I started sailing in '89 and rented sailboats from 28 to 35' off and on over the years. Now i have an older cutaway keel 25' that we have completely redone from top to bottom. Very seaworthy. Although I've been in the Pacific at night and once sailed with a friend to Catalina on his Lancer 28', overall my experience has ben offshore a bit and a lot of bay sailing. QUESTION IS: We (a friend who has some, not much, experience) are thinking of sailing from San Diego south to Cabo San Lucas (725 miles) next year but our wives are threatening to disown us. They claim we have no experience. Others say, Just go! What to do? We look forward to the adventure and believe we can handle everything that may come up but just when do you thuink one has sufficient knowledge to actually just go and do it? Any comments would be appreciated.
- Status
just do it
Like the Nike commercial said: Just do it. See if you can find another boat to go as a Buddy boat. Make sure you have all the safety gear, read as much as you can about the trip from online forums, get all the charts, and books like Charlie Charts... make sure your family has a copy your plans and go enjoy! Life is meant to be lived. There is also the Baja Ha Ha in the Fall (check out Latitude 38) that leaves at the end of October. That is a great way to do it! We have an 87 Hunter 40 and are planning on taking her from the PNW to Cabo in the Baja Ha Ha hopefully next year, and I am not worried about as long as the boat is sound and we all know how to use ALL the gear, are familiar with all safety procedures and have ALL in the info we need like charts, weather info, etc. Oh, and seasickness pills! We sailed up the coast to the San Juan and Gulf Islands last year and learned a lot... as long as you know where a safe harbor is, go for it. And never leave port without a weather forcast!
Like the Nike commercial said: Just do it. See if you can find another boat to go as a Buddy boat. Make sure you have all the safety gear, read as much as you can about the trip from online forums, get all the charts, and books like Charlie Charts... make sure your family has a copy your plans and go enjoy! Life is meant to be lived. There is also the Baja Ha Ha in the Fall (check out Latitude 38) that leaves at the end of October. That is a great way to do it! We have an 87 Hunter 40 and are planning on taking her from the PNW to Cabo in the Baja Ha Ha hopefully next year, and I am not worried about as long as the boat is sound and we all know how to use ALL the gear, are familiar with all safety procedures and have ALL in the info we need like charts, weather info, etc. Oh, and seasickness pills! We sailed up the coast to the San Juan and Gulf Islands last year and learned a lot... as long as you know where a safe harbor is, go for it. And never leave port without a weather forcast!
We did that trip in '91.
Our class was shoving off from San Diego on Nov 1st. I had an early PC program that picked up satellite images off of the ham radio. Sure enough, a hurricane was headed up the coast. We went anyway but stopped before Mag Bay just in case. This whole trip is about the weather. Don't go when there is weather. Another advantage to your boat is that you can come up the Sea of Cortez and haul out for the short trip back to San Diego by truck. Much better than slugging it back up the coast, unless you decide to just keep going. We did.
Our class was shoving off from San Diego on Nov 1st. I had an early PC program that picked up satellite images off of the ham radio. Sure enough, a hurricane was headed up the coast. We went anyway but stopped before Mag Bay just in case. This whole trip is about the weather. Don't go when there is weather. Another advantage to your boat is that you can come up the Sea of Cortez and haul out for the short trip back to San Diego by truck. Much better than slugging it back up the coast, unless you decide to just keep going. We did.
Just (prepare) it
Sounds like you have some experience; it would be more productive to seriously examine some websites with race requirements for offshore races. Some of them specify experience, equipment and boat preparation in tangible itemized terms. You will get a better idea of how you measure up. Some Safety at Sea seminars and other courses are good preparations too.
Sounds like you have some experience; it would be more productive to seriously examine some websites with race requirements for offshore races. Some of them specify experience, equipment and boat preparation in tangible itemized terms. You will get a better idea of how you measure up. Some Safety at Sea seminars and other courses are good preparations too.
Do it, but....
as everybody has mentioned PREPARE! That means checking the weather everyday, find safe harbors along the way if there is bad weather. Allow time for your trip if you get stuck in a place untill the bad weather passes. Think safety at all times. Rent an EPIRB from Boat U.S. ($50.00 a week) that will ease the wifes worries. Wear harnesses for night passages and during rough weather. If your wife doe not want to go on the night passages, plan for day trips stopping for the night on ports along the way if possible. If you can't then get some friends to help you, ask around the marina, you will be surprised how many guys will volunteer, then she can fly or drive and meet you at your destination. Good luck Ozana
as everybody has mentioned PREPARE! That means checking the weather everyday, find safe harbors along the way if there is bad weather. Allow time for your trip if you get stuck in a place untill the bad weather passes. Think safety at all times. Rent an EPIRB from Boat U.S. ($50.00 a week) that will ease the wifes worries. Wear harnesses for night passages and during rough weather. If your wife doe not want to go on the night passages, plan for day trips stopping for the night on ports along the way if possible. If you can't then get some friends to help you, ask around the marina, you will be surprised how many guys will volunteer, then she can fly or drive and meet you at your destination. Good luck Ozana
Preparation is indeed the key. Before you go get as much experience as you can (or the wife will let you) offshore sailing in storms. I mean beyound five miles out. Its a different world out there. Having safe havens is a great idea but doesn't always work that convienently when five or more miles out where you are likely to be sailing. You need to be experienced sailing in a variety of storms and foul weather. And be prepared to sail solo by rigging (including at least one spare halyard, threading a new one is a bitch when at sea)the boat accordingly and practice it. If one of you gets hurt, somebody needs to get you to port. Don't forget MOB practice. Also be sure to have the proper safety equipment, pfd's that you will wear at all times and jacklines that you must use whenever and wherever on deck, a life raft that is up to date, a ditch bag, spare hand held radio, a trip plan with planned route that you try to stick with, etc. Check out the requirements of offshore racing organizations. It is better to have too much safety stuff and not need it than to wish you had brought it. Most important is have a means of communicating with the wife. And prepare her extensively before you go. Think of every contingency and talk to her. A lot. It makes all of the difference.
Coastal is harder
IMHO coastal sailing requires much more skill than "bluewater sailing" . It seems that there is a lot of coast between harbors on the sail that you are planning. BTW what type of boat??? My brother had a Pacific seacraft 25 in which he had complete confidence
IMHO coastal sailing requires much more skill than "bluewater sailing" . It seems that there is a lot of coast between harbors on the sail that you are planning. BTW what type of boat??? My brother had a Pacific seacraft 25 in which he had complete confidence
- Status