Cruising Expeditions

Summary of Berth Availability
Updated: July 8, 2010
2010-11 Mexico Itinerary

Leg	2010	Leg	2011	Leg	2011	Leg	2011
1	3 berths available	5	2 berths available	10	3 berths available	13	3 berths available
2	2 berths available	6	3 berths available	B.B.R.	2 berths available	14	3 berths available
3	Filled, 1 Standby	7	3 berths available	11	3 berths available	15	3 berths available
4	2 berths available	8	2 berths available	12	3 berths available	16	3 berths available
		9	3 berths available	L.P.S.W.	Filled, 0 Standby

2010

Leg	Start Date @ 12 pm Noon	Depart From	Arrive At	Finish Date @ 12 pm. Noon	Expedition Days	Berth	Availability
1	Sun. 10/24/2010	San Diego	Cabo San Lucas	Thur. 11/04/10	12	$2,400	3 berths available Apply Now
Apply prior to August 10th, 2010, to receive a 20% discount off of the standard $2,400 berth rate! Kick off the 2010-11 Season with an 800 mile downwind run along the entire length of the Baja Peninsula participating in the 17th annual Baja Ha-Ha. More the 2,000 boats have completed this major sailing event on the West Coast. To date over 105 boats have signed on for this passage, sailing among many other boats can be a lot of fun. The Crew aboard will get the chance to meet other Cruisers at the two planned stops, Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. Many of the other Cruisers are initiating their Cruising plans with these passages. At the beach side fiestas, crew can mingle with other Baja Ha-Ha sailors that have recently planned, prepared and now are living their dream of Cruising. A wide range of wind strengths and sea states can be expected, great for building confidence. To sum it up; Leg 1 is a great opportunity to have fun increase voyaging knowledge while building confidence then having at blast at the shore side ha-ha events. Learn more at www.baja-haha.com
2	Sun. 11/14/2010	Cabo San Lucas	Puerto Vallarta	Sat. 11/20/2010	7	$1,575	2 berths available Apply Now
Apply prior to August 10th, 2010, to receive a 20% discount off of the standard $1,575 berth rate! Enjoy the surrounding of Cabo San Lucas prior to heading across the Sea of Cortez. Just for kicks walk out to the harbor entrance and watch the parade of large and small boats coming and going, it can get pretty crazy. Planning to avoid the worst of any Northerner the crew will begin a 300 mile fast reach passage across the mouth of the Sea arriving in Punta Mita (Banderas Bay), Puerto Vallarta. Crossing Sea of Cortez‘s full fetch (800 miles) is an offshore experience. The sailing generally is good with steady winds well into the night. Arriving in Banderas Bay (see below); enjoy the best sailing conditions, flat warm water with consistent sea breezes. Banderas Bay in November is the perfect place to enjoy sailing, you’ll be hooked, cruisers return there after many years of cruising the S. Pacific. The Bay and nearby anchorages have beautiful beaches to explore, swimming, snorkeling, surfing and other water sports.
3	Sun. 11/28/2010	Puerto Vallarta	Puerto Vallarta	Sat. 12/04/2010	7	$1,575	Filled, 1 Standby
4	Sun. 12/12/2010	Puerto Vallarta	Puerto Vallarta	Sun. 12/18/2010	7	$1,575	2 berths available Apply Now
Apply prior to August 10th, 2010, to receive a 20% discount off of the standard $1,575 berth rate! Banderas Bay is hard to beat in the months of November and December. Expect to have near perfect sailing conditions, warm tropical air, steady sea breezes and flat water. The conditions are ideal for improving skills on different points of sail. The Bay can be packed with whales at this time of year, the crew can heave to or practice forereaching to watch them breach and slap the water with their fins. The Las Tres Marietas Islands is a great day anchorage with clear water for snorkeling. After taking a few days to enjoy the Bay, a place where the sailing and beachside life makes it hard to leave, we take a passage north into the Sea to Chacala. Chacala is a lovely palm tree lined beach community with a picturesque anchorage. The crew will have the opportunity to meet other Cruisers at the beachside restaurants near the anchorages. These Legs will offer an excellent environment for learning all aspects of Cruising along with beautiful beaches to explore, plus swimming, snorkeling, surfing and other water sports.

