need to motor through light winds for 3 or 4 days. For the purpose of this guide, we will discuss crossing the Atlantic from the most popular port of departure in mainland Europe Gibraltar. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. Clearly, the chance of encountering a cyclone in French Polynesia is much lower, but the risk is still very real. But fear not the passage from the Canaries to the Caribbean is downhill all the way! Then I will make any changes necessary to my boat and get my finances in order before leaving on a three year westabout circumnavigation. The Rio Dulce is also known as an inexpensive yet secure place to wait out the hurricane season. Keeping the vessel in California until the following spring and departing for Polynesia in March or April, or. Youre in the Galapagos among the sea lions, enjoying the sun, while your friends are in the midst of a European winter. However if youre lured there by civilisation, Papeete is a city replete with a Carrefour supermarket, chandleries and most other things you could need. If youre attempting to cross the Pacific, youll need to plan your journey in detail before your departure. If you do end up buying something from Amazon or other companies linked to on this site, we may earn a very small commission. Another option is to sail to the Australian coast and wait out the cyclone season in a safe place, maybe Port Douglas or Cairns. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. A cruising sailors blog, newsfeed or Instagram account from the Pacific is an onslaught of images and videos of every flavour of paradise from the green, dramatic and rugged landscape of the Marquesas with its huge waterfalls, the coral atolls and blue lagoons of the Tuamotus, to Tahiti and Bora Bora, the volcanic eruptions and cauldrons of lava in Vanuatu, the breaching whales of the Coral Sea Enough already, as they say! Arriving in the Marquesas is a pleasurable culture shock and is as dramatic socially as it is scenically. link to Overcome the Challenges of Setting Sail. The Pacific Ocean is by far and away the most diverse for cruising. Just make sure to be safely home before hurricane season in June. Check and then check again. When examining planning charts and contemplating sailing the Pacific Ocean, it looks huge. The next leg of the Caribbean circuit is north along the coast of Central America. We're looking for writers! Dan Bower explains how to prepare and where to sail, Sailing across the Pacific is the adventure of a lifetime, but proper preparation is vital. Today, most who venture into the south are professional sailors taking part in a round the world race such as the Vendee Globe or the Volvo Ocean Race. Despite the official window starting in February, you could also leave in late January, depending on what the cyclone forecasts are saying. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Due to the risk of piracy off Somalia and the political situation in the Middle East, less than ten percent of circumnavigators currently choose this route. The hurricanes that pose a risk on this passage usually develop in the Gulf of Mexico with many days warning before making it this far west. From the Azores its 900 miles to Gibraltar, an excellent first stop in mainland Europe and the gateway to the Mediterranean. Fortunately for the cruising sailor, the worst of the weather can be avoided by careful weather routing. This allows you to cross the Indian Ocean and get into the safety of South African waters before the cyclone season starts in late November. Its worth taking the time to explore the region and youll find you can spend months, even years, cruising there. If you are planning to cross from the Med to the Caribbean, its best to plan to get to the Strait of Gibraltar by early fall. The Society Islands have an interior like the Marquesas and lagoons like the Tuamotus, but neither are quite as good. Twenty three years later, I am writing these words as a licensed yacht delivery captain with 65,000 nautical miles (NM) of offshore sailing routes under my keel. From the Southern Bahamas, cross to the Dominican Republic, and make your way to the Virgin Islands via Puerto Rico.