The Pacific Crossing Guide

The Pacific Crossing Guide is a complete reference for anyone contemplating sailing the Pacific. From ideal timing, suitable boats, routes, methods of communication, health and provisioning to seasonal weather, departure and arrival ports, facilities, likely costs and dangers, this comprehensive new edition will both inspire dreamers and instil confidence in those about to depart.

Completely updated, expanded and refreshed for the new generation of Pacific cruisers, this is the definitive reference, relied upon by many thousands of cruisers. Part 1 covers thorough preparation for both East-to-West and West-to-East crossings and Part 2 covers Pacific weather patterns, major routes and landfall ports, with useful website links throughout. There are sections on rallies, coral atolls and atoll navigation, the cyclone season and laying up, use of electronic charts, satellite phones versus HF radio, ongoing maintenance, and Pacific festivals.

Updated with new charts and photographs, the new 4th edition focuses on ports of entry rather than secondary anchorages, and expands the North Pacific coverage, making it a valuable resource for sailors doing a North Pacific circuit, particularly US and Canadian sailors from the Pacific North.

About the Author

Francis Hawkings has been sailing in the Pacific for over thirty years. His cruises have taken him to the South Pacific, Chile, Hawaii, Japan and Alaska from his home base in California.

Praise for The Pacific Crossing Guide

“The definitive work on Pacific crossings.”
– Cruising

“This is both a hardcore planning guide and a gorgeous dreamer’s bible. The whole Pacific is at your fingertips in this updated edition.”
– 48 North (review of 3rd edition)

“A magnum opus of excellence.”
– Flying Fish (review of 3rd edition)

“Photographs, charts and diagrams help make this one of the definitive reference books for any Pacific voyage.”
– Soundings US (review of 3rd edition)

“A complete reference for anyone contemplating sailing the Pacific in their own boat.”
– Yachting Times (review of 3rd edition)

“The go-to guide for transpacific sailors.”
– Cruising Club of America

Table of Contents

• About the Author
• Preface and Acknowledgements
• The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation
• Route Map
• Introduction

Part 1: Preparations

• 1. Casting Off
• 2. The Pacific Ocean
• 3. Preparing the Boat and Yourself
• 4. The Balance of Power
• 5. Maintenance, Spares, and Laying Up
• 6. A Home Away from Home
• 7. Keeping Healthy
• 8. Staying Safe
• 9. Navigation
• 10. Communications
• 11. Protocol, Paperwork, and Pets

Part 2: Passage Planning

• 12. Pacific Weather
• 13. Pacific Itineraries
• 14. Routes to French Polynesia
• 15. French Polynesia
• 16. Westwards in the South Pacific
• 17. New Zealand and Australia
• 18. The South-east Pacific
• 19. South and West through Hawaii
• 20. Routes to Japan
• 21. Alaska and the Pacific North-west to California

• Appendices
• Index