A Girls’ Getaway in the Sea of Cortez
When my dear friend Kim Dumas, the founder of San Diego Women’s Sailing and yacht broker for Denison Yachting, first proposed the idea of an all-women’s catamaran sailing adventure in the Sea of Cortez last year, it took me all of two seconds to respond with an enthusiastic, “Yes! Let’s do it!”
As we all know, the spring and summer of 2021 were fraught with uncertainty. With the COVID-19 Delta variant on the rise, and much of the world still closed for travel, I think it’s safe to say that many people were going stir-crazy and needed an escape. Thankfully, a little slice of heaven north of Cabo San Lucas, on the Baja Peninsula in the Sea of Cortez, remained open for travel. La Paz is a popular cruising ground for sailors, and is known for its clear, turquoise water, white, sandy beaches, and the pristine archipelago of Espiritu Santo. Jacques Cousteau famously called the Sea of Cortez “the aquarium of the world” for its rich and abundant sea life.
Our goal was to create a fun, adventurous retreat where women could sail, swim, snorkel, SUP, hike, practice yoga, and make memories to last a lifetime. “I know so many women who enjoy sailing that would love an opportunity to refine their sailing skills in a non-competitive environment and can experience what cruising life is all about,” Kim explains. “Some of my favorite memories with my mom over the years are when we chartered boats together and went on sailing adventures.” It’s no surprise that Kim’s mom, Anne, was the first to sign up for the retreat for some precious mother/daughter time.
Kim and I knew the perfect platform for our sailing adventure: West Coast Multihulls’ Fountaine Pajot Saba 50, Balam, a beautiful six-cabin, six-head catamaran with a spacious galley and plenty of outdoor dining and lounge space.
Next up was securing our captain. Enter Annie Gardner. Annie is a 100-Ton USCG-licensed captain who spent 20 years teaching sailing and team building at the University of Denver. She has won 19 national titles and five world sailboat championships, and is the reigning women’s world champion on the Hobie 16. Kim knew of Annie when she was chosen to navigate on the America3 Women’s Team to compete for the 1995 America’s Cup, and knew her passion for sailing and experience as a liveaboard on her 47-ft Catana El Gato would be empowering and inspirational for the other ladies on board.
Kim reached out to her San Diego Women’s Sailing Group and filled the cabins for the October trip immediately. Due to the high demand, we created two additional Girls’ Getaway trips — one in November and one in December, which filled up as well. After getting to know everyone during our Meet the Crew planning session, I knew we were going to have an epic adventure.
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