Aroundoceans with SV Emerald Sea

Our journey on water

25 March 2018 | Victoria. British Columbia
05 October 2017 | Victoria BC
24 August 2017 | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
27 July 2017 | Reeds Bay, Hilo, Hawaii
10 July 2017 | Reeds Bay, Hilo, Hawaii
22 June 2017 | Bora Bora, French Polynesia
18 June 2017 | Bora Bora, French Polynesia
12 June 2017 | Humane, French Polynesia
05 June 2017 | Moorea, French Polynesia
05 June 2017 | Tahiti
07 May 2017 | Tahiti, French Polynesia
21 April 2017 | Fakarava, Tuamotu's, French Polynesia
05 April 2017 | Tahanea Atoll. Tuamotu's, French Polynesia
05 April 2017 | Makemo Atoll, Tuamotu's, French Polynesia
07 March 2017 | Rikitea, Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia
20 February 2017 | Rikitea, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia
14 January 2017 | Playita, Panama City, Panama
02 January 2017 | La Plait, Panama City
17 December 2016 | Isla Nargana
16 December 2016 | San Blas, Panama

Passage Route Bora Bora to Hawaii to Canada

22 June 2017 | Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Steve
During a relaxed time at one of the scenic Bora Bora anchorages we were chatting, as one does, about our plans going forward. Up until this time we were to continue westward toward Tonga, Fiji and then north to the Marshall's and Micronesia. Then we realized there was an opportunity to leave French Polynesia now and head north up to Hawaii, Canada and into the Pacific North West. It took a week or so to mull it over and do the research and in the end we decided Canada was where we wanted to head to next. The weather was favorable at this time of year for such a passage where the best months for routing from Hawaii to British Columbia is June to August. It meant leaving Bora Bora before the end of June to be in Victoria before the end of August. I studied the weather patterns, routes, the North Pacific High and its associated lows and also corresponded with Jim Innes, a tactician for the Transpac rally that runs from PNW to Hawaii who provided me with guidance.

The passage from Bora Bora to Hawaii will be relatively easy going with reliable easterly trades moving us along nicely. We expect to clear into Honolulu and stay for a week. Leaving Hawaii toward Canada will be a bit more challenging. A rhumb line from Hawaii to Victoria takes you thru the N Pacific High which entails no winds and a days and days of motoring.

So the passage plan from Hawaii is expected to take us on a course of 350 degrees for at least 1100nm and try not to be temped to point for BC. This route will take us around the High to the west of the center and keep us in the breeze. It also positions us so that when we do penetrate the High it keeps motoring to a minimum. Then we drew a line out of the entrance of Juan de Fuca bearing 280 degrees for 350nm and marked a waypoint. This is our entry into the straits (about equivalent attitude as the top of Vancouver Island) and the reason for aiming for this point is that if gales from the NW are forecasted and materialize then the ride from that point puts the wind on a favorable broad reach.

We are expecting to have to get out our cold weather gear. And low visibility and cool fog can be expected on the Swiftsure Bank and along the Juan De Fuca Straits to Victoria. Juan De Fuca Straits are a busy shipping channel for merchant ships heading into Canada and the US, predominately to Vancouver and Seattle. Plenty of fishing boats and humpback whales are expected - let's not get too close! And fishing should be good!

Soooo looking forward to Victoria!
Comments
Vessel Name: Emerald Sea
Vessel Make/Model: Lagoon 450
Hailing Port: Singapore
Crew: Steve P, Rosemarie P
About:
This site charts the adventures and misadventures of our family and hopefully share some of the practical tips and tricks that we picked up along the way. As our experiences grows so will the site as we share with you our aroundoceans journey. [...]
Extra:
We untied the ropes from Keppel Marina in Singapore in August 2014 and haven't looked back. Across the Indian and around South Africa into the South Atlantic Oceans, the leeward Caribbean and South Pacific....with many stops along the way. And now, perhaps finally for this chapter, British [...]
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Emerald Sea's Photos - Main
Photos 1 to 10 of 10
1
Keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum! Solar array extending over cockpit.
Clean fuel is essential to a maintenance free engine. Racor Dual 500s with vacuum gauge. We use 5 and 10 micron filters.
Emerald from aft - offshore Singapore.
Axel with baracudda.
Axel installing the Ocean Safety life raft. This is an ISO Ocean series and one we hope never to use!
Axel underwater following turtles at Tioman.
Solar frame mount showing the upper supports.
Aft view during the solar system installation.
The storm jib being installed.  We will be seen!  Sail blogs took an upright photo and rotated it!
 
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Hawaii was a stop over on our way to Canada however we were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our 3 weeks in Big Hawaii.
13 Photos
Created 27 July 2017
No Photos
Created 27 July 2017
A selection from 1000's of photos from out 6 months in French Polynesia. But were missing the photos from Gambier, Makemo, Tahanea.....
17 Photos
Created 27 July 2017
We transited the Panama Canal on 30-31st December 2016.
20 Photos
Created 2 January 2017
5 Photos
Created 17 December 2016
Barbados, Martinique, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada. A few of our photos captured here.
10 Photos
Created 22 October 2016
Photo fun...
3 Photos
Created 1 May 2016
10-15 April 2016
5 Photos
Created 1 May 2016
What doesn't fit into the albums will be found here....
15 Photos
Created 20 December 2015
26 June to 13 July 2015
16 Photos
Created 28 July 2015
5 February to 13 May 2015
17 Photos
Created 28 July 2015
17 July to 12 October 2015
16 Photos
Created 28 July 2015
29 May to 25 June 2015
20 Photos
Created 28 July 2015
16 April to 20 May 2015
18 Photos
Created 31 May 2015
Photos from Singapore to Langkawi
7 Photos
Created 12 November 2014
Our first 2 weeks out in East Malaysia (Sept 14)
5 Photos
Created 18 September 2014
Our Bon voyage party with our yachtie neighbors.
3 Photos
Created 24 August 2014
In June 14 we sailed up to Pulau Tioman for our first journey of living on this new boat and trialing new equipment including the drogue system, storm jib, solar system and other vessel installations.
6 Photos
Created 17 July 2014