What should I know About Sailing To Baja Mexico?

[adell50]

I am captaining a 1984 54' Hunter from Marina Del Rey, California to La Paz, Mexico.

The boat has all new safety equipment - life raft, EPIRB, harness, lanyards, strobes, horns, and flares. New batteries, new sails, and the engine has just been serviced.

3 passengers.

Depart on July 18th and have 7 days scheduled for the voyage.

What should I know about weather?

What should I know about customs?

What should I know about pirates/folks up to no good at sea?

What should I know about shifts/sleep/food rationing?

Know of any good articles or blogs covering the topics above and others I can't think about right now?

Many thanks!

[Bradhamlet]

Check out the Latitude 38 web sight, the BA HA HA is a neat way to learn all there is to know about the trip. It will be lots of fun for sure.
Brad

[tomperanteau]

I'll be really interested in watching this thread, as we'll be sailing that direction soon. One thing I can say is to take a lot of sushi rice and soy sauce to accommodate the bonito that you'll catch.

[imagine2frolic]

It's going to be cold damp, and at times wet until you reach the cape.......i2f

[montenido]

Hi, I am also interested, as one day I would like to do the BaHaha. I wonder if 7 days is enough time for the trip? MDR to the Cape is over 1000 miles, and La Paz is a ways up the inside. I'd allow at least a couple of weeks.
Be safe and have a great time. Drink a cold one (or two) for those of us stuck at home, and please let us know how it goes.

Cheers, Bill

[tomperanteau]

Bill, I'd think you're right to allow a couple of weeks. If you averaged 70 miles a day it would take 14 days.

When are you leaving?

[aeventyr60]

Why rush? Plenty of great spots on the Baja Peninsula to explore. 2 weeks or more sounds better. Also we found it was too cold in Early November near Cabo, Los Frailes, so we headed for the mainland. Tenacatita is the spot!

[seansmith510]

If you can be in San Diego on October 3rd, Ullman Sails on Shelter Island is going to be having an offshore sailing seminar and BBQ on Monday October 3rd free to all Baja Ha Ha Sailors.

[DRFerron]

I'd be interested in knowing how this person made out, seeing as these most important questions were asked just two days before the planned departure by the skipper of the boat. Given the nature of the questions, I wonder if he or she should be the skipper of the boat.

[TQA]

Originally Posted by drferron

i'd be interested in knowing how this person made out, seeing as these most important questions were asked just two days before the planned departure by the skipper of the boat. Given the nature of the questions, i wonder if he or she should be the skipper of the boat.

+1