Does anyone have experience that they would like to share with regard to taking the "Clipper Route" from Mexico to California instead of doing the "Baja Bash"? I am thinking about doing this and would love to hear from you. Thanks, Liam.
Clipper Route
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Hope This Is Some Help
Liam, I sailed down offshore, staying about 100 NM off the coast on average to Puerto Vallarta in just under nine days. That was on a friends's boat and I also want to do it again on mine. I also don't relish the bash back. Latitude 38 ran an article which I can't find in their archives. It was from Stephan Mann, a singlehander who always sails back by going offshore four-plus days from Cabo. Here is his article and I also think it would be more attractive and less stressfull well offshore. (Hope I have not crossed any copyright bounds!) "There is an alternative. I usually leave Cabo reefed and hard on the starboard tack. On my last trip north, I stayed on this tack for four days -which is normal. People need to remember that San Diego is north and west of Cabo. So if you are sailing west, you are on course. I don't bother with GPS, because I can just look at the compass to know where I'm going. I stay on starboard tack initially to get a little sea room. But once offshore, I play the shifts of the day. If I'm on starboard and sailing south of west, I tack and will then be west of north. If I'm on port and sailing east of north, I tack. There is a small but dangerous group of offshore rocks called the Alijos. I find that my first tack onto port is usually near these rocks. I stay well outside of Cedros. From Guadalupe Island I have always been able to make San Diego on port tack. Then. you are there. It's also worth considering the peace of mind that comes from being so far offshore. There's not much, if any, vessel traffic. No pangas, shrimp buckets, coastal freight, military vessels, tankers, other cruisers, and the like. Offshore I can u run the radar alarms all the time allowing me to get more rest which is important for us singlehanders. When offshore, the sea is generally better for sailing, as the waves are long and large but don't have all the refracted garbage you get closer to shore. If the wind dies -it does happen -you can motor straight for your destination with- out fear of points or outcroppings. In my opinion, offshore is the only way to go. Some people ask how far offshore, wanting me to provide a specific distance. The answer is to just get away from the shore and forget about it. I have also found favorable northbound currents outside of the fishing banks off Cabo, but they are a tricky thing. I also think that the biggest obstacle many bashers face is having the willpower to turn off their GPS. They put in waypoints on the outside of the greater points of land, and then drive along that stupid highway display, fearful of cross- track error. I say sail the boat first. You can turn it on again several times during the day to see where you are, but remember to turn it off again and resume sailing. Above all, be well and remember to have fun." Stephan Mann
Liam, I sailed down offshore, staying about 100 NM off the coast on average to Puerto Vallarta in just under nine days. That was on a friends's boat and I also want to do it again on mine. I also don't relish the bash back. Latitude 38 ran an article which I can't find in their archives. It was from Stephan Mann, a singlehander who always sails back by going offshore four-plus days from Cabo. Here is his article and I also think it would be more attractive and less stressfull well offshore. (Hope I have not crossed any copyright bounds!) "There is an alternative. I usually leave Cabo reefed and hard on the starboard tack. On my last trip north, I stayed on this tack for four days -which is normal. People need to remember that San Diego is north and west of Cabo. So if you are sailing west, you are on course. I don't bother with GPS, because I can just look at the compass to know where I'm going. I stay on starboard tack initially to get a little sea room. But once offshore, I play the shifts of the day. If I'm on starboard and sailing south of west, I tack and will then be west of north. If I'm on port and sailing east of north, I tack. There is a small but dangerous group of offshore rocks called the Alijos. I find that my first tack onto port is usually near these rocks. I stay well outside of Cedros. From Guadalupe Island I have always been able to make San Diego on port tack. Then. you are there. It's also worth considering the peace of mind that comes from being so far offshore. There's not much, if any, vessel traffic. No pangas, shrimp buckets, coastal freight, military vessels, tankers, other cruisers, and the like. Offshore I can u run the radar alarms all the time allowing me to get more rest which is important for us singlehanders. When offshore, the sea is generally better for sailing, as the waves are long and large but don't have all the refracted garbage you get closer to shore. If the wind dies -it does happen -you can motor straight for your destination with- out fear of points or outcroppings. In my opinion, offshore is the only way to go. Some people ask how far offshore, wanting me to provide a specific distance. The answer is to just get away from the shore and forget about it. I have also found favorable northbound currents outside of the fishing banks off Cabo, but they are a tricky thing. I also think that the biggest obstacle many bashers face is having the willpower to turn off their GPS. They put in waypoints on the outside of the greater points of land, and then drive along that stupid highway display, fearful of cross- track error. I say sail the boat first. You can turn it on again several times during the day to see where you are, but remember to turn it off again and resume sailing. Above all, be well and remember to have fun." Stephan Mann
Another Idea
Liam There was an article entitled "The Baja DASH," by David Jennings, SAIL magazine, in May 2004, page 75. Idea was coast hugging and hops. Don't know if they'd have it in their archives, you might want to take a look. It's another very good alternative. They got a lot of rest. I do remember that Latitude 38 article, don't have it anymore, but Rich's copy of it covered it all. The SAIL article is too long to retype, but I could fax it to you if you'd like. Just let me know. Fair winds, Stu
Liam There was an article entitled "The Baja DASH," by David Jennings, SAIL magazine, in May 2004, page 75. Idea was coast hugging and hops. Don't know if they'd have it in their archives, you might want to take a look. It's another very good alternative. They got a lot of rest. I do remember that Latitude 38 article, don't have it anymore, but Rich's copy of it covered it all. The SAIL article is too long to retype, but I could fax it to you if you'd like. Just let me know. Fair winds, Stu
Thanks again
Thanks again guys. Stu, If you would fax the "Baja Dash" article that would be really great. Liam Wald, 831.423.1154 Sanders, thanks for the link.
Thanks again guys. Stu, If you would fax the "Baja Dash" article that would be really great. Liam Wald, 831.423.1154 Sanders, thanks for the link.
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