2011

Leg	Start Date @ 12 pm Noon	Depart From	Arrive At	Finish Date @ 12 pm. Noon	Expedition Days	Berth	Availability
5	Sun 01/09/2011	Puerto Vallarta	Manzanillo	Sat. 01/15/2011	7	$1,575	2 berths available Apply Now
After a windward sail to Punta Mita, a staging overnight anchorage, for a morning passage around challenging Cabo Corrientes. South of Corrientes, enjoy historically ideal downwind sailing conditions as the coast becomes more tropical sailing towards Manzanillo. The crew will be sailing the "Gold Coast" of Mexico, known for its beautiful and varied anchorages. We will sail among other Cruisers migrating south, during the day and anchor in some favorite anchorages along the coast. This Leg will include at least one overnight passage with a growing moon on our voyage to Manzanillo. Along this coast the Skipper has previously been surrounded by dolphin, passed whales and watched rays jump from the water. Each anchorage is unique and very beautiful. The water is warm for swimming and snorkeling with many large unpopulated beaches.
6	Sun. 01/16/2011	Manzanillo	Manzanillo	Sat. 01/22/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
On this leg the crew will practice both windward and downwind sail handling and sail navigation at the same time enjoying some of Mexico’s best anchorages. The coast line is spectacular in this area both rugged and tropical with areas of white sand beaches. During these months this coast is awash with sea breezes making day passages pleasant with quiet nights at anchor (the moon is full on the 19th). We start by sailing north tuning up windward sailing skills stopping in bays for the night. It just doesn’t get much better sailing the "Gold Coast" of Mexico, known for its beautiful and varied anchorages. This leg will provide excellent opportunities to learn all aspects of sailing and operating a cruising sailboat. The chances are good the crew will see whale and dolphin. Sailing north in 2009 from Manzanillo the Skipper had a whale surface unexpectedly fully breach the water off the port bow only 200 feet away. The water is warm for swimming and snorkeling and exploring the beaches.
7	Sun. 01/30/2011	Manzanillo	Zihuatanejo	Sat. 02/05/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
From beautiful Santiago Bay we leave Punta de Camos Lighthouse to port for the 228 mile run to Zihuatanejo. On this passage the crew will enjoy historically light air downwind sailing conditions. This passage is great for bettering light/medium air passage making skills. The coastline is dramatic tropical, rocky bluffs with white sand beaches. We will sail at least one possibly two overnight passages. We can visit the clear waters of Bahia de la Grande to swim and snorkel. The water temperature this time of year is close to 80 degrees. In Zihuatanejo, meet other Cruisers anchored in the bay and at lively beachside restaurants. Sailboats from as far away as Alaska and the Caribbean will gather for the Zihua Sail Fest a five day festival to raise funds for the education of Zihuatanejo’s poorest children.
8	Sun. 02/06/2011	Zihau SailFest	Zihau SailFest	Sat. 02/12/2011	7	$1,575	2 berths available Apply Now
Participate in the 10th Annual Zihua Sail Fest fund-raising party for the education of disadvantaged children in Zihuatanejo. This annual event is held in the beautiful Zihuatanejo Bay. Boats arrive from as far away as Alaska and the Caribbean. SailFest is a five-day festival that combines fun and games, heart-felt volunteerism and an outpouring of international friendship. The tone of the event is light-hearted, but the cruisers’ goals are serious – to raise funds for the education of Zihuatanejo’s poorest children. Each year, as many as 102 vessels register and join in the fun! Learn more at www.zihuasailfest.com
9	Sun. 02/20/2011	Zihuatanejo	Manzanillo	Sat. 02/26/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
Sailboats from all over will have gathered for Zihua Sail Fest providing the crew a great opportunity to meet other Cruisers anchored in the bay and at the beachside restaurants. Before leaving we can visit the clear waters of Bahia de la Grande being careful to navigate away from underwater rocks and shoals. The water temperature in Zihuatanejo this time of year is close to 80 degrees. On the passage north enjoy historically light air, upwind sailing conditions, for the 228 mile sail to Manzanillo. This passage is great for increasing light/medium air passage making skills. The coastline is dramatic, tropical, rocky bluffs with white sand beaches. On this passage, sail one or possibly more (if we heave to and wait for wind) overnight passages with the help of a near full moon.
10	Sun. 02/27/2011	Manzanillo	Puerto Vallarta	Sat. 03/05/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
This is a great passage; the crew can improve short tacking skills along the coast and navigation under sail only to make anchorages. The plan is to sail during the day in normally ideal windward sailing conditions and anchor at night. Among other Cruisers, we sail the "Gold Coast" of Mexico, with stops in favorite anchorages their beauty inspiring. Did I say “The wind can be perfect for windward passages?” It’s true. Along this coast from the boat the Skipper has been surrounded by dolphin, passed whales and watched rays jump from the water. The water is warm for swimming and snorkeling within several large unpopulated beaches to explore. After a windward sail to Punta Ipala, we will stage for a passage around Cabo Corrientes attempting to avoid the high winds and strong currents it is known for and later anchoring in Banderas Bay.
	Sun. 03/06/2011	Banderas Regatta	Pirates for Pupils	Sat. 03/12/2011	7	$1,575	2 berths available Apply Now
Plan to participate on Dolphin in the Banderas Bay Regatta now in its 19th year, this 5 day event March 8-12, 2011 is specially designed with Cruisers in mind - fun but competitive races between boats designed for coastal and offshore cruising. Race boats and catamarans join the fun too in this non-profit event. With nightly fiestas, live music and entertainment; this is the signature event of the Vallarta Yacht Club. Learn more at banderasbayregatta.com. The crew hopes to attend the Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity. After a Saturday night fund raising dinner at local Punta Mita restaurant on Sunday participants will sail a 12-mile run to Paradise Marina.
