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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

A Baja Ha-Ha XXXl — Wouldn’t That Be Fun?

“We still have to confirm some arrangements with the Mexican government, but if it were only up to us, Ha-Ha XXXI would be a go. And we believe it will be a go.”

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Good Jibes #176: 30th Annual Baja Ha-Ha: LIVE Aboard ‘Profligate’ in Bahia Santa Maria

Tune in as Chuck Skewes of Ullman Sails and the crew of ‘Profligate’ share more stories, LIVE from the 30th Annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally.

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A Ha-Ha Reprise Aboard the S&S 42 Yawl ‘Fairwyn’

Rick and Gayle Leland enjoy a second Ha-Ha aboard their boat of 17 years, the S&S 42 yawl ‘Fairwyn.’

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Navigate to Novamar for Your US and Mexico Yacht Insurance Needs

Nova YachtMX is our new exclusive yacht insurance program, especially designed for cruising Mexico’s ocean paradises.

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A Mid-Month ‘Classy’ Check-In

Is a new boat on the horizon for spring?

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Cruising Resources - Articles From the Latitude 38 Archives

Read the 2023 First Timer’s Guide to Mexico

First Timer's Guide to Mexico
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

Thanks to the 2024 Baja Ha-Ha Sponsors!