A Comprehensive Guide to Sailing from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta: Planning and Preparation

Sailing from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is an impressive voyage along the Pacific Coast, typically covering a distance of about 2000 nautical miles. This journey can vary depending on the specific route taken. In this guide, we will break down the estimated travel time, planning considerations, and practical advice for experienced sailors.

Estimating Travel Time

Distance: Approximately 2000 nautical miles.

Average Speed: For a 32 Ericson boat, a reasonable cruising speed would be around 5 to 6 knots under ideal conditions. We will use 5.5 knots as a conservative average.

Calculation

Daily Distance: At 5.5 knots you would cover about 5.5 knots x 24 hours 132 nautical miles per day.

Total Days of Sailing: To find out how many days it would take to cover 2000 nautical miles, we can use the formula:

2000 nautical miles / 132 nautical miles per day ≈ 15.15 days

Sailing Hours per Week: Since you plan to sail 60 hours per week:

60 hours ÷ 7 days about 8.57 hours per day.

In nautical miles, this would be:

5.5 knots x 8.57 hours ≈ 47.14 nautical miles per day

Revised Total Days

With this daily distance, the formula to calculate total days is:

2000 nautical miles / 47.14 nautical miles per day ≈ 42.4 days

Conclusion: If you sail 60 hours per week, it will take approximately 42 to 43 days to sail from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta. This estimate can vary based on weather conditions, currents, and your chosen route. Be sure to factor in rest days and any delays due to weather or other factors, which could extend your journey. Happy sailing!

Additional Planning Considerations

After arriving in Oregon, there are not many stops until San Francisco (SF). For reference, the author completed this route from SF and took their time:

3 weeks in Santa Barbara, exploring Santa Cruz Island. 3 weeks in San Diego.

Entering Mexico: It is recommended to enter Mexico after November 1, as this is the end of hurricane season, and when your insurance will kick in. Spending additional weeks in San Jose del Cabo and then down to Puerto Vallarta is a good idea. For the more adventurous, consider going further south as the best anchorages are there.

Insurance and Regulations: Ensure your boat has never been to Mexico before. If it has, research TIP (Tecma). Failing to address an active TIP can result in a legal nightmare.

Practical Advice for the Journey

Engine Maintenance: The challenging part is coming home. Big wind and waves against you. Once you get past Santa Barbara, going south requires motoring 70% of the time. Make sure your engine is in top shape and that your boat has a clean bill of health.

Recreational Sailing Guide: Get a good guide book for cruisers and you will find spots that are unbelievable. The author personally went all the way to Ztown and loved it, taking an extra 3 weeks to explore. Along the way, they had many folks staying on the boat as well as on land, adding to the voyage.

Conclusion: The return journey, however, requires preparation and planning to overcome challenging conditions. It took the author six long weeks to get home, facing big wind and waves. With proper preparation and maintenance, your journey from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta can be a rewarding adventure.

Keyword Focus: Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta, Sailing Route, Nautical Miles