John M
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Sailing the Gulf question
A very rough estimate from Google Earth puts it around 500 miles from La Paz to Gonzaga Bay. Two ships sailed that in the late 1700s carrying
supplies. Time of year was January/February.
Can someone give a guess as to how long either a one way or round trip La Paz to Gonzaga may have taken?
Edited for additional info. The two boats supposedly left by Feb 20 and were spotted off the coast at Gonzaga on 8 March - seems like a pretty quick
journey
John M
[Edited on 9-25-2018 by John M]
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SteveWil
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That is 16 days, One way I read the miles are about 1200 miles a lot more if sailing, They would need to travel 87.5 miles a day, straight line. They
would need to do 3.7 miles/hour.
A 36 foot sailboat would have max speed of around 7 miles/hour.
a 100 foot sailboat about 12 miles/hour. That is non planning.
Now the big variable is wind speed and direction.
100 foot boat could do it 7 days if everything were just right.
In 1985 0r 86 there was a sailboat race from San Diego to PV and the winner did it in 5 days, it was a record for the race. Going north would be a lot
different,
To answer the question I would say 16 day is about right.
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Hook
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I would question that it's 1200 nautical miles from La Paz to Gonzaga. Seems like less than that.
Everything else, I have no opinion, except to say that, at that time of year, winds would generally be against you and there would likely be periods
where a sailing vessel would have to lay to in the lee of some point.
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David K
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Loreto, I think John, not La Paz?
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John M
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David - check your U2U
Bancroft offers a little clarification
John
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David K
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Thanks John. Interesting they were stocking supplies at La Paz only to ship them past Loreto (the capital of California) to Gonzaga! The La Paz
mission was moved to Todos Santos in 1748, so it held far less importance after that other than for the black pearls, perhaps?
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John Harper
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You also have to consider that square rigged ships cannot sail as close to the wind as lateen rigged vessels.
John
[Edited on 9-25-2018 by John Harper]
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ncampion
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Sailing North at that time of year, especially in a "non-modern" boat would be quite a chore. Prevailing wind would be right on the nose all the way
North.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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John M
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Thanks
I appreciate the opinions. John
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Jack Swords
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WE sailed our boat from Guaymas across the Sea to the Peninsula and then to La Paz. We did it in February and dealt with "screaming blue Northers"
most of the way (even at night). That was going south. Would have been quite difficult going north, even in a modern rigged sailboat with a diesel
motor.
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JZ
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Two seasons ago we went San Carlos (mainland) to La Paz. Made it in 3 days. 2 days back.
Of course we had 630hp.
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chippy
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Quote: Originally posted by JZ  | Two seasons ago we went San Carlos (mainland) to La Paz. Made it in 3 days. 2 days back.
Of course we had 630hp.
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N/A if it wasn´t Jan/Feb.
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gnukid
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Northerlies do dominate the SOC in Winter but there are occasional Southerlies, that locally are somewhat predictable, but not consistent over long
distance. Stories are told of the pirates using these southerlies to surprise attack boats, sometimes at night.
Leaving La Paz in Winter there is often a nightly Southerly from 12am-7am when the northerly flips and turns south almost every night. We have used
these to do long spinnaker runs at night on southerlies to the north and turn to sail downwind to the south to return on the northerly in the day
resulting in a down wind or broad reach run the entire time while 360 degree circumnavigating Espirtu Santo. Apparently this is what sailors have
always done before boats were efficient upwind and before powered boas were so common. There are still traditional boats on the beaches which are long
faluca type hulls with a mast and simple sail without boom, keel and just a simple rudder.
Perhaps the patterns and cycles can be mapped from wind data archives to make a prediction and plan. Or taking a deeper look into what drives the
southerlies, when and where could help plan an itinerary. It is probably a good idea to tuck into an safe anchorage during the northerly blasts. Once
a year there is a full 50knot SOC blow for 3 days resulting in huge waves and dangerous boating you want to avoid.
https://www.windy.com/19.364/-98.946?25.478,-107.183,7
http://iwindsurf.com may have archives of previous station weather by date/yr.
[Edited on 9-26-2018 by gnukid]
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