BajaNomad

Sailing around La Paz

bajajudy - 5-20-2006 at 05:14 PM

My husband and I and 3 other couples have rented a big cat in La Paz. We leave the dock next Sat for a week.
Anyone out there with advise about where to go, what not to miss....you know, the scoop!
One little bit of information: I really need is a place to buy pure blocks of ice.
I have wanted to make this trip for 20 years so you could say that I am stoked.

Bruce R Leech - 5-20-2006 at 05:58 PM

bajajudy try to go where everyone else is not. and you will have a good time lots of places to get Ice just ask the person when you take delivery of the boat and they will know the closest. have a grate time and let us all know how it went.

BajaRob - 5-21-2006 at 06:04 AM

I kept my Tayana 52 @ Marina de La paz for two years. Most fun we had was at the anchorage between Isla Espirito Santo y Isla Partida for the Baja Hahas.

eetdrt88 - 5-21-2006 at 08:04 AM

sounds like alot of fun,let us know how it goes;D

Tomas Tierra - 5-21-2006 at 11:21 AM

Beware the Cerralvo Channel!! When the current runs up, swell and wind run down, She can get very grumpy...:barf:

bajajudy - 5-21-2006 at 01:07 PM

Thanks TT
Just the kind of information I was looking for. Will go look that up.
We have Charlie's Cruising Guide and the new Rains book. We even sent a copy of each to our captain.
This is the first visit to Baja for the other 6 on the boat. They are all serious Jimmy Buffet fans so I made this up for them. They all live on the east coast

Changes in longitudes for places of solitudes.

Not as catchy as the original but conveys the idea that this is not the Caribbean.

Very Cool !

djh - 5-21-2006 at 01:17 PM

How cool, Judy!! I am excited for you.

I imagine that you have Gerry Cunningham's cruising guide...

As a book person, you've likely seen or have them... or possibly the sailboat comes equipped with them..!

My old dog-eared copy is a first edition.... But still a hand guide.

I'll try to send you a few useful links from my office computer... (although I would NEVER think of looking at sailing links, resources, and web pages while "at work..")

Have a great trip! ( I'm a little jealous ! )
djh

fandango - 5-21-2006 at 07:03 PM

bajajudy:
did you charter this cat from the moorings?

bajajudy - 5-22-2006 at 06:31 AM

Fandango...yes
Well, I didnt charter, the other people did, at a boat show somewhere on the east coast.
I sailed with these people 2 years ago in the Caribbean and we made plans for this trip.

TT
Was that a joke? Cant seem to find that on the charts.

Tomas Tierra - 5-22-2006 at 07:26 AM

Judy,
No, not a joke!!
between ceralvo islandand the mainland...ceralvo channel, wide at the top skinny at the bottom(near punta arena de la ventana)...the current rips up through the channel, the waves and wind coming down( if the north is blowing) get P-nched together at the bottom....It was very nasty the two times i encountered it on a sailboat....We were warned by some boaters in los muertos on the way up....And they weren't kidding!!

we were dragging the boat line(fishing) there and had about a 15 foot shark take a skipjack tuna RIGHT AT THE BOAT! Scared the tar outa this tarheel!

[Edited on 5-22-2006 by Tomas Tierra]

[Edited on 5-22-2006 by Tomas Tierra]

bajajudy - 5-22-2006 at 08:34 AM

TT
Ok, I was not looking over there as we are planning on going to Evaristo. Although a stop at the Giggling Marlin might be a nice break. Got it now! and Muchisimas Gracias

Tarheel....yo tambien.

comitan - 5-22-2006 at 08:35 AM

Judy

The Ceralvo channel is south of La Paz, and TT is right about it, you'll be going north. Before takeing the boat out you will have to go through a short seminar of the places you can go and the hazards.

Tomas Tierra - 5-22-2006 at 08:39 AM

Judy...

I knew there was something familiar about you....GO HEELS!!

I would definitely.......

