Panama to Philippines – North Pacific Passage
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We are planning to sail from Panama to the Philippines via Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Guam from next November to March 2008. We need information regarding winds – it should be the trade winds all the way through? But we can’t find any reports from sailing boats have done this route. We would appreciate any comments.
You should have favourable winds for most of the way. However, you need to go NW from Costa Rica before you find the prevailing NE’lies… or coastal cruise along the coast of Mexico and only set off for Hawaii from somewhere around Acapulco. In that way, you shorten your leg to Hawaii from over 3000 miles to just over 2000.
West of Hawaii you should have NE winds, provided to you don’t go too far south… and carry those winds to Guam and the Philippines. Although you will be sailing in the safe season, watch out for extra-seasonal typhoons once past the Marshalls.
Good luck!
Jimmy Cornell, noonsite
If Hawaii is not important a direct route to Guam is a much straight forward passage with favourable winds all the way. CostaRica to the Philippines.
I have sailed this route at the same time of year, Nov./May. I found it an easy sail but the leg from CR to Hawaii is very long over 4000 miles. Take Jimmies advice and sail north to Mexico before crossing.