From La Paz to Puerto Vallarta
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Hi,
I just bought a Rawson 30 in La Paz, the first sailboat I've owned since 1985. I need to sail her from La Paz to Puerto Vallarta. We will be leaving the first week of May. In addition to myself, I have 3 inexperienced crew and one good life long sailor to make the trip.
My question is: What kind of winds and seas can I expect from La Paz to Mazatlan? And then onward to Puerto Vallarta? Right now the winds seem to be primarily out of the south and south by southwest.
Thanks,
Kevin
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Sailing in Mexico
Plan enough time that you can wait for a good weather window and favorable winds would be my advice.
Sailing in Mexico
I have a few friends that made the trip from Cabo to Mazatlan this winter. A couple of them started out and had to turn back because of strong headwinds. A few days later the wind switched a tad and they were able to cross over to Mazatlan without trouble (though the trip didn't sound very comfortable).
I'm not sure if the wind switches in the summer or not. I'll ask around for you, lots of Mexico sailors here on my docks. I'll let you know what I find out.
BTW: Nice choice of boats. These Rawson's are the best
- Kim (seageek)
P.S. Click here to see all the blogs, articles and cruising guides about cruising in Mexico (maybe you'll find some good info. there).
Thanks SG, I will wait to
Thanks SG, I will wait to hear from you. I've been told to make for the end of the Baja and start across, or leave on a straight passage to PV, although that puts you 3 to 4 days or more at sea, and I'm not comfortable doing this with such a green crew.
Passage tp Puerto Vallarta
I asked around for you this weekend. The general concensus from all the Mexico cruisers I asked seems to be:
If anybody else has any tips for Kevin, or other cruisers heading to Puerto Vallarta from La Paz, please let us know.
P.S. Did you check out the new Puerto Vallarta Cruising Guide ? Might have some helpful hints for you. You also might want to check out the World Map, and zoom in on Mexico to see what other cruisers have had to say about the area.
Mexico sailing
Usually the wind is light (and is southerly), it will be warm.
Hurricane season starts May 15th, rareto cross that path that early in the season.
Keep any eye on the weather.
Things I've found out.
I've talked to several sailors in the Baja and PV areas. It's been suggested that after leaving La Paz, go to Los Frailes and check the weather. Most have suggested that rather than going to Mazatlan, head straight for PV. Indicating that I will have better wind and less choppy seas. My biggest concern is a green crew (literally and figuratively) and 60+ hours at sea.
On the other hand, if we go to Mazatlan, there is a good chance that we will be becalmed and have to motor most of the way to PV. The plus is if unexpected weather comes up, we can beat it to an anchorage if necessary.
My concern is for the safety of the boat and my crew.
Any thoughts on these 2 options?????
rawson 30
Hi there, I recently purchashed a Rawson 30 in La paz at marina palmira. I just returned from mexico but I will be back in La Paz in a week . As soon as I get my motor replaced I am heading to San Carlos but I would love to check out your boat. Are you at Marina La Paz? - Congratulations on your boat- Eri c
La Paz and Rawsons
Hi Eric,
Glad to hear about your Rawson, mine is HIN# 15, Sea Vixen. She is currently on the hard, we will be in La Paz on April 30 and then heading south. As soon as I get her cleaned up, I'll post some pics. Let me know what dates you will be there, we're having a christening (party) soon after we get there.
Kevin
Sea Vixen
Excellent. I believe that I am headed back to La paz next week. My boat is Wistful and you can find me on channel 22. Congratulations from all the research I have done it seems like we have great boats. Eric
La Paz
Eric,
Been around boats all my life, some sailboats i.e. Morgans, Hunters and Catalinas and a lot of power boats. Built a couple of wooden boats as a kid. Got to help design a boat for Checkmate once. Everything I've checked out on Rawsons is positive, excellent Gardner design, overbuilt in everyway, just an awesome boat. When your surveyor tells you, you can't find a better built boat, it makes you sit up and take notice.
We are going to be have a christening of the old girl on April 2, I'll contact you and you can join in the offerings to Neptune.
My plan is to leave La Paz on the morning of the 3rd of April, doing a shakedown for my green crew to los Muertos, practice safety drills at the anchorage, drinks at the Gigglin' Marlin, sleep off our buzz and then haul a$$ to Mazatlan (at hopefully 6 knots), then on to Puerto Vallarta, have to be there by the 9th, no later than morning of the 10th. Winds should be in my favor, hopefully, out of the NW at 10 to 15, which should put me on a nice port reach all the way to the mainland. Awesome fishing too! The sardines are supposed to be thick this year, which should me tons of big fish, hopefully some small squid close to the surface for calamari!
Kevin
La Paz
Im glad to hear your surveors comments. Did you use Cecil Lange out of La Paz? I should be back in La Paz by next tuesday at the latest. I am also repowering my boat although with a rebuilt Volvo not a Yanmar. I am jealous. I am a little confused about your dates. When are you doing the Christening?- Eric
La Paz
Yeah, Cecil did the survey, wouldn't use anyone else. I sent you an email.
I will be in La Paz on April 30. We will be christening Sea Vixen on May 2nd.
You should have good success with that Volvo, they make a good marine engine.
Kevin
Crossing the Sea o Cortez
Hello there, 2 years ago I sailed from Long Beach CA to Ixtapa/ zihuatanejo aboard my old S/V a Hunter 34. When crossing from Cabo to the Mainland I stopped off at Los Frailes( as mentioned above) around the corner from Cabo and then set off for Mazatlan sometime mid morning so I would reach Mazatlan the following day in the daylight. I highly recommend going to Mazatlan as the New Marina is one of the highlights of Northern Mainland Mex. The pool, jacuzzis and underwater caves are wonderfull not to mention the facilities, even a Doctor in in the small marina. After your first real ocean trek the Mazatlan Marina is a wonderfull place to relax and take a breath before heading to Puerto Vallarta.
PS-Be sure to go to the NEW marina that is North of the municipal marina located closer to the main city. We made the mistake of pulling into the old marina where there is a free anchorage surrounded by a quite dreary harbour and municipal fishing docks. When we hoisted the anchor after and hour of smelling rotten fish and motored around the corner to the new marina our sunken hearts were quickly revived with pool side tacos in hand!!!
Jody Lemmon s/v Mason 43
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