San Diego/Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas during Christmas/New Year

[Tenedos]

Ahoy sailors,

Me and my lady are gradually taking our Catalina 320 down the California Coast. We have sailed from San Francisco to Marina Del Rey in multiple legs: SF -> Morro Bay -> Santa Barbara -> Oxnard -> Marina Del Rey.

We both work in San Francisco Bay area with full time jobs, so these are done over the weekends, sometimes using longer holidays or sometimes taking a day off. Our ideal passage time does not exceed 36 hours non-stop.

We will likely make it to San Diego or Ensenada until the end of the year. We will have a two-week break from work at the end of the year, during Christmas and New Year.

We are debating whether we could make a run to Cabo San Lucas during this window (Making it with Baja Ha Ha would be ideal but unfortunately work schedules don't allow this). Both of us are tempted but it is a long way. If we can make it there, we will leave the boat in a marina and fly back to SF as we currently do in all these legs. Reading Jimmy Cornell's book, season seems to be good/ideal.

So we need some input. How difficult would it be for the two of us to double-hand down to Cabo San Lucas from San Diego or Ensenada? Looks like it will take 7-8 days non-stop, though we prefer to make a stop after 24 or 48 hour passages. So if we could break this to 3 or 4 legs, it would be ideal. I couldn't find many stops along the way and also getting service if something goes wrong appears be challenging.

How good/sane of a plan is this?

[JPA Cate]

Tenedos,

There are red tape problems associated with leaving the boat in Mexico while you work. I'd suggest you sail to Ensenada and return to SD over the holidays. It is easily doable, and you have the boat back in CA, where you can access it. Once you're on a cruising permit, everything changes, and it may not coincide favorably with your work schedule.

You can easily sail from SD to Cabo in a few days, all the subsequent issues are relative to how long you want to keep the boat in Mexico, and the aversion people feel for the upwind slop back to the States.

Ann

[Tenedos]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Tenedos,

There are red tape problems associated with leaving the boat in Mexico while you work. I'd suggest you sail to Ensenada and return to SD over the holidays. It is easily doable, and you have the boat back in CA, where you can access it. Once you're on a cruising permit, everything changes, and it may not coincide favorably with your work schedule.

Thank you Ann. Can you elaborate a bit on this? Is cruising permit the same thing as TIP? I was under the impression that when you obtain it, you could keep the boat in Mexico even if you are not physically there yourself. Is that not the case?

Or does the cruising permit require you not to work back home or elsewhere?

[Training Wheels]

Never heard of a “cruising permit”. TIP is good for 10 years. No legal issues of leaving your boat in Mexico, lots of people from the US and Canada leave their boat in Mexico.

Tourist Visa is good for 6 months, at which time you are supposed to leave the country. You can can come right back into Mexico and get another 6 month Visa. The boat doesn’t have to leave, only you.

[JiminSanPedro]

A good reference book is Cruising Mexico by Capt. Pat Rains. Breaks down the time and distance, safe harbors, fuel, dangers, etc. See her articles in Sea Magazine every month.

[desertsailor]

The publishers of Latitude 38, who have a hand in the Baja Ha-ha have some information about cruising south of Ensenada that may interest you. Here is a link to their "First Timer's Guide to Mexico". https://issuu.com/latitude38/docs/mexftg-2019

I've crewed on vessels traveling both north and south along the Baja California coast. At least one stop is usually at Bajia de Tortugas. Fuel and food is usually available. There are other places to anchor overnight, but apparently few have any additional facilities other than a place to rest and eat.

[Paul L]

Ensenada to La Paz at that time of year should be a good sail. Maybe a little cold at night till you get pretty far south. Take a look at the HaHa stops and spacing. These are all easy in, easy out anchorages. You should setup your berth reservation in La Paz early, as the marinas are busy that time of year.

[model 10]

[QUOTE=JPA Cate; You can easily sail from SD to Cabo in a few days.
[/QUOTE]

What dimension are you in?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Ecos

What dimension are you in?

Well, the Ha-Ha group does in in around a week with stops for partying and baseball games. It's around 750 miles and downwind... around 4-5 fairly easy days, less in a 40+ foot boat in a hurry.

I guess the dimension is reality...

Jim

[mvweebles]

Ensenada has three marinas. Cruise port Village, Baja Naval, and Marina Coral. Baja Naval is not an option for long term use due to surge and commercial traffic throwing wakes. Getting in and out of Ensenada is a full day to get to SF. Slip rents are in the $13/ft/mo range. On the plus side, parts are easy to import, TIP is is easy to aquire (any of the marinas will assist for no charge), and labor is relatively inexpensive (though be careful - Baja Naval sets their prices at SoCal rates).

Cabo San Lucas is supposedly one of the most expensive marinas in the world. La Paz is a bit of a hike further, but has more affordable

accommodations and more of a cruiser community (Cabo is sportfishers).

Another option is Mazatlan. I forget exactly, but around 240 nms from Cabo. International Airport, a few marinas, and far enough into Mexico that it may be reasonable.

There are decent anchorages between Ensenada and Cabo, but getting in/out of Mexico from those locations to return to SF will be challenging and involve long bus rides.

