Heading South: Latitude 38's Guide to Sailing and Cruising the Coast of Mexico and Central America
Cruising News for Mexico and Beyond
The 30th Annual Latitude 38 Baja Ha-Ha Was One of the Best Ever!
Stay Tuned for Information on Baja Ha-Ha 2026.
The Latest Cruising News
Light fog accompanied last Monday’s start off Coronado Roads, but the westerly breeze gave everyone a nice push toward the border.latitude/Andy©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Dang that internet!!! We apologize for Friday’s report on the Baja Ha-Ha, as half the photos in the report never made it from the outpost at Turtle Bay to Latitude‘s…
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When the wind went light, some crews amused themselves with mischief – such as launching water balloons at the Rally Committee. latitude/Andy© Latitude 38 Media, LLC As you read this, members of the 15th annual Baja Ha-Ha cruisers’ rally have arrived at the sleepy fishing town called Bahia Tortuga — Turtle Bay — which lies…
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The Ha-Ha festivities started with Holly Scott and her Desperate Housewives crew on the Cal 40 Mahalo dancing up a ’50s style storm. latitude/Richard©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC It was foggy this morning in San Diego, but the sun made an appearance for the 11 a.m. start of the 15th Annual Cruiser’s Rally from San…
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With the 15th annual Baja Ha-Ha from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas slated to start on Monday, the weather couldn’t be better. It’s been warm and dry most of the week, and tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday should see the high 70s, if not 80°. As for weather on the first leg from San…
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As of today, Commander’s Weather is calling for mild to moderate weather on the way from San Diego to Turtle Bay. latitude/Nick©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC The weather outook for the first leg of the Baja Ha-Ha, from San Diego, 360 or so miles down to Turtle Bay, is looking pretty sweet — if you’re…
Read MoreCruising Resources - Articles From the Latitude 38 Archives
Read the 2023 First Timer’s Guide to Mexico
Latitude 38's First Timer's Guide to Mexico Update for 2023.
Why Cruise Mexico?
Walk the docks of any marina from Vancouver to San Diego this summer and you're likely to find dozens of sailors fitting out their boats for extended cruising. Where are they headed? While some undoubtedly have lofty dreams of eventually cruising the South Pacific, the Caribbean or the Med, destination numero uno for almost all of them is Mexico.
Fitting Out: The Cruisers Back Porch
A centuries-old adage claims, "You can tell a lot about a sailor by the cut of his jib." But when it comes to modern cruisers, nothing reveals more about their sailing style than the 'back porch' of their boat. That is, the stern section, which may house everything from solar panels to surfboards, and barbecues to radar domes.
Favorite Sailing Apps
One of the frustrating aspects of living in this 'app-happy' era of endless innovation is that is it seems almost impossible to keep up with the latest, greatest developments in technology — including smartphone, tablet and computer software related to boating.
The Info on AIS
Now more than ever, the modern sailor has lots to choose from when it comes to navigation and safety instruments. Communication devices such as the Iridium GO! and Garmin inReach (which also has GPS capabilities) have complemented the single-sideband radio and VHF. Chartplotters have digitized and dramatically simplified navigation, and radar has long been an important tool for identifying marine traffic, obstacles and weather.
Offshore Communication
With the ever-expanding assortment of communications devices designed for offshore sailing, comes the dilemma of deciding which ones belong on your 'must-have' list, and which ones you can live without — especially if you're on a limited budget. With that in mind, we'll share some tips and insights here that we hope will reduce your befuddlement.
Communications: Idiots Guide to SSB
Despite several advances in offshore voice communications such as satphones, marine single sideband (SSB) isn't going away anytime soon. That's because SSB, unlike satphones, allows an unlimited number of people to listen to a transmission at the same time.
Small Boat Adventuring in the Sea of Cortez
You don't have to own a fully equipped 50-ft cruising boat to enjoy the spectacular Sea of Cortez, a vast, sparsely developed wonderland for sailors and adventurers.
Latitude reader Derek Rice and a buddy recently had big fun tapping into the region's magic aboard a 44-year-old Catalina 22 daysailer.
Cruising Notes—Things to Know Before You Go
