So it’s time to start our long range planing and regardless of when you and your vessel plan on crossing the Tehuantepec – it is best to proceed with caution –
Your crossing the Tehuantepec will depend on your speed and your “size” of the the Weather Window.
Ocean waves take about 6 – 12 hours toย lay down so only go straight across if you got 48 hours.
Hugging the shore adds 60 NM but add’s the ability for you to get live weather and even anchor off the shores
Hugging the shore is the more prudent choice as you can pick up 7 cellphone towers and update your weather forecasts.
Weather.โIn the vicinity of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, which includes Puerto de Salina Cruz, the N winds are particularly strong. These winds, known locally as Tehuantepecers, generally prevail from October through April and at times blow with a force that exceeds force 8. There is less than 1 day per month of such winds from May to September. These winds ma7 last several hours or several days, are liable to raise a high sea, and may be felt up to 100 miles offshore. The onset of these gale force winds may be indicated by a brief periods of rain from arched squall clouds followed by quickly clearing or cloudless skies.
The barometer cannot be relied on to give any prior warning.
Tides
Currents.โThe tides rise about 1.1m at springs and
1m at neaps
WINDS
Tides and Currents
The tidal currentsย set north and south throughout the Canal de la Mona and areย UNPREDICTABLE!
A currentย ย of about 1-knot for the northerly and southerly currents in the Mona. In summer, when the trade wind has slackened and blows more from the east and east/southeast, a strong counter-current sets east off the southern coast of Hispaniola.