The rule of thumb in the PNW is leave no later than Labor Day. After that it gets more and more lumpy with higher winds and waves, plus the fog, plus crab pots out to 60 fathom line (start of the south flowing current) plus coastal commercial traffic and all on a very inhospitable lee shore.

The November 1 rule of thumb is to catch the end of the East Pacific hurricane season BUT the worst two that hit Hawaii were in the month before and the month after that season. They shoulda aready been in S. California in any case for this time of year.

Although boats do head south in the winter but that's for February and other weather window months... and strong boats.....

Coronados especially and one other brand were bought out by some Canadian plastics company (famous for window blinds) and immediately became 'made' rather than built. Hull thickness became very very thin. So the age of that boat is more an issue than the length, other conditions aside.

Chances of collision? For sure with a fiberglass low in the water when wave crests are high boat especially considering most and I do mean MOST sailboats have really crappy to the point of useless radar reflectors. Add fog or just lights that meet bare minimum requirements, time of year, in that area...it's an accident waiting to happen. Not IF but WHEN. On a ship the bump wouldn't be noticed. At night or in fog the debris wouldn't be seen.

But on that coast severe damage could be just a matter of heavy ponding surf rolling it up to the beach.

We'll probably never know but it's a good wakeup call to do a reality check and don't get in a hurry when thinking about starting too late. Those islands will be there next year.

Michael