11	Sun. 03/20/2011	Puerto Vallarta	Mazatlan	Sat. 03/26/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
This passage takes us north from Banderas Bay, with overnight stops in Chacala and Mantanchen Bay. A stop can be planned at the clear waters of Isla Isabela, a bird sanctuary televised by National Geographic and Cousteau. The passage is very pleasant reaching and or beat North, in normally gentle wind speeds. Mantanchen Bay is a quiet anchorage now, but twenty years in the late 18th century San Blas was one of the busiest ports and shipbuilding centers on the Pacific coast of the Americas, a base for the Spanish Navy. An easy walk from the anchorage we can visit pangas that travel up a clear water stream feeding the bay, where I have once seen a large boa constrictor perched on a tree. The passage north will include at least one overnight sail with the help of a full moon before arriving in Mazatlan. Once in the clear waters of Mazatlan we will enjoy Isla Carones and Isla Venados. On this passage north I stopped and turned around to view a 20' plus whale shark meandering on the surface, they are known to be in the waters at this time of year.
12	Sun. 03/27/2011	Mazatlan	La Paz	Sat. 4/02/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
This 300 mile passage during late March is normally a light air passage, but our heading moving into the wind generates better apparent wind speeds. We will concentrate on sailing before motoring with the use of a light weight drifter, sometimes it can work out just right the wind will evaporate for the crew to make a nice meal and relax, then the wind will arrive and you’re on your way. Once in the La Paz area, you cannot beat the anchorages for beauty, the water colors are as rich as any sailing magazine cover you've seen. And the sailing can be equally refreshing, since you’re protected from the north swell, it can be, if you will the best lake sailing ever on an ocean. The anchorages are generally benign during the day but toward dusk and into the night be prepared for the strong Corumel winds through the night. You will practice the selection of a protected spot within an anchorage, and get a firsthand understanding of the need for proper sized ground tackle, carried on Dolphin.
	Sun. 04/03/2011	La Paz Sailing Week	La Paz Sailing Week	Sat. 04/09/2011	7	$1,575	Filled, 0 Standby
Not sure on scheduling yet, but I'd enjoy great crew for this invitational event, (if uninvited we could just pirate along maybe even throw a few water balloons). Latitude38 invites about 20 boats for sailing up to spectacular Caleta Partida and Isla Partida, then back to Caleta Partida and La Paz. Per Latitude 38 invitation for crew "It's seven days of sailing, swimming, hiking, volleyball and potlucks on the beach, and possible group sunset cruises on Profligate — almost all of it about as far from civilization as you can get. We're talking adventure, not luxury, so you'd be a working part of the crew, not a passenger on a bloody cruise ship"
13	Sun. 04/17/2011	La Paz	La Paz	Sat. 04/23/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
14	Sun. 05/01/2011	La Paz	La Paz	Sat. 05/07/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
In the La Paz area, you cannot beat the anchorages for beauty. The water colors are as rich as any sailing magazine cover you've seen. And the sailing can be equally refreshing, since you’re protected from the north swell, it can be, if you will the best lake sailing ever on an ocean. The anchorages are generally benign during the day but toward dusk and into the night be prepared for the strong Corumel winds through the night. You will practice the selection of a protected spot within an anchorage, and get a firsthand understanding of the need for proper sized ground tackle, carried on Dolphin. We can visit Ballandra known for white sand beaches and a Mushroom shaped rock, enjoy a fast reach to Isla Espiritu Santo then explore Ensenada de la Partida. If you don't have fun sailing in these waters, than something wrong.
15	Sun. 05/15/2011	La Paz	Cabo San Lucas	Sat. 05/21/2011	7	$1,575	3 berths available Apply Now
The spring northwest winds normally fill in and wrap around Cabo Falso, making this a windward passage, albeit a pleasant one. This is an interesting and beautiful passage one I really enjoy. Out of La Paz staging in Ballandra, for a sail thru Canal de San Lorenzo, passing Punta Coyote into Canal de Cerralvo. A great passage for sail navigation short tacking along the W. face of Isla Cerralvo. It's up to the crew but I have hove to during the night in light air to rest, then after a morning breakfast continue on in freshening breezes. There are great anchorages along the way behind Punta Arena de la Ventana and Los Frailes popular but un-crowded during this time of year.
16	Sat. 05/28/2011	Cabo San Lucas	San Diego	Sat. 6/11/2011	14	$2,800	3 berths available Apply Now
This passage is for Sailors (with some experience) who want a challenge, to sail and experience the clipper route home. Leaving Cabo Falso you've got a good chance of having heavy air with short seas, believe me the bow is wet. Being careful to leave without a threat of a tropical storm marching down hurricane alley, we lose latitude pointing the boat offshore as the wind curves the bow starts to point parallel with the coast, and by the third day we've made up the ground lost, now 300 or so miles offshore. We will practice playing the wind shifts careful not to get hammered on an early port tack. Practicing sailing before motoring we will wait out any lulls, harding the main and relax. Making ground north we can expect the wind to freshen for a final tack to Port, making sure we bank some northing, on the point/reach to San Diego.