Suggestions for routes leaving from the West Coast

[Monica]

Hi all. My husband and I had originally planned on leaving from the east coast, going down the ICW and spending a year or so in the Carribean before moving on to more adventurous places. Now we will be leaving from the West Coast...any suggestions on routes? Specifically, I would like time to get my sea legs and get my son acclimated before doing any big crossings or challenging sailing.

Thanks.

[imagine2frolic]

Where on the west coast counts, and what kind of boat?

[Monica]

San Diego. 35-40ft Catamaran (haven't bought it yet).

[imagine2frolic]

MONICA, MONICA.....

You will have a wonderful time. That is called a milk run, and especially from San Diego. There are 3 major spots that people stop after S.D. Some go to Ensenada, but that's yuck in my opinion....I KNOW!

Turtle Bay
Magdellena Bay, or the small bay adjacent just north. I can't remember the name.
Then you are in Cabo.

There are many small places to anchor such as Ascension, Abrie Ojos, Cedros, and others. After that the world, and a variety of choices are yours. With the cat it will be a quick, and wonderful ride. Great way to start your new life. Start reading Latitude38 if you haven't already.

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine.

Tons of information on what you are about to do. They were the complete cause of me single-handing from S.F to Cabo in 93, and I am sure you know about the Baja Haha if you know about lat38. Another great way to get your feet wet

[Amgine]

You're going to be leaving from one of the premier cruising departure points.

If you want to do a similar plan as you had before, you take the milk run as Imagine2Frolic suggests. Easy-peasy, lots of friends, sun, wonderful weather. Work down toward Panama and decide to go westabout the world, eastabout to the Carrib, or maybe out to Hawai'i and back to San Francisco...

You can jump straight off SD for Marquesas/Tahiti, or Hawai'i. Plenty of cruisers have done so, and quite a few of them have come back to give you pointers. Might be a tougher start, but then you're out there a bit quicker gaining lead on your class.

Start reading, and talking to people like you're doing now.

[David M]

Be sure to stop in at "Z-Town", Zihuatanejo, Mexico