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buftring
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Posted: Mon Apr 13th, 2009 08:38 pm |
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| So is it totally unreasonable to come down to the baja to do some sailing in the summer? I am a teacher in Arizona and we would have June and July off to go sailing. We also would like to keep the boat there and come down at other times when we have off. We have a week in October, 2weeks for christmas, and 1 week in March. I'm sure the summer is pretty hot and it is technically hurricane season, but do people do this? I have read quite a few accounts of people doing it. Thinking of sailing across to Santo Rosalia, south to La Paz and back again in June/July. If this is crazy please let me know. If not, I love sailing and swimming in the summer heat.
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repsilon
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Posted: Tue Apr 14th, 2009 07:33 pm |
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| We stayed at San Marcos outside of Santa Rosalia in early August. There really wasn't much of any breeze and I even slept inside. It wasn't bad at all. I've slept in San Carlos in late June and felt it to be a little humid at times if the wind wasn't blowing and you needed a blanket for the skeeters. I'm sure a mosquito net would be a better option. They may not be around at all in Baja. If the water is in the low 80's then you should be fine. During June and July it usually is cooler over there. You can always get some cheap rooms in town. A supply of cold beer and a wet blanket and you can make it through August. If you are a teacher, then you can surely make it through anything.
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buftring
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Posted: Tue Apr 14th, 2009 08:04 pm |
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| Thanks for the response! I didn't know mosquitos were a problem. Anybody have any other experiences sailing san carlos/baja in June/July?
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repsilon
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Posted: Tue Apr 14th, 2009 09:02 pm |
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| I don't think they are in most areas, but you could encounter other bugs.
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buftring
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Posted: Tue Apr 14th, 2009 10:12 pm |
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The main things I am concerned with are heat/chubascos/saftey. I live in Lake Havasu City so I can handle some heat. I don't want to be miserable on my sailing holidays though. Chubascos/hurricanes are definitely a worry. Is it that dangerous if you are always monitoring the weather? What kinds of safety gear would I need on the boat? Do you need a life raft to cruise the sea of cortez?
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Jimmy
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Posted: Wed Apr 15th, 2009 12:16 am |
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Keep a close eye on the weather reports. Here is my favorite.
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=guaymas%2C+Mexico
Click on Satellite for a current view. You can also track tropical storm and hurricane location and status.
Last edited on Wed Apr 15th, 2009 12:32 am by Jimmy
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Vince Radice
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Posted: Fri Apr 17th, 2009 05:32 pm |
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With out a doubt your most serious concern is as Jimmy mentions the Cubasco, a Chubasco is a very powerful localized thunder storm that can carry hurricane force winds for brief periods of time. I have actually experienced the eye of a chubasco. While you are on the boat you should carry a small short wave radio so you can listen to the Chubasco net and get a weather update daily. At night while you are anchored your boat should be ready to leave an anchorage at a moments notice since the biggest danger in a chubasco is being driven on to a leeward shore. Out of the anchorage you are often much safer. Summer time cruising is my favorite because of the great fishing possibilties and warm water. Just remember that the Sea of Cortez weather, especially in summer time can be nasty and always be ready to bail out of an anchorage at a moments notice. That is the beauty of cruising here, if the weather changes quite often it is only a few mile sail around the corner to a more acceptalbe haven.
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maxagoli
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Posted: Mon May 11th, 2009 09:20 pm |
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| Kind of agree with Vince, but being ready to bail out of an anchorage in any season is a must, it doesn't apply only to the summer - the northers in mid winter can be pretty intense also, plus its cold! From what I've been through, chubascos come out of nowhere, last for 4 to 8 hours, blow like stink, and generally scare the hell out of you. Big anchors and lots of chain are a must. Me, I love the warm water & hot air of the summer, and the crowds are gone, just because of the potential for hurricanes. If you listen to the radio, you'll have a few days to get to a hurricane hole if necessary - I've been through too many to count, it might add a few grey hairs to your head, but odds are good. Go out and enjoy it!!
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cutNwind
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Posted: Thu May 14th, 2009 03:58 am |
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Having the same dreams of sailing the Sea of Cortez and having about the same time frame as you do, I can understand your concerns.
Two years ago my wife and I spent May, June, and the first week of July in San Carlos, Bay of Conception and Santa Rosalia. Last year we stayed only until the first part of June having to be back in the States early.
Having said that..this is our feelings...May is beautiful, June is bearable, July is too damn hot! In July, we slept in the cockpit of our 30' Catalina with a 12 volt fan blowing on us. That made sleeping tolerable up to the first week of July when we left, but would hate to do it all summer.
I temporarily installed a small 110 a/c unit onto the boat and powered it with a Honda 2000i generator, and that worked great during the worst of the heat.
We found ourselves in the middle of a Chubasco our maiden voyage out of San Carlos the previous year. Made a run for San Pedro Bay and spent a rough couple of days riding that one out, with 2 other boats seeking refuge in the bay.
The advice of a good heavy anchor and lots of chain is a good one. The best advice I can give is to have one good oversized anchor and rode, with 2 good oversize anchors and rode for spares. Our anchor was too small on that maiden voyage, and we spent the whole time checking our location and resetting the anchor.
In the safety gear arena...we always use a jackline and a harness after dark, when crossing. We count on the wind in the middle being double what it usually is close to the shore... We count on mosquitos and knats near any town or area with fresh water, and have found very fine netting, even organza fabric makes life much more pleasant.
A shade for the cockpit is definately an essential when you are anchored. We use a shade my wife made from the rolls of fabric type sun shade at Home Depot. It is light, easy to store, durable, and installs quickly over the boom with small bungee cords hooked to the life lines.
In closing, I sailed Lake Mead for several years before coming to the Baja. I found that it is important to make sure you and your boat are prepared for the rigors of offshore ocean sailing even though it is only 90 miles across.
Marina Seca has an excellent work yard to recommission your vessel.
Kim
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soloskipper
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Posted: Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 02:50 am |
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| I sailed for 23 years on the east coast during the summer only. Front line horrendous winds, water spouts, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even an earthquake in upstate New York. It makes for great tiki bar stories but there is nothing like sound ground tackle and a couple of optional plans every night. And a half gallon of fresh water for a bucket bath and putting on Massengil powder where you want is wonderful to lay under a DC fan. I would rather keep dry than wet. And Walmart sells personal fans, ladies.
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