I am planning on sailing Liberty my hunter 430 in the Baja ha ha in 2007. where have people found moorage they liked, was safe, and easy to access etc. after the race. I would like to leave the boat in MX to return and sail part of the winter in the Sea of Cortez, maybe leave the boat at a marina up there for a while, maybe on the west coast of Baja before returning up north the following summer.
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La Paz
...is where most of my friends have taken slips. There is a new marina there. If you want to stay over hurricane season, you will need to go north in the Sea of Cortez or over to Banderas Bay, which, while in the storm track, is protected by mountains. In the event you have not seen Latitude 38's website, here is a link. Rick D.
...is where most of my friends have taken slips. There is a new marina there. If you want to stay over hurricane season, you will need to go north in the Sea of Cortez or over to Banderas Bay, which, while in the storm track, is protected by mountains. In the event you have not seen Latitude 38's website, here is a link. Rick D.
Ha Ha and beyond
We recently completed the 2006 Ha Ha and are basing our H460 out of Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta. It's a very modern and secure marina in the middle of a resort, if that's what you are looking for. The west coast of Baja has some nice anchorages...our favorite was Turtle Bay. Nice little town, good fuel and friendly people...internet cafes, basic groceries, etc. But none of these anchorages has decent transportation to the states. It's usually a LONG bus ride on rough dirt roads just to get the the highway. Cabo has become a rich-man's fishing marina. Guest slip for our 46 foot boat would be $161 a night...and you might be rafted 3 deep for that! We just anchored off the beach and were happy with that, but were happy to see Cabo in our wake! Everyone seems to love La Paz but we haven't made it up there yet. Good luck!
We recently completed the 2006 Ha Ha and are basing our H460 out of Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta. It's a very modern and secure marina in the middle of a resort, if that's what you are looking for. The west coast of Baja has some nice anchorages...our favorite was Turtle Bay. Nice little town, good fuel and friendly people...internet cafes, basic groceries, etc. But none of these anchorages has decent transportation to the states. It's usually a LONG bus ride on rough dirt roads just to get the the highway. Cabo has become a rich-man's fishing marina. Guest slip for our 46 foot boat would be $161 a night...and you might be rafted 3 deep for that! We just anchored off the beach and were happy with that, but were happy to see Cabo in our wake! Everyone seems to love La Paz but we haven't made it up there yet. Good luck!
San Carlos
You might consider spending time gunkhole cruising up the inside of the Baja and then across to San Carlos. Two marinas with haul out and dry storage. Also a good place to put your boat on a truck for transport back to the USA. Only a 4 hour drive to Arizona. I suggest you get a copy of John Rains book on Cruising Mexico, and if you do much in the Sea of Cortez, get Gerry Cunningham's books and charts. Larry Clark s/v Summer Wind Hunter 42 Passage
You might consider spending time gunkhole cruising up the inside of the Baja and then across to San Carlos. Two marinas with haul out and dry storage. Also a good place to put your boat on a truck for transport back to the USA. Only a 4 hour drive to Arizona. I suggest you get a copy of John Rains book on Cruising Mexico, and if you do much in the Sea of Cortez, get Gerry Cunningham's books and charts. Larry Clark s/v Summer Wind Hunter 42 Passage
Read Latitude 38
Their offshoot, the BaHaHaHa sponsors the race. They publish a guide when you sign up, and you can read about it in the magazine, this issue has a wrap up. Plus 'Lectronic Latitude has stories as well as they've recently started up the magazine on line. What more could you ask for?
Their offshoot, the BaHaHaHa sponsors the race. They publish a guide when you sign up, and you can read about it in the magazine, this issue has a wrap up. Plus 'Lectronic Latitude has stories as well as they've recently started up the magazine on line. What more could you ask for?
