Baja Seafaris - Sail Boat Charters in La Paz, Mexico

BAJA CRUISING NOTES

JIM

     This page is for the sailors. Whether under power or sail, you're the ones who cruise up in the States, maybe do a charter now and then, or are getting ready to go on that cruise you've always been dreaming of. You have some experience, but may be a little confused about what's really needed, and what's hype. Perhaps this page will help to answer some of the questions that never seem to get answered in those nice glossy magazines.
     We won't just deal with equipment, but will cover cruising in the Sea of Cortez, and what to expect once you're down here. I'm not always going to mention specific brands of equipment, but will try to generalize if I can. There's new equipment coming out all the time, and everyone will have a different opinion on how good or necessary it really is.
     Mainly you're going to discover how to stay comfortable and enjoy your boat. What type of awning is best? How hot does it really get during the summer? What's the difference between a squall and a chubasco? Why should I have a ham radio when all of my friends are buying an SSB? Why do I need to keep a DR when I have GPS? If you don't know what a DR is, or don't know how to do one, you have to learn, and hopefully before you leave! The bottom line is that if you and your first mate are prepared, and can easily handle your boat, you'll both be confident and have a good time. Believe me, if your first mate isn't enjoying herself, you'll be singlehanding after you arrive in Cabo.
     I once had a friend tell me how hard it was to reef his Ingrid 38, "It has such a big main, and it takes me 30 minutes to reef it." Well, the main on "Irish Mist" has 500 square feet of sail on a boom that's 22 feet long. I can put a reef in within a couple of minutes by myself. I experimented with different lazy jacks (5 styles) and reefing systems until I got it right. Another sailor, whom I met when we came down in 1984, said he had to motor most of the way. The wind was blowing about 20-25 knots all the way down, on the stern. We had made it to Cabo in a 22-foot Falmouth Cutter in eight days, sailing all but the first twelve hours, in the same conditions, including a three-day storm. The problem was that before he left he didn't want to spend the money on a good pole to keep the jib out. Without a pole his boat rolled so much that he decided to motor.
     These are just a few of the stories I've heard over the years. Maybe we can help those who will listen, help them to have a safe and enjoyable cruise. Try to spend as much time sailing and gunkholing on your boat as possible. Anchor whenever you can, rather than picking up a mooring. The number one rule is no schedules! I know that's hard to do when you're in the States, but once you cut those dock lines, and you're on your way, stick to no schedules, and you won't regret it.
     I'll be constantly adding to this page. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. It may be a while before I'm able to answer, but I will.

INDEX

WHICH ANCHOR IS BEST?
GROUND TACKLE & TECHNIQUES
YOU'RE DRAGGING: WHAT DO YOU DO?
I WANT TO CHARTER A SAILBOAT
BAREBOATING vs. A CREWED SAILING VACATION
LITTLE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE: PART 1
THE WILDLIFE IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ
SEA LIONS
ARE YOU SAFE IN MEXICO?
CHUBASCOS
KEEPING COOL DURING THE SUMMER AND WHY AWNINGS SHOULD BE WHITE
DINGHIES AND MOTORS, THE BIG DECISION

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