Sailing Along the Mexican Coast

[kenny chaos]

You guys might consider driving an old van or something down.
Hit the beach when you want, hit the highway when you want.
You'll have to lose the van in Panama and catch a boat around
the Darien Gap but that should be fun and easy.
Do not try to go thru the Gap. You'll wish pirates got ya.

Do a search for "Expedition Portal."
Then search on that site for the panamerican highway. Way cool stuff there.
Lotsa luck-
Kenny

[Snore]

Please check your PMs. If you have any questions, let me know.

[panglao dave]

Originally Posted by boatman61

What you want is one of these... perfect for your trip and so tough one has done a circumnavigation... whats more you can build one yourselves in a coupla months...
The dodger is a must have coz once they get going they fly and the bow waves spray hits you in the face....
Kali could hit 13kts in 15kts of wind.....

Agreed, Tiki 21 would be a good choice

Rory McDougall has sailed round the world in one (single and double handed)
http://www.jesterinfo.org/rorymcdougall.html

If time is short buy used and fix what needs to be fixed (if anything)

[panglao dave]

Originally Posted by mtbandrdrider

Thanks, Dan. Appreciate the support. Where could I find information on currents, winds, and weather for the Pacific and Gulf side of Mexico?

Why are you only looking at currents, wind and weather for Mexico?
There's a whole lot more of South America after Mexico

1. Wind - You need to get your hands on pilot charts, they give the wind strength/directions for each month of the year.
2. Currents - A cruising guide of the area will advise of currents
3. Weather - read about best times to make a passage from cruising guides also

*** These are matters for the skipper to sort out - not crew

Going down the Pacific side of Mexico (as far as Panama) is a "downhill run".
On the Caribbean side, you'll be fighting against the Gulf stream current for a portion of the way. Once around the corner of the Yucatan peninsula, you'll be sailing on a lee shore with winds primarily from the east

Coming out of Panama you'll be sailing into the teeth of the NE trade winds. Wait for a lull in the trades - you'll see cheap boats for sale in Panama from people who didn't......their dream trips ended there.

I don't know too many folks that have tried sailing from Trinidad to Patagonia down the Atlantic coast.

Even less who've sailed down the Pacific coast of South America, against the Humbold current pretty much the whole way, then around Cape Horn.

Sailing down the coast IS do-able, but I'd suggest sailing around in the Gulf of Baja would be best first step

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by mtbandrdrider

This is no spoof. Seriously. My friend is the sailor, I am trying to get help with organization.

I think it's well cool that you're trying to find out more, and this is probably a great place, once you prove you're serious!!! I was gonna suggest that if you want to camp, and you've not much experince sailing, then a bike might be your best bet.

Originally Posted by foamcore

Hobie made a cat called the Sport Cruiser. It's 21 feet long, fast, and beachable. I bet you could find one for less than $5,000.

This would be a great way of doing things. But let me warn you - we only sail our beachcats to the islands for camping once a year on average. The reason: you have to carry a ton of gear and food, even just for a few nights. For a long cruise like this, your boat would be very heavy. It's possible, and people have done it - but you need to be experienced to avoid capsizing with that lot!

Originally Posted by Bash

Answer: Go to the library, and ask where they keep the globe.

For once, I beg to differ with Bash (it doesn't happen often). I suggest you download Google Earth from the comfort of your armchair!!

Listen kid - if you're serious about this, I'm sure you'll have a great time, and I, for one, want to hear about it! (Which reminds me, keeping your laptop dry on a beachcat can be quite tricky....)

[senormechanico]

How are you going to pull your boat up on a beach at the end of the day when you have to go through surf to a steep beach assuming you can FIND one that isn't steep rocks?
If you can carry even a minimal amount of food, bedding etc., never mind trying to keep it dry, the boat's going to weigh more than is even halfway practical to do this.
It's tough enough to pull up a 10' RIB with an outboard up a steep sand beach with only oars and a full gas tank, let alone any kind of sailing craft with all your (wet) stuff.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by markpierce

You took this seriously? I thought it was a spoof.

I think it's a spoof. Remember your blood pressures folks.

[mtbandrdrider]

Thanks, guys. This sounds more complicated overall then I had expected. Though we plan on sailing down Mexico, it will be a lot easier to bike it. We were hesitant to bike across Mexico because of the bandits, but upon further research, it will be less of an issue than expected. I would love to learn to sail, but this may not be the best introduction. Thanks for the help.

[foamcore]

Learning to sail on the trip you prepose would be like jumping into the deep end to learn to swim.

[mtbandrdrider]

I plan to learn the ropes (no pun intended) before then, but the trip would probably be my first time sailing in the ocean-I live in Arizona.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by mtbandrdrider

I plan to learn the ropes (no pun intended) before then, but the trip would probably be my first time sailing in the ocean-I live in Arizona.

Arizona. That would have been my second guess.

Good luck learning the ropes. Once you get "halyards," "sheets," "outhaul," "traveler," and "vang" down, the rest is easy.

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by Bash

Good luck learning the ropes. Once you get "halyards," "sheets," "outhaul," "traveler," and "vang" down, the rest is easy.

Damn. I had to look up "vang." Now I'm ready.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by kenny chaos

Damn. I had to look up "vang." Now I'm ready.

Cool. What about "cunningham?"

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by Bash

Cool. What about "cunningham?"

Richie?

[sww914]

Looks like this thread is a preventer.
We should call threads ropes on sailing forums.