Best Time to Sail from the Panama Canal to Oz ?

[ABAYLEY]

Can anyone help? Got about 4 months to do this (give or take). Can you suggest a good month to start?
Thanks!

[savoir]

March is popular, but it depends mostly on where you want to stop. The bottom line is not to leave Marquesas before May. That might make an April departure more attractive.

[capt_douglas]

Check out noonsite.com or grab Jummy Cornell's World Cruising Routes for some great info. And the time you leave would depend on your vessel, the itinerary, and your desires.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by savoir

March is popular, but it depends mostly on where you want to stop. The bottom line is not to leave Marquesas before May. That might make an April departure more attractive.

that should read don't leave "for [the] Marquesas", right?

[Dave852]

I would leave Panama between March 15 and April 1 depending on your boat speed. If you are stopping in the Galapagos you can leave sooner as that will burn up a little time.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by sneuman

that should read don't leave "for [the] Marquesas", right?

Not really.

[daddle]

You can leave Panama for Oz anytime of the year. The considerations addressed above are due to the tropical storm seasons in northern and southern hemispheres. You need to choose a time and place to leave and enter each hemisphere. There is absolutely no need to join the mob from North America to the Marquesas. There are many other nice ways to go. A book like Cornell's World Cruising Routes is quite helpful.

[John A]

Cornell's World Cruising Routes, while giving a good average for conditions that he has encountered or read about, should not be considred a Bible. The El Nino of the past few years has given way to a La Nino cycle and what was the norm for the last couple of years may not work this year.

There is a very valid reason that the "mob" arrives in Marquesas when they do. Over the years, this has proven to be the best time to arrive. It's called the Milk Run.

Keep aware of all the weather around you and be prepared to abandon any schedule.

Never having made this passage I'll refrain from offering advice as to times.

Sail safe and have fun.

[meyermm]

It is a long run to the Marquesas and weather windows can change in three to four weeks so a stop in the Galapagos is probably a good idea. Your time span is okay the weather may not as the farther you go south later in the journey you may encounter mid Winter storms coming up from New Zealand in June, July & August as we encountered.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by savoir

Not really.

thanks for the clarification.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by John A

There is a very valid reason that the "mob" arrives in Marquesas when they do. Over the years, this has proven to be the best time to arrive. It's called the Milk Run.

The crossing conditions are not the reason for the mob's Coconut Milk Run. It's the bigger issue of arriving in French Polynesia after tropical storm season and having enough time to enjoy it before the next season begins. That consideration may not apply to the OP's shorter schedule. A visit to FP was not a criteria or is it even necessary.

[savoir]

You could always count your time backwards. You Have 4 months available and
want to arrive in Australia in November so that would mean leaving Panama in June. On the other hand you could make those months May and October.

Marquesas is much less crowded by June.