Is it good to sail from Southern CA to Seatle?

[rockDAWG]

Just for the argument sake,
The current weather pattern over west coast as of Jan 25 at 3:00p is great for boats sailing north from CA. Not sure how long this will last.

earth wind map

I am an east coast sailor, so what is your take for those who sail this water frequently?

[senormechanico]

I'm no pro weatherman, but it's been pretty stable for a week or so.
Sunny with a light southerly today.
I'd give it a week holding like this.

[djmarchand]

What size boat are you sailing and what are your heavy weather skills?

When I lived in Newport Beach a few years ago, a local delivery skipper who writes a weekly column in the paper said he will never go around Pt Conception in anything less than a 40' boat. And even then you might need to wait for a few days for decent seas to go around.

And there are other tough points to get around on you way north besides Pt Conception.

David

[Richard5]

To directly answer the question posed by the OP, yes, it is a good idea.

To address the comment of delivery skipper who'd require at least 40', I'll say there is probably much more to consider. There would be a myriad of reasons why he would make such a comment and not all have too do with the boat.

For me, no matter the current weather, I'm beating west until I can lay 800 nm or so off Mendocino.

[CharlieCobra]

It's a tough beat but doable. The problem is how fast things can change. Made the trip this past Summer and still hit a gale there.

[Stu Jackson]

The unusual Pacific High is settled in off Northern California, and has been for the past few weeks.

It rarely does that during the winter. Very rarely.

When the High moves south, which is can do at any time now, the low pressure systems are "allowed" to move south, and bring bad weather all the way down to the California coast.

I wouldn't depend on this weather continuing for much longer.

[jongleur]

I'm skippering my 2005 Prius from SoCal to Seattle
to go to the boat show. Navigating along I5. Should take me
about 2 days with one night holed up in some cozy
anchorage (hotel).

[Kestle]

Humidity just jumped the last two days, and we had clouds indicating a change just come thru. Also, high storm surge eas firecast locally.

Jeff

[JPA Cate]

Not that a sailing trip from SF Bay to Seattle is impossible. Once heard of a friend of a friend who had southerlies all the way to Cape Flattery. Have never heard of another.....The trip is up current and up wind, usually, and winter storms are definitely to be avoided. There are few places of refuge you can get into when the wind has been blowing strongly for a few days.

Personally, have only sailed SF-Channel Is.-return. So no personal experience of the northern part of the beat.

Ann

[Panope]

Originally Posted by jongleur

I'm skippering my 2005 Prius from SoCal to Seattle
to go to the boat show. Navigating along I5. Should take me
about 2 days with one night holed up in some cozy
anchorage (hotel).

Same route that the skipper that my father hired to deliver Panope back home from a season in Baja. Pretty sure the anchorage was a truck stop.

Steve

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Not that a sailing trip from SF Bay to Seattle is impossible. Once heard of a friend of a friend who had southerlies all the way to Cape Flattery.

It's a sucker. You get 2/3rds the way then spend 2 weeks going backwards in the ****. Woe to them who fall for the sucker punch.

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by Panope

Same route that the skipper that my father hired to deliver Panope back home from a season in Baja. Pretty sure the anchorage was a truck stop.

Steve

Because a boat should be driven by Class A onshore. Because....

• in a hurry
• fearful skipper
• perceived ineffectual knowledge to, you know, actually sail on her own hull

[jongleur]

The Seattle boat show was worth driving
upwind for. I got the 5 day pass and took
lots of the seminars. Heading home in the
next day or so. Spent lots of $. Got lots
of goodies. Weather was COOOOOOOLD!

[jrwaltersr]

Captain and crew or just crew ready to go in California. Call me for details.
Respectfully,
Jason Walter
925-339-0989

[jrwaltersr]

I done Point Conception three times going north. You SO CAl sailors are just used to LA basin sailing.