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trip from San Diego to Vancouver BC

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by ameriboat, Mar 14, 2024.

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  1. ameriboat, Mar 14, 2024
    #1
    ameriboat

    ameriboat New Member

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    Hi west coast boaters i am looking for anyone who has done the run from San Diego to Vancouver BC. I would like to do the run back and forth for the summer season and back to San Diego for the winter just looking for some tips and directions
  2. German Yachting, Mar 15, 2024
    #2
    German Yachting

    German Yachting Senior Member

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    What kind of boat? Not an easy trip.
  3. DOCKMASTER, Mar 15, 2024
    #3
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I looked at this back when I bought my boat and needed to get it from San Diego to Alaska. The trip up the west coast is known for big seas and long stretches where you cannot tuck in if needed. I opted to ship the boat from Ensenada to Victoria BC then ran it up the Inside Passage. Glad I did.
    d_meister likes this.
  4. ameriboat, Mar 22, 2024
    #4
    ameriboat

    ameriboat New Member

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    69 ferretti
  5. GPO, Mar 22, 2024
    #5
    GPO

    GPO Member

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    Regardless of what boat, research crossing the Columbia Bar.
  6. strangebrew, Mar 23, 2024
    #6
    strangebrew

    strangebrew New Member

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    I just binge-watched the Danger TV Coast Guard series on YouTube. That Columbia bar is featured a lot and scares the bajeezus out of me.
  7. Capt Ralph, Mar 23, 2024
    #7
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    As well it should.
    There are short windows of fair passage but it is a sphincter exercise even then.

    RE ameriboat; This is not a Med passage. I fear your Ferretti will be Bingo fuel and full of beat up people before the ride is over.
    If you want to cruise the northern ways; Rent a boat already up there or ship yours up.
  8. K1W1, Mar 24, 2024
    #8
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    We went from Hawaii to Seattle on a 200ft well found Steel Motor Yacht. We used a weather routing service from before the start till the end. We were well on the way to the Juan de Fuca Strait when they started sending warnings about a system coming from the West. The warning suggested seeking shelter. There was none so the engines were put to the test in the cool water and ran well for a day and a bit till we got down the Strait and the wind came in. San Diego to Vancouver is not a trip I would attempt in a dayboat.
    strangebrew likes this.
  9. mapism, Mar 24, 2024
    #9
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    I guess you didn't cruise around here very often, CR.
    Med passages aren't always a bed of roses, also for 590ft vessels like this... o_O
  10. gr8trn, Mar 24, 2024
    #10
    gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Was cyclone Valentina forecasted? Why would a recreational boater sail during a forecast including the possibility of a cyclone?

    That seems silly.
  11. Capt Ralph, Mar 24, 2024
    #11
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    IMO; Another example of pure stupidly.

    Brother; I did not mean the Med was always calm.
    I remember Nadine. The ultimate CF. Supposed a sudden weather (without warning) miss hap.

    But all in all, a left (U S) coast passage as inquired, even a small and sudden (without warning) weather event could happen and take out this lil boat.
    Cabinboy likes this.
  12. mapism, Mar 25, 2024
    #12
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Sorry, I don't know the details. I just picked a well known video as a proof of concept (so to speak), aware as I am that most folks don't know how nasty also the Med can be.
    And not as rarely as this particular event might suggest, BTW: the island where I spend most of my liveaboard time has a side exposed to W/NW, with a fetch of hundreds of NM.
    And from there, occasionally I did see some 12+ feet breaking waves hitting the coast, which is a sight to behold... From the land! :)
  13. gr8trn, Mar 25, 2024
    #13
    gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    You may be correct about folks knowing the potential for nasty conditions in the Med. Those would be folks who have never been on any body of water on a boat. It gets snotty everywhere at some point in time. It's okay to defend your cruising ground, the boat in question is not the best open water, long distance, few and far between tuck ins, as in the Pacific coast of CA, OR, WA. Not that the Med does not have difficult navigation routes.
  14. Capt Cole, Mar 25, 2024
    #14
    Capt Cole

    Capt Cole Member

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    I've made that run several times on vessels ranging 46-70 ft. Just a matter of picking weather windows and take your time. No need to cross the Columbia Bar at all. Plan your fuel stops so you bypass the Columbia River. Do it during the summer season going North when you have longer daylight hours. Generally, you should be able to hop harbor to harbor all of the way up.

    San Diego to SF is pretty easy and straight forward to plan. Lots of stops along the route to Pt. Conception. After that, Morro Bay and Monterey Bay are nice stops for fuel as you press on the SF. There are a couple of cruising guides that offer detailed information about services available heading to the NW.

    It's a great trip. Just remember, Mother Nature is in charge of the schedule; not the yacht owner.
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  15. strangebrew, Mar 25, 2024
    #15
    strangebrew

    strangebrew New Member

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    If you have the ability to do so, would it be smarter to head offshore and to north without stopping?
  16. YachtForums, Mar 25, 2024
    #16
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Unnecessary remarks have been removed from this thread. Let’s focus on constructive conversations.
    d_meister likes this.
  17. Capt Cole, Mar 25, 2024
    #17
    Capt Cole

    Capt Cole Member

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    Never run a 69 Ferretti so I don't know your range at cruise speed. If you can maintain 15+ kts and cover 200 miles before needing fuel, not a problem. For any of the West Coast Bar crossing, it's all in the weather and timing of tides. We generally try our best to make crossing close to slack current at the end of a flood. USCG puts out routine bar crossing information every 30 mins or so to aid mariners. I have crossed the Columbia Bar in conditions you could do in a 20 ft bow rider. Four hours later, wouldn't do it in a 100 footer. But why even take the chance. Plan your fuel stop so that you can make Grays Harbor and completely bypass the Columbia. We typically run 5-10 nm offshore, depending on sea conditions. If you are in need of assistance, there are a lot of Captains in Southern C A that routinely make that passage. It is honestly not that challenging if you do proper planning.
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