Heading South: Latitude 38's Guide to Sailing and Cruising the Coast of Mexico and Central America
Cruising News for Mexico and Beyond
Entries for the 32nd Baja Ha-Ha Open
On January 30th!
The Latest Cruising News
“That wasn’t so hard after all!” For many in the fleet, completing the Ha-Ha is the inaugural step in a new life of cruising.latitude/Richard© Latitude 38 Media, LLC The awards ceremony for Baja Ha-Ha XVI — which was, in several ways, the most exciting ever — was held at Marina Cabo San Lucas on Saturday…
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Sweet sailing toward the Cape. latitude/Andy© Latitude 38 Media, LLC Deeply sun-tanned sailors wearing brilliant turquoise and tangerine-colored shirts are swarming all over Cabo San Lucas today, as the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ Baja Ha-Ha fleet has arrived in full force. The Sally Lightfoot crew showed their Ha-Ha spirit by wearing their Hare Krishna costumes at the…
Read MoreMost of the Sweet Sixteen Baja Ha-Ha Fleet is now comfortably anchored in Bahia Santa Maria, after completing an extremely mellow second leg — a distinct contrast to the ultra-rowdy conditions of Leg 1. On Sunday, the morning after a fun-filled Turtle Bay beach party, the fleet crossed the Leg 2 starting line at 11…
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Mild conditions at the start gave the fleet a gentle push across the border. latitude/Andy© Latitude 38 Media, LLC The rough seas and powerful winds reported earlier have now subsided, replaced by clear, sunny skies and gentle breezes — ideal for the annual Turtle Bay beach party which begins at noon today. Approximately 120 boats…
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J/World at the start of the ’07 Ha-Ha. She sailed more than 10,000 miles before a freak whale attack sunk her 50 miles off the coast of Baja. latitude/Richard©2009 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Shortly after yesterday morning’s Baja Ha-Ha check-in, the crew of J/World, the J/120 skippered by former Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club…
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.
Latitude 38's First Timer's Guide to Mexico
Order a Printed Copy Online here.
Cruising Notes—Things to Know Before You Go
Thanks to the 2025 Baja Ha-Ha Sponsors!
