I would not wait too long in the PNW. The fall gales can start in October--check with Mike Maurice. We have always tried to be into Calif. by the middle of October. As for the Hawaii trip, I have only done it May thru July. The Kona Storms are items to be very much aware of: Kona storms, or Kona Lows, form in winter (November through April). There are 5 a year on an average, and they are out of the South/South West. These rare events are odd weather creatures (classified as cold-core lows), wandering slowly, on often unpredictable paths, and lingering for a week or more at times. Kona storms may involve very adverse weather for a passage with wind on the nose, including hailstorms, thunder and lightening, and waterspouts.. I have spent a number of months in Hawaii in my youth and sailed there quite a bit, as well as both cruising and racing (Transpac) to the Islands. Although the Islands are interesting, there are not a lot of harbors which are well protected, and the channels between the islands tend to be rough. In going to Hawaii--as in any other part of the trip, you have to be aware of the weather patterns. Ideally the power boat would sail directly thru the Pacific High, and never to the North of it--to the South the Trade winds will be behind you. However the seas will be rougher. You also have to balance any currents. As Patrick notes the usual route to the S. Pacific is to the Marquesas in mid Spring, from Mexico. Then on to the Tuamotu and then the Society Islands. >From there to the Somoas, Tonga and then down to New Zealand in November. Look at the hurricane season being the opposite as the Northern Hemisphere--but with the area of the Phillipine and South China Sea, you can be at risk almost any time of the year. The "Typical" S. Pacific cyclone season begins in November and lasts thru May. You need to be in Australia or New Zealand during most of this time. Comming back up from New Zealand, you have to watch the weather, but can usually find a break from the storms out of the South. I assume that you are wanting to go the shorter distances. As long as you have the range, once you have settled into the routine of passagemaking, I don't find it makes a lot of difference if you go 2200 miles or 3200 miles. Many times I didn't want to see the passage end. After "Summer" in New Zealand, most folks head up to Fiji, then to Vanuatu and eventually to the East Coast of Australia for the next "Summer"--Going as Far south as Syndey and Melbourne, then up the Barrier Reef to Darwin and then to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaysia. Many people go on around, since it is easier and not much further--plus there are some really interesting places to visit--and I can assure you that sailing the Med is far different than flying to various cities. The other options are going to more out of the way places in Micronesia and the South Pacific--Or the option of comming back home via Japan and Alaska. We have several friends who spent 8 to 9 years cruising the out of the way places in the S. Pacific. If you come down from Hawaii to the societies, you will be in beam seas most of the way, but you will miss the Marquesas and Tuamotu's The question is how long do you want to take? What are your goals. I personally prefer paths less traveled--and basicially what I described is the Milk run that most sailboats take. Low powered motor vessels are often advised to take the same routes, because wind and currents are behind them. Is it the adventure of crossing an ocean? Is it visiting remote places and meeting native people who rarely are touched by modern society? There should be goals, beyond the journey. It seems to me that the cruising society has changed. When I was younger, the folks doing cruising did it life long. Now many people make one passage and then sell the boat--I think that is because they have not had enough experience and preparation to deal with the various adversities, and that they don't have concrete goals for the trip--plus probably unrealistic expectations. I assume that you have looked at "Ocean Passages for the World" as well as Jimmy Cornell's book. Much of Cornell's book is derived from Ocean Passages. Also read Steve Dashew's comments on his trips, as well as the numberous other logs available of folks who have gone this route before. It is the rare person who goes to Australia and New Zealand in one year. The vast majority go to New Zealand the first year, then Australia the second year, and eventually across the Indian Ocean--and either around Cape of Good Hope or thru the Suez. So you do have to consider the time frame. Consider that once you are at Australia--that the options getting back to the West Coast are likely to involve some rough weather and adverse conditions, unless you go around. But If I was not going on around, I would definately consider going up to Japan and back that way--not an easy trip--don't ever consider bucking the trades. Bob Austin