Hawaii anyone?

Pnut · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007

I'm a newbie to the sailing world, and after a few weeks of reading every sailing magazine I can lay my hands on and lurking here every day, why is it I never see anything about cruising the Hawaiian islands? There's only one sailing school out there that offers ASA certification, and very few sailboats for sale there. Is Hawaii not a popular sailing ground for some reason?

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007

Dangerous sailing inter island and only for the most competent therefore no bareboats allowed and most of the boats for sale there have made a 3000 mile passage to get there which kind of limits the population. Finally...there are very few marinas and the main ali wai marina on oahu has a long waiting lists. Kinda discourages ownership.
Welcome aboard and love the STRANGE avatar!!
It would not be difficult, Mein Fuhrer. Nuclear reactors could... I'm sorry, Mr. President... nuclear reactors could provide power almost indefinitely.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

The currents around the Hawaiian islands are pretty formidable. The shores of the islands are not very friendly or forgiving to sailboat gone astray either...being made of volcanic rock in many cases...

As for other reasons the Hawaiian islands are not good cruising grounds... they're bloody expensive... especially when compared to the South Pacific or the Caribbean.

Combine the strong currents, unfriendly terrain, limited marina services, and high costs... you're going to really cut down on the cruising population.

tdw · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Dangerous sailing inter island and only for the most competent therefore no bareboats allowed and most of the boats for sale there have made a 3000 mile passage to get there which kind of limits the population. Finally...there are very few marinas and the main ali wai marina on oahu has a long waiting lists. Kinda discourages ownership.
Welcome aboard and love the STRANGE avatar!!
It would not be difficult, Mein Fuhrer. Nuclear reactors could... I'm sorry, Mr. President... nuclear reactors could provide power almost indefinitely.

Plenty of sellers but in general it's slim pickins ?

captlar · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

Just back from a week in Hawaii. 25+ knots all the time. Trying to attach photos - let's see. Hard to find marina space. Most are government run and better described as government run down. I met a few local businessmen who were trying to get approvals for private marina but progress is slow. There is a lot new development going on and, currently, real estate is, IMO, no more expensive than caribe. the islands are really spread out so most sailors are just daysailing. The islands are a beautiful place, but if we retired there, surfing or golf would need to be the new sports. Sailing, diving and fishing are limited.

wildcard · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

Funny, living in Hawaii for the last four years Id say the sailing diving and fishing are fantastic. Harbour space is very limited but transiet slips are sometimes available and there are many places to anchor up and take a dink to shore. 25kts is not the norm, the trades blow 10-15 but it does come up. By timing your crossings on the channels and steering wide of the main currents, the crossings are not so bad.
Im guessing your visit was to Oahu? ya, it kinda sucks but the rest of the islands are very nice.
Supposed to be a new 600 slip marina coming to Oahu in a few years. The islands are loosing out on tons of money due poor managment and coruption of the harbor system. We keep asking for the harbors to be privatised. Always some space available at the "main" harbor on Oahu at sand Isle, may be a mooring ball or a run down slip but there is room.

captlar · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

My standards are pretty high. I'm comparing the islands to the Caribe, Costa Rica, Seychelles. Ten years ago the Florida Keys were on my list, but no more due to ever increasing fishing pressure. My method of fishing is sightcasting and primarily on the fly. I think Hawaii rates high in all three categories, but not tops in any. Still on our short list but I would probably have a performance daysailor rather than cruiser since the islands are farther apart and harbors are limited. I should add low crime and great people make the islands a very special place and not as expensive as many think. You are correct we were on Oahu this trip. Big Island on the next trip.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

captlar... where's the photo??

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

Larry-

Try clicking the photo link button (it's the second from the right in the quick reply tool bar), and then paste the link in there.

It will show up like this... and what pretty ocean.

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007

You're clicking on the wrong icon... you don't want the globe with chain links.. but the one to its right.. the yellow mountain landscape postcard icon.