You are coming up to the time of year where you can make long southbound runs. Most sailboats can do around 170 nms days (24 hrs) which means la laz is 6-7 days from ensenada. Airport is not close, but it's fairly reasonable to leave your boat there and then you can stage to where ever you want to be. Maybe stay in La Paz.

Above is off - cuff. Will be interested to know what you decide to do and why. Your query is relevant.

Peter

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Ecos

What dimension are you in?

It's downwind, the current is with you. If you only made 120 n mi/da, it would take less than a week. My dimension? well, to me less than a week IS a "few days", but perhaps your mmv. My thoughts were that one would sail straight there, not stopping along the way. Day hops make it take a lot longer because there's so many hours of no progress, plus getting into the harbor and then returning to your track. Going straight through for --even if it were seven days-- is pretty easy on one's body, if your watch schedule allows enough sleep. People have to learn what works best for them.

My dimension is one where i have over 150,000 ocean miles. Counting more seems somehow irrelevant, at this point. But, through trial and error, we worked out a good watch schedule for us, years ago. What i think are hard are overnighters, because you don't have the chance to become used to the schedule, you just power on through and then aren't much good the next day, but the 3rd day, your body's starting to cope better, and life gets easier. Note that for singlehanders, it has to be a lot harder.

Ann

[neophytecruiser]

Sailing from San Diego to Ensenada gives you the opportunity to clear into Mexico, applying for your temporary import permit (TIP, good for 10-years, as previously mentioned), your FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple, ~$25/per person, good for multiple entries into Mexico over a period of 180-days) and your Mexican Fishing License (from CONAPESCA, required for each person on board if you intend to fish or have any fishing gear aboard, check to be sure you can do this in Ensenada and not in San Diego before your departure). All are located in one location in Ensenada close to the marina's. Be sure to have all your documentation. Passports, boat title/registation/USCG documentation, and proof of insurance. All facilities are in the office adjacent to the Port Captains Office.

Once you're checked in your Baja options are numerous. Temporarily rent a slip in Ensenada and return to work or continue on down the coast. As pointed out by the Cate's, if you want to do the cruise in one long leg, you should be able to make it to Cabo within 5-7 days. You also have the option of breaking up the trip into smaller legs, being advised that none of these will allow for leaving the boat at these stops, in order to travel north.

The typical weather pattern along the eastern Pacific along California, as well as the coast of the Baja Peninsula, is wind and waves typically out of the northwest, with the major current running north to south. Planning for overnight stops under these typical patterns will provide shelter from this typical pattern. Overnight stops could include the following (distances listed south from Ensenada): Cabo Colnett (~54nm); Cabo San Quintin (~89nm); Punta El Rosario (~117nm); northeast coast of Isla Cedros (~225nm); Bahia de Tortugas (~260nm; fuel and provisioning available); Punta San Hipolito (~320nm; fuel and provisioning via dinghy only); Punta Abreojos (~345nm); Bahia Santa Maria (~480nm); Bahia Magdalena at Punta Belcher (~500nm); Cabo San Lucas (~650nm; fuel and reprovisioning $$$).

The Sea of Cortez deserves exploration. You have the option, once in Cabo San Lucas, to head north to La Paz. It's much less impacted by tourism development. It is the capital of Baja California Sur and is a delightful working town that is still relatively undiscovered. There are many marinas to leave your boat, chandleries, an airport and all the amenities you will need to be comfortable. This would be my personal choice for a homeport if I was going to commuter cruise between San Francisco bay area and Mexico.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Ecos

What dimension are you in?

No need to be snarky, especially for someone who has as many posts as you have.

[waterman46]

Done this 3x myself. That time of year is generally fine. Possible southerly with big waves in the very north near SD, but it is rare, just listen to VHF weather before leaving.

Transportation from anywhere south of Ensenada and CA is difficult and there are no really secure places to leave the boat so plan on doing the trip in one session to Cabo, but with 2 weeks you will have time for stops to wait out weather or rest. Get a cruising guide for information on the anchorages. Most stop at Turtle Bay and Mag Bay. Non stop takes us 5 to 6 days from Ensenada. Easy trip is 10 days with stops.

Easy checkin to Mexico at Ensenada, especially if you stay at the marina. They take you there and walk you through all the forms and payments. More difficult at Cabo.

Cabo marina very expensive but fun to stay a few days. We always use the marina at San Jose del Cabo to leave the boat. Very close to airport.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Tenedos,

There are red tape problems associated with leaving the boat in Mexico while you work. I'd suggest you sail to Ensenada and return to SD over the holidays. It is easily doable, and you have the boat back in CA, where you can access it. Once you're on a cruising permit, everything changes, and it may not coincide favorably with your work schedule.

You can easily sail from SD to Cabo in a few days, all the subsequent issues are relative to how long you want to keep the boat in Mexico, and the aversion people feel for the upwind slop back to the States.

Ann

In Ensenada first time you get the 10 year import permit. Leave boat in marina there while you return to CA to work as often as you wish. if you need to. Really no red tape issues I know of.