Hook - 5-22-2006 at 03:36 PM

........try and make for the anchorage at I. San Francisco. Very beautiful.

Really like Caleta Partida as well.

Wonder if you can get up as far as Bahia Amortajada. Nothing like that mangrove area in all of the Sea. But avoid it at dawn and dusk as the jejenes can be wicked.

How about a route that has you one night at Caleta, a swim with the sea lions off Islote the following morning, anchorage at San Fran that night, Amortajada and back to San Fran the next day, then head for the Marisla Seamount the following day.

Or Agua Verde instead of the Seamount and then double back.

TT, another heel, huh? I was hatched at MCAS Cherry Point, yup, a Marine brat. Grew up fishing and crabbing the Neuse River.

JZ - 5-22-2006 at 08:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
We have Charlie's Cruising Guide and the new Rains book. We even sent a copy of each to our captain.


First advice would be to throw those out and get Gerry Cunningham's and Jack William's guide books, charts.

Paula - 5-22-2006 at 09:40 PM

Judy,
Alas, I haven't a bit of sailing advice, but be sure to check "the List" before you go, and...

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!!

Paula

Baja&Back - 5-23-2006 at 12:05 AM

Definitely head north - into the wind - while you're still enthused. The downwind return trip will be sooooo much easier!!
:o

Jack Swords - 5-23-2006 at 07:30 AM

Judy, Hook's suggestions for your trip are great. We've spent 7 years cruising this area and he has nailed some very nice places. On Isla Espiritu Santo/Partida there are many nice anchorages. Some, sadly, are now occupied with permanent tent cabins set up by commercial businesses, avoid these (this island is too close to La Paz and has become too popular). Other anchorages are Ensenada Grande, El Cardonal where you can have some isolation and hike around. Pretty neat lagoons/mangroves back up many of these anchorages. If you head to Isla San Francisco (beautiful) stop by at Evaristo Village on the peninsula. Very nice people. Going north, my favorite anchorage is Los Gatos, truly spectacular, and you're then only 15 miles S of Agua Verde, another nice stop. All of these spots offer good diving/hiking. Unfortunately, this year has been a dry one and land exploration is not what it usually is.

As previously posted, Cunningham and Williams have the best guides due to their accuracy and aerial photos of the anchorages. Marina de La Paz has the Cunningham series (say hello to Mary for me if you get there).

Take lots of photos, post a few when you get back!

Jack Swords

Hook - 5-23-2006 at 10:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja&Back
Definitely head north - into the wind - while you're still enthused. The downwind return trip will be sooooo much easier!!
:o


Depending on how soon she goes, the prevailing winds could easily be SE; the further into the summer, the more likely.

North winds should be winding down and the Coromuel increasing.

bajajudy - 5-23-2006 at 11:01 AM

The Weather channel and bouy.com say SW winds. for the next 10 days.
and HOT in La Paz. Almost everyday above 100. Glad we will be on the water.
I really appreciate the advise.
Keep it coming

Hook - 5-23-2006 at 10:22 PM

If you end up east and/or north of Espiritu Santo, someone ought to troll a feather or two. It's shaping up as the best dorado year in a few, so far.

bajajudy - 5-24-2006 at 06:42 AM

Will do Hook. We almost always drag some sort of fishing line behind us. Fresh dorado would be mighty fine. The tuna are biting down here. Over 200 pounder came in day before yesterday in La Playita.

JZ - 5-27-2006 at 11:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Quote:
Originally posted by Baja&Back
Definitely head north - into the wind - while you're still enthused. The downwind return trip will be sooooo much easier!!
:o


Depending on how soon she goes, the prevailing winds could easily be SE; the further into the summer, the more likely.

North winds should be winding down and the Coromuel increasing.


That's right Hook. The wind direction has already shifted here in SC. Summer is generally light wind anyway, accept for storms and local tendencies (i.e. Coromuel winds in LA PAZ).

[Edited on 5-27-2006 by JZ]