Virginia to San Francisco - via Panama Canal

[Christopher]

A friend of mine is going to be moving back to the West Coast from Virginia.  We have been entertaining the idea of sailing his boat to San Francisco when he makes the move.  I've never really done any cruise of such a great distance, or a canal transit for that matter.  Out of curiosity, how long would you think a trip like this would take?  We're not planning on many extended stays in any one place, just stops for resupply as the ultimate goal is delivery of the boat.

Thoughts?

[s/v Faith]

I just got back from 3 weeks in the Bay area, what a great place to have a boat.

  There was a guy who did that trip (actually came down the center of the country).  He did it in a Pearson Commander (same hull as the Ariel) and wrote about it here.

Link to PersonAriel.org

[TJim]

With all the beating you'll have to do once you get to the Pacific side, I'd say at very best with very limited
time outs for anything, at very best 3 Months.  And you could get hung up waiting to get thru the canal for as much as a couple weeks. TJ

[Christopher]

  There was a guy who did that trip (actually came down the center of the country).  He did it in a Pearson Commander (same hull as the Ariel) and wrote about it here.
Link to PersonAriel.org

That's nuts!  That thing looks hardly bigger than an Ensign!  I love those Pearson Ensigns, but I give credit to anyone who sails something like that for any extended period of time.  Comfy cockpits, but nothing to be desired in the cabin.

Impressive.

[Christopher]

3 months - that's what I was afraid of.  Perhaps we could catch a tow from a South American freighter on the way up the Pacific side? 

My wife asked "How long would that take, like a week?"  ;D

I was thinking more like a month and a half after talking with someone here who was planning a trip down to the Bahamas via St. Lawrence, but this is a very different sort of trip and much longer.

Hmmmmm..... not sure I can buy that much vacation at work

[Frank]

mkeChris wrote..."That's nuts!  That thing looks hardly bigger than an Ensign!  I love those Pearson Ensigns, but I give credit to anyone who sails something like that for any extended period of time.  Comfy cockpits, but nothing to be desired in the cabin."....    Guess I won't ask what ya think of an Electra  ;D  (same hull as ensign)

[AdriftAtSea]

You're talking about sailing a boat over 6000 nm as the crow flies... a good deal more considering the west coast will be a beat to SFO IIRC.  Assuming you can get 100 NM per day... that's only an average of four knots or so per hour..... you're looking at over 60 days of sailing...more realistically, given that you also have to wait to do a Canal transit, you're looking at closer to four months, since most boats on Sailfar.net will need to re-provision at least every 30 days, and there will be the inevitable weather window delays and a wait for the canal transit.

[Christopher]

....    Guess I won't ask what ya think of an Electra  ;D  (same hull as ensign)

Don't get me wrong, I love the Ensign.  I sailed a Hunter 27 across Lake Michigan this year and I feel more stable in an Ensign.  There's just not much for shelter aboard them.  I was incredibly impressed that they would sail something like that so far.  Then again, that seems to be the whole theme of this forum.  My hat's off to ya!

[Christopher]

You're talking about sailing a boat over 6000 nm as the crow flies... a good deal more considering the west coast will be a beat to SFO IIRC.

It's all very sobering.  My trips have been limited to Lake Michigan.  I feel like the trip would be within my skills, but just have no grasp of what kind of time it would take to cover such distance.  Thanks for your insight... and blatant squashing of our idea.. hahaha  ;D

[TJim]

I think they are great!  Completely blue water capable.  A minnie Triton, I love em. 

At 22' I don't think they can be beat.. TJ

[TJim]

You should feel more stgable, it's a by far better boat! TJ

[AdriftAtSea]

mkechris-

Sorry, but thought you should at least get an idea of the magnitude of the voyage.  :)

[Christopher]

mkechris-

Sorry, but thought you should at least get an idea of the magnitude of the voyage.  :)

Absolutely -- That's why I posted the question.  I very much appreciate the responses.  This is a great forum.  No apology necessary :)

Perhaps we could have em throw it on a truck and we could just ride in the boat on the trip... Land voyage by boat is just as good as a sea voyage by boat ;)

[Christopher]

I think they are great!  Completely blue water capable.  A minnie Triton, I love em. 

At 22' I don't think they can be beat.. TJ

Sturdy little suckers.  Love em.

[Zen]

I'm wondering why this is called from Virginia to SF when they came out fo Chicago and down the Miss.?  ???

[AdriftAtSea]

Zen—

Huh???  I think you need some coffee.  I think you're confusing this with another thread.  From the first post:

A friend of mine is going to be moving back to the West Coast from Virginia.  We have been entertaining the idea of sailing his boat to San Francisco when he makes the move.

I'm wondering why this is called from Virginia to SF when they came out fo Chicago and down the Miss.?  ???

[Zen]

Doh!!  ;D

[newt]

Does anyone know about the trucks that transport along the Panama Canal for a lot cheaper than you can sail it? For that matter, I wonder if I could get transport somewhere in Central America from the Pacific to the Caribbean (or visa versa) for a lot less. Seems like a lot less paperwork than doing the canal, and may shorten your time too.

[chris2998]

How much is it to go through the Panama canal?? and dio you have to sign up months in advance for it or you go there pick a number and wait till they call you??

Chris

[AdriftAtSea]

IIRC, the canal fees all told are about $1500 for a boat <35' nowadays...