Sea of Cortez options in Covid 19 times

[NorthPacific]

As a recent escapee from The Sea we left behind several friends who were trapped. We were lucky in that by chance we came within cell tower range and a host of frantic messages telling us that a Pandemic had happened while we had been cruising.

My first gut reaction reaction was to provision up and head out again, fortunately more informed heads prevailed and we, by the skin of our teeth, got the boat hauled, put to bed, and flew home to BC Canada on the last plane out of Cabo.

We did 14 days quarantined in our cabin in our remote village and are fine. Our cruising friends who decided to wait or had no options as ports and countries across the pacific closed their doors are facing an increasing shrinking number of options.

From email and web news it seems that the small communities and towns on The Sea are protecting themselves by refusing access to cruising yachts. Likewise the islands which are part of the National park and now not allowing boaters to anchor. San Evisario Loreto Mulege are refusing to allow cruisers to resupply. Does anyone have information about Santa Rosalia or Guaymas at this time.

Cheers

[Montanan]

Update Reports from Noonsite:

http://https://www.noonsite.com/plac...curity-section

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS:

15 April, 2020

Mexico remains open to visiting yachts. Puerto Penasco and Guayamas have however closed.
Mexico’s stay-at-home orders and school closures are extended through April 30.
Individual states have different levels of enforcement for restrictions. Much of these were elevated for the “semana santa” (holy week) holidays that culminated on April 12, including road blocks to slow movement between Mexican states.
Recreational sailing is not permitted, however transiting from one port to another is permitted as long as you can justify why you are moving (haulout booked or plan to exit the country). Boats without a transit plan for one of those goals may be asked to anchor, return to prior anchorage, or depart for one of those goals.
Cruisers in Mexico report that many small communities in Baja have isolated themselves and are asking cruisers to stay away as well. In at least one instance, a boat has had rocks thrown at it by villagers in an open boat (panga).
National Parks (this includes many locales in the Sea of Cortez and outside of Baja) are closed. Official information as to what this means exactly is difficult to find and rather ambiguous. It is recommended to behave as low key as possible.
11 April, 2020

The number of areas off limits to outsiders due to the Covid-19 pandemic continues to grow. If heading to Mexico be sure to call ahead to the port/marina first to confirm the current rules. If already in Mexico best advice is to stay where you are.

3 April, 2020

Marinas and ports remain open, some with reduced hours.
Islas Mujeres now requires all yachts to undertake a 14 day quarantine on arrival.
Ensenada – one of the major clearance ports for boats departing Mexico for the USA – have reduced Port Captain hours to 9am-1pm only.
Puerto Chiapas – clearance offices are open and operating fully.
31 March, 2020

Mexico declared a state of emergency.
The government is extending the stay at home recommendation until April 30, insisting on hygiene and personal distancing.
The text of the emergency regulation anticipates a regulation of land, sea and air transport.
https://coronavirus.gob.mx/medidas-d...dad-sanitaria/
30 March, 2020

Port Captains are not issuing clearance to closed countries (i.e. French Polynesia).

If needing to move from one port to another within Mexico, be prepared to justify to the Port Captain why you want to move (marina reservation, haul out booked, self-isolation etc.).

Cruisers should check for local up-to-the-minute knowledge before attempting entry/exit at/from any ports in Mexico.

29 March, 2020

Mexico Maritime Authority issued Directive #13 to all Port Captains in Mexico, informing them that they may not authorize the clearance or departure of passenger vessels for hire (Mexican and foreign flagged) that operate with nautical tourism permits (charter, tours, diving, fishing, whale watching etc.).

Ports in Mexico ARE NOT CLOSED TO NAVIGATION or any other than the above.

Navigation for private vessels IS PERMITTED, however, due to the Covid19 outbreak Mexico is asking its population to stay indoors, limit non-essential travel and movement, wash hands with soap and water frequently and keep a safe distance from other people. It is recommended that recreational vessel use be stopped and only undertake navigation if it is for purposes of relocation, isolation, transportation etc.

At this time, all marinas are operational, some with reduced office hours and services. It is expected that marinas will continue to operate as such throughout the health emergency.

Taken from a statement by the Mexico Marina Association (AMMT).

[NorthPacific]

Thanks Ill pass this on.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by NorthPacific

Thanks Ill pass this on.

Keep checking the Noonsite, for updates. It is a tremendous resource for international cruisers, loads of subject matter.

Glad you were able to repatriate safely.

My brother, sister-in-law, their son and now daughter in law spent 10 days in Cozumel, there for their kids wedding ceremony. They were able to catch the last flight out on American Airlines after their Delta flight cancelled and two days after the US / Mexico border was closed. They had the island pretty much all to themselves except the locals. The airport was empty in Cozumel, hardly anyone on the flight home and the airport in North Carolina was similarly vacant, like only one car in the parking lot other than their own vehicle.

[daletournier]

I'm down south at Chiapas, boats left here recently to heading that way. Below is from a friend whose currently there.This was a couple of days back.

"At the moment all ports are open up here for private sail boats to move about but not open for recreational boating. It allows cruiser to move around. We checked out of Puerto vallarta for Puerto penasco the most northerly port in the sea so we are allowed to keep cruising. In theory the islands in the sea are closed for anchoring but no one has cleared us away yet. The mainland is available for anchoring as long as we keep clear of any remote communities. La paz is still open for provisions and fuel. North of* la paz There are 2 towns* although closed to outsiders that will still allow live aboard cruisers to provision and fuel at the moment. Loreto (near where we are anchored) and Santa rosalia about 90 miles north. There are no other towns in the sea north of here so you want to be well provisioned from there north. There are about 40 boats anchored in different locations within 30 miles of us and another 30 or more that are in la paz area heading north. We plan to go further north as the season progresses and loose our self with a few friends boats up in some remote anchorages"

[JPA Cate]

If the corona virus spread is not "calmed" in Mexico, I feel concerned that cruisers will be even more unwelcome.

And, since everyone will be under high stress conditions because the virus also strikes in fairly horrible ways younger people, that whatever enforcers you have to deal with will also be stressed out and irritable.... Well, just don't go acting "entitled", or you may have to accept the fuzzy end of the lollipop. The enforcers are teenagers with machine guns.

If you, as a cruiser, have made yourself a local good guy, you're probably fine. If not, BEWARE!

Ann

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

If the corona virus spread is not "calmed" in Mexico, I feel concerned that cruisers will be even more unwelcome.

And, since everyone will be under high stress conditions because the virus also strikes in fairly horrible ways younger people, that whatever enforcers you have to deal with will also be stressed out and irritable.... Well, just don't go acting "entitled", or you may have to accept the fuzzy end of the lollipop. The enforcers are teenagers with machine guns.

If you, as a cruiser, have made yourself a local good guy, you're probably fine. If not, BEWARE!

Ann

I agree Ann, so many unknowns. I worry about being able to obtain food in the future IF the situation deteriorated. Hard to imagine for people like us that have always had food when ever we wanted it.

The unknowns create quite abit of instability, I'm not sure I'm in the group that's wants to wait and see what happens, choices slowly get taken off the table with time.