Cruising the BaJa Peninsula 800 miles in a CDory?

duff

Has Any one every cruised the BaJa Peninsula from San Diego to La paz Mexico in a cdory? If so how did it go and do you feel it could be done in a cdory? There is a nice Write up on that trip in the april 08 power cruising Magazine.

Steve Grover · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject: Baja Cruising

I sailed the Pacific Coast of Baja in 2007 on a 44' sail boat. Your a better man than me for even considering that trip on a 25' C-Dory. Not to say it can't be done.
I returned from sailing, or I should say motor cruising, two weeks ago from Puerto Vallarta Mex. to Z-town 360 miles. They call that part of Mexico the Gold Coast.
Anchored most every night in a anchorage and went a shore for meals. I would hate to be short of fuel on either trip. During this last adventure I was keeping in mind what it would be like in a C-Dory. Much more doable. This time of year there is not much wind unlike the Pacific Coast of Baja. Baja was having gale force winds some of the time. Where do you hide and for how long? Where is the fuel you can trust?
Just my 2 cents.

duff · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject: BaJa

ya The Fuel and the no place to run seems to be the problems for smaller Crafts. A flotilla went down in o8 the smallest craft being a 28 foot skip jack,
even fast fishing boat s go slow because of the fuel situation.

thataway · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject:

I have gone up and down the Pacific side of Baja (and the interior side, and down to Panama etc) numerous times. The central Mexican coast, the interior (Sea of Cortez) Yes--The Pacific side of Baja--NO.

The fuel stops: Enseneda, Possibly at San Quintin, Turtle Bay, and Magdelana Bay, finally Cabo. At some of these, the fuel would have to be trucked in 5 gallon cans (or in rusty 50 gallon drums, with the possible contamination and water) There are long stretches where there is limited shelter (Although I have "cove hopped" in a 29 foot sailboat, most of the time I went straight to Cabo or La Paz.) The typical winds are North Westerly, and it makes it a misserable beat in any boat (at least in the largest I have taken which was 62 feet). But there are also strong Southerly gales, which can occur.

I am aware of small boats, including a Glouster Gull Dory (16 feet, sail and rowed) going down the coast--coming back is a whole different story.
Personally I would not do it.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject:

There's a reason the trip north (with the prevailing northern wind) is called the Baja BASH. Once in the Sea of Cortez, the C-Dory would be great... nice to have a trailerable boat!

Steve Grover · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:44 pm Post subject: C-Dory in Baja

The man I saw at Loreto, Baja last year with his 25' C-Dory Meander was Ron from BC. He had done a lot of the Gulf to La Paz. He can inform you of the wind and condition of the Gulf.
I'm headed to Bara near Manzanio to hook up with the 44'er to cruise up to Vallarta, on to Mazatlan over to Cabo, up to La Paz and back to Vallarta in two weeks. I'll let you know whats up in March.