Meheeco
Monty, I am with Rick here. La Paz got hit a few year ago, but all-in-all the least expensive and safest for a berth, mooring or on-stands drydock. San Carlos...expensive, but like the man says, it is the closest. Great holding in Guymas but security is an issue. The 'West' side of BAja? That would be Bahia Tortuga (Turtle Bay) and it is well protected. The locals leave their boats moored all the time, one 60 ft steel fish boat is a permanent structure there. It is free and you can have one of the "Los Gordos" family, Enrique Gerardo Castro is running it now; fuel docks, ice, trash etc Tel 01 (615) 158-03-83, 158-00-19 Bahia Tortugas, B.C.S. Maria's restaurant, she is part of the same family, is the best around too. I would leave my boat there for a month or so with Enrique watching it. Ensenada Cruiseport Village marina is excellent, but a looooong ways up coast. Tel (52) 648 1734141 wiseman.gerald@ecpvmarina.com Gerald Wiseman Dockmaster. Magdelena Bay has some great anchorages, depends on the direction, but no long range moorings, and San Carlos (another one) has only a huge concrete dock with lotta surge and rusted steel fishin boats, I have always anchored there & jerried it by dingy. Merry Christmas to all mates...;-)
Monty, I am with Rick here. La Paz got hit a few year ago, but all-in-all the least expensive and safest for a berth, mooring or on-stands drydock. San Carlos...expensive, but like the man says, it is the closest. Great holding in Guymas but security is an issue. The 'West' side of BAja? That would be Bahia Tortuga (Turtle Bay) and it is well protected. The locals leave their boats moored all the time, one 60 ft steel fish boat is a permanent structure there. It is free and you can have one of the "Los Gordos" family, Enrique Gerardo Castro is running it now; fuel docks, ice, trash etc Tel 01 (615) 158-03-83, 158-00-19 Bahia Tortugas, B.C.S. Maria's restaurant, she is part of the same family, is the best around too. I would leave my boat there for a month or so with Enrique watching it. Ensenada Cruiseport Village marina is excellent, but a looooong ways up coast. Tel (52) 648 1734141 wiseman.gerald@ecpvmarina.com Gerald Wiseman Dockmaster. Magdelena Bay has some great anchorages, depends on the direction, but no long range moorings, and San Carlos (another one) has only a huge concrete dock with lotta surge and rusted steel fishin boats, I have always anchored there & jerried it by dingy. Merry Christmas to all mates...;-)
Latitude on Locust in Mill Valley
Stu, many of your posts are right on, and you sound like an expert in the electrical field too. The Latitude folks are the friendliest in any mag and mcuh more approachable; I have known Collen for twenty years, stop by to say hi to her Mary and others on the staff on my way to the "Depot" in Mill Valley for coffee on many occasions as it is close by; advertised with em for eons. They rely on info from folks like yourself, and they did originally organize the Haha too, but they are not the end all of info in Mexico. J. Rains book is good and I found a really neat anchorage from Charies once that EVEN I didn't know about in a gale for shelter...;-) I do like your politics though, compassion is as important as th almighty $ Merry Christmas to all swabs everywhere...;-)
Stu, many of your posts are right on, and you sound like an expert in the electrical field too. The Latitude folks are the friendliest in any mag and mcuh more approachable; I have known Collen for twenty years, stop by to say hi to her Mary and others on the staff on my way to the "Depot" in Mill Valley for coffee on many occasions as it is close by; advertised with em for eons. They rely on info from folks like yourself, and they did originally organize the Haha too, but they are not the end all of info in Mexico. J. Rains book is good and I found a really neat anchorage from Charies once that EVEN I didn't know about in a gale for shelter...;-) I do like your politics though, compassion is as important as th almighty $ Merry Christmas to all swabs everywhere...;-)
Anchoring ideas
The west coast of Mexico has numerous anchorages, and good marinas, and not many moorings. Paradise Village Resort at Neuvo Vallarta is very popular marina, and excellent, if price is no object. A great upscale vacation spot. Some Mexico vets prefer Marina Vallarta, nearer downtown. less amenities but less Yankees and more Mexican experience. Budget sailors in Banderas Bay tend to go north a few miles and anchor off La Cruz, but be aware the seawater quality is questionable, thought the town friendly and the cruiser community great. Mazatlan has a good marina, recently developed with more amenities, and there is limited anchorage downtown. PV, Mazatlan and La Paz all offer secure place to leave a boat for a while -- at a price. Then there are good anchorages at Manzanillo, Tenacatita, and all the way down to Zihuatanejo. I've crewed into these places and even as a newbie found them safe and welcoming. Next year, I hope to see you there from my boat. Fair winds Sanders s/v Good News
The west coast of Mexico has numerous anchorages, and good marinas, and not many moorings. Paradise Village Resort at Neuvo Vallarta is very popular marina, and excellent, if price is no object. A great upscale vacation spot. Some Mexico vets prefer Marina Vallarta, nearer downtown. less amenities but less Yankees and more Mexican experience. Budget sailors in Banderas Bay tend to go north a few miles and anchor off La Cruz, but be aware the seawater quality is questionable, thought the town friendly and the cruiser community great. Mazatlan has a good marina, recently developed with more amenities, and there is limited anchorage downtown. PV, Mazatlan and La Paz all offer secure place to leave a boat for a while -- at a price. Then there are good anchorages at Manzanillo, Tenacatita, and all the way down to Zihuatanejo. I've crewed into these places and even as a newbie found them safe and welcoming. Next year, I hope to see you there from my boat. Fair winds Sanders s/v Good News
La Paz Marina
I did the Ha Ha this year and left my boat at the CostaBaja marina in La Paz and will return in Jan. to bring her back to So. Calif. CostaBaja is a great place with 24 hour security and wonderful staff. My next choice would be Marina Palmira in La Paz.
I did the Ha Ha this year and left my boat at the CostaBaja marina in La Paz and will return in Jan. to bring her back to So. Calif. CostaBaja is a great place with 24 hour security and wonderful staff. My next choice would be Marina Palmira in La Paz.
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