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 Departs November 4th!Â
The Latest Cruising News
The Baja Ha-Ha fleet is safe and sound in Bahia Santa Maria after great sailing for much of the 260-mile second leg of the rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas. Leg 2 of the Baja Ha-Ha rally takes cruisers from Bahia Tortugas to Bahia Santa Maria.© Google Maps Spread out over 100 miles,…
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Ha-Ha cruisers chill out ashore at Turtle Bay, with the fleet safely anchored in the well-protected circular bay. latitude/Andy©2015Latitude 38 Media, LLC The Baja Ha-Ha XXII rally fleet is enjoying a well-earned R&R stopover today in the remote fishing town of Bahia Tortugas (Turtle Bay), having completed 360-mile Leg One from San Diego. At 9…
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Tom Wurfl and Helen Downs’ Lagoon 42 Catatude and scores of other sailboats paraded out of San Diego Bay on their way to the start of the 22nd Baja Ha-Ha on Monday morning. latitude/John A.©2015Latitude 38 Media, LLC The 22nd annual Baja Ha-Ha Rally got off to a very mellow start on Monday, with light…
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"I’m on a boat!" sang this cadre of rappers, who were soon to abandon their flashy suits for shorts, T-shirts and flipflops. Andy©Latitude 38 Media, LLC Every year at this time great numbers of humpback whales and a wide variety of waterfowl migrate south for the winter along the West Coast. At the same time,…
Read MoreIf you’re traveling to Mexico this season, there are several important issues you should be aware of concerning prescription meds. La Paz-based sailors Dennis and Susan Ross recently alerted us that there have been changes in Mexican law regarding prescriptions for controlled medications. The Mexican government is establishing a national database to track prescriptions, utilizing…
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 SSBÂ
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
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