Plan(hope) to circumnavigate Vancouver Island late this summer

[Sven]

A few of us technomads are preparing to circumnavigate Vancouver Island in July - August - September.

For us to join we have to get up the coast which either means bashing it or going via Hawaii. Depending on the weather we'll probably go for the Hawaii route.

We'd love local insights as well as insights into how to get up the coast via either the bash or Hawaii.



-Sven

 

[alesnloggers]

Whatever way you go, look me up when you get to Victoria and I'll buy you a beer.

 

[Sven]

Whatever way you go, look me up when you get to Victoria and I'll buy you a beer.

Thanks for the invite ! Will the beer be warm ?



-Sven

 

[Loren Beach]

Drink your way North...

Thanks for the invite ! Will the beer be warm ?
-Sven

If you stop off at Astoria I will drive down and buy you a Cold Microbrew....


Loren

 

[alesnloggers]

Is bilge temp OK?

 

[Rocinante33]

Sven,

If you harbor hop all the way up the coast there are many fine stops to make along the way. I always though it would be cool to sail to Ft. Bragg, to Humbolt Bay, Coos Bay, etc.

http://www.mendocino.com/?id=469

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Bay

http://www.el.com/to/coosbay/

 

[Sven]

Is bilge temp OK?

In BC, probably yes



-Sven

 

[Sven]

Hi Keith,

If you harbor hop all the way up the coast there are many fine stops to make along the way. I always though it would be cool to sail to Ft. Bragg, to Humbolt Bay, Coos Bay, etc.

We'll probably harbor hop on the way down the coast. Going up is probably too much of a bash unless we go off shore or even via Hawaii. I've been looking at the GRIB files the last couple of weeks and most of the time off-shore is the place to be for down-wind sailing.

Thanks for the links, I'll add them to the planning !



-Sven

 

[Andrew Means]

So it's faster (easier?) to go all the way to Hawaii than to sail directly up the coast? How does that figure? Are the prevailing winds directly south?

 

[Sven]

So it's faster (easier?) to go all the way to Hawaii than to sail directly up the coast? How does that figure? Are the prevailing winds directly south?

Going off the coast, maybe as far as Hawaii, can make it a mostly downwind or beam reach sail. Following the coast can be painful (per others' experiences) as you are fighting prevailing winds and waves. Quite a few stories of people waiting and waiting for a weather window just to get around Point Conception.



-Sven

 

[Andrew Means]

How long are you affording yourself for the sail up?

 

[Sven]

How long are you affording yourself for the sail up?

The rough planning page is here: http://www.grenander.com/Senta_II/Blog/Entries/2012/2/8_Can_we_get_to_Vancouver_Island_(Sven).html

Once we are up there we'll spend 6 to 8 weeks doing the circumnavigation. At least that's the going in plan.



-Sven

 

[PDX]

Going off the coast, maybe as far as Hawaii, can make it a mostly downwind or beam reach sail. Following the coast can be painful (per others' experiences) as you are fighting prevailing winds and waves. Quite a few stories of people waiting and waiting for a weather window just to get around Point Conception.



-Sven

Coming back across from Hawaii isn't any sure thing weather wise either. Maybe it is if you're just coming back to SoCal, but the North Pacific storm track doesn't disappear in the Summer. A couple from our marina spent a lot of time waiting out in the middle for the storms to clear last summer. I don't rememer how long exactly but it was several weeks. And this was after they had spoken to professional weather forecasters in Hawaii, in person, and been assured they had a good window.

 

[Sven]

Coming back across from Hawaii isn't any sure thing weather wise either. Maybe it is if you're just coming back to SoCal, but the North Pacific storm track doesn't disappear in the Summer. A couple from our marina spent a lot of time waiting out in the middle for the storms to clear last summer. I don't rememer how long exactly but it was several weeks. And this was after they had spoken to professional weather forecasters in Hawaii, in person, and been assured they had a good window.

No such thing as a safe bet for weather. Just read about one couple (a few years ago) who got stuck, just as you mention, might even be the same folks ? It is still the preferred route.



-Sven

 

[PDX]

Its certainly the preferred route for ease of sailing. I'm less certain about it being the reliably fastest route. Are you on a timetable that requires you to leave the Sound in time to sail back to SoCal? Or will you leave your boat up there for the winter? People in my area (lower Columbia basin) who summer in the Sound like to head back by early September. And they are only sailing to Astoria.

 

[Sven]

Its certainly the preferred route for ease of sailing. I'm less certain about it being the reliably fastest route. Are you on a timetable that requires you to leave the Sound in time to sail back to SoCal? Or will you leave your boat up there for the winter? People in my area (lower Columbia basin) who summer in the Sound like to head back by early September. And they are only sailing to Astoria.

Ease of sailing is the objective. This is for the pleasure of exploring, nothing else.

We'll play it by ear but we'll probably start coast hopping south by mid-September. Realize this is still in the formulation stage and that we reserve the right to adjust the plans as needed while we investigate the options



-Sven