Best Time to Sail from SF to Hawai i?

[dofthesea]

When is the best time to sail from San Francisco to Hawaii? Thanks

[SkiprJohn]

Best time is July when the Transpac sailors are just about a week from getting underway. That way if you get into very serious trouble you can expect to see a boat or two sail by. They won't want to stop though so maybe they can deliver a message.
Truly, they pick that time of year because consistently it is the best time to get faborable winds for a crossing.
kind regards,

[wengay]

I think you must learn first the climate in Hawaii so that you can choose the perfect time for your sailing. I think you can yahoo or google to do some research.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha wengay,

Sailing in Hawaii is year round once you get here. NE Trades are consistent in the summerish months March through October.

regards,

[Rearsteer]

April to May or from October to November are best. True the winds are better in July but you have a higher risk of a hurricane from June to October.

[savoir]

Almost anytime between March and October is OK. If you are concerned with Hurricanes, September is the worst month. Of the two I would recommend March because you get more options out of Hawaii. Leaving Hawaii in April or May maximises your time in the South Pacific islands if that is where you are headed. Similarly, if you are headed for Micronesia/ Marianas you miss peak season which ends in April. Crowded anchorages are the pits.

[SkiprJohn]

Hurricane Iwa hit the islands just before Thanksgiving in November. The later storms seem to reach the islands but the earlier ones seem to move north more quickly and dissipate.
It is much easier to watch weather globally now and just keep your eye on the tropical depressions forming on the coast of Mexico. If nothing is happening there then it is a good time to come on over.
kind regards,

[SkiprJohn]

Iwa hit the islands in November 1982 and Iniki hit the islands in September 1992. Neither of these storms hit the Big Island which would be your first landfall from SF. We've had some near misses since then but nothing as bad as those two. Look them up on the internet and you can see their origins to get an idea of what to avoid in weather patterns.
I still like early July.
kind regards,