SEAMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017 15STOP BY STOP
Departing from Cabo San Lucas, run within five miles of shore
to Mag Bay. Along this 150-mile stretch there are no anchorages.
From Mag Bay to Santa Maria is only 30 miles. From Santa Maria
turn due north to San Juanico, which is 97 miles away. Many boat-
ers are tempted to take a straight shot from Santa Maria to Turtle
Bay, but this takes them well offshore where it gets very rough.
Heading to San Juanico keeps the route closer to shore where it
is calmer. The 160-mile stretch from San Juanico to Turtle Bay
includes several well-placed anchorages for shorter runs: Abreojos,
Hipolito and Asuncion.
From Turtle Bay, pass outside Isla Natividad and Cedros
Islands for 57 miles to anchor at San Benitos. This is an offshore
leg that can’t be avoided, because the coastal route inside of the
huge bight of Bahia Vizcaino is very long and out of the way and
includes dangerous currents and shoals. From San Benitos to
San Quintin is 126 miles and potentially the roughest part of the
Baja return. Winds and seas should subside closer to the coast.
Then run from San Quintin to Ensenada (107 miles) to clear out
of the country. Complete the remaining 60 miles to the Custom’s
Dock in San Diego, and the Baja Bash is behind you.it is very rare for them to reach the Baja peninsula
before mid-July. However, check with your insurance
company. While some will allow a departure at this
time, others will require a return before May 30.
RETURN ROUTING
Regardless of the timing of the return trip, stay
within five miles of shore, where practicable. The
winds are stronger farther offshore, and they blow
day and night, almost like a trade wind. Being close in
takes advantage of the diurnal land/sea breeze effect.
During the day the land heats up while the sea remains
relatively cool. Hot air rises and the cool air over the
water rushes toward the land to fill the lower pressure
created by the hot air’s rising. At night the opposite
happens. The land cools off more quickly than the
ocean, at which point the cooler air subsides and blows
toward the ocean. Land breezes are typically weaker
than sea breezes.
Close along the Baja shore, the normal cycle of land/
sea breezes means that, generally, from about midnight
until about 10 a.m. a light northwest wind blows, which
makes it fairly easy — or at least tolerable — to travel
northwest up Baja. However, around 10 a.m., the wind
begins to fill in from the northwest, which is right on
northbound boats’ nose. That northwest wind usually
builds to a peak about sunset, then gradually subsides
throughout the evening.
The trick to minimizing the bash is to take advan-
tage of the land/sea cycle. That means boaters will be
San
DiegoCabo San LucasTurtle BaySanta MariaIsla San
BenitosSe
a
of(^) C
or
te
z
San Juanico
Mag Bay
Bahia
Vizcaino
Ensenada
San
Quintin
Abreojos
underway at night, from about sunset until
about 10 a.m., when traveling conditions
should be more favorable. Nighttime
running requires sharp navigation and
extra vigilance from the watchstanders,
even though it’s contrary to most people’s
normal sleep cycle. Don’t worry; when it’s
rough outside, it’s usually too difficult for
anyone “off watch” to sleep anyway.
Sleeping during the day is the other
half of this trick. It’s only possible after
the boat has been tucked into a nicely
protected anchorage with no rock and
roll. Daylight allows people to see hazards
before they set the hook. Most crews will
establish their radar’s perimeter alarm or
leave one crewmember awake on “anchor
watch.”
Along some stretches of the Baja coast,
anchorages that are reliably sheltered from
northwest winds are few and far between.
Slower boats may still have to run 24 hours
between restful anchorages. The faster the
boat, the easier it is to take advantage of
this midnight-to-10 a.m. trick.
Most important, if the forecast is good
for several days, take advantage of it and
keep moving, avoiding any stops other than
for fuel. You might get tired, but consider
yourself lucky instead.
H L
Yuma Low
Pacific High
Warm
Front
Cold
Front
L
Sea cooler than land
Warmerair rises
Sea warmer than land
air subsidesCooler
Day: sea breeze onshore
Night: sea breeze offshore
How cool is that?
It's got legs