Mexico Report

MEXICO REPORT By CAPT. PAT RAINS

This enclosed yacht basin of Marina Isla de Navidad is shielded by two outer lagoons and massive Punta Graham, so it has been a reliable hurricane hideout.

HURRICANE HIDEOUTS FOR SUMMER 2021

LAST YEAR’S HURRICANE SEASON didn’t stop for our global pandemic. No, those warm tropical waters didn’t sequester themselves down south near the Equator. Likewise, all those hungry black, blue and striped marlins; sailfish; dorado; yellowfin tuna – they migrated northward with the sun and warm sea temps.

Now, because so many of last summer’s sportfishing events were cancelled due to the pandemic, pent-up demand is huge. Many of the popular tournaments were rescheduled and are back on – from Acapulco up to Ensenada. And more cruising boats are heading south too.

So, this month I’ll start by detailing two hurricane hideouts down in the warmer latitudes, before moving up the coast to the Sea of Cortez.

BARRA DE NAVIDAD, JALISCO: Farthest south, Marina Isla de Navidad’s man-made yacht basin (210 slips) is a well enclosed interior bay at the foot of the picturesque Grand Bay resort. For 20 years boats inside this marina have been shielded from tropical-storm fury by (1.) Punta Graham’s massive 4,620’ bulk, (2.) the enclosed Laguna Navidad out front and (3.) a quarter-mile long reinforced sandspit upon which the town of Barra was built. Yes, torrential rains might pummel your decks, but dangerous storm runoff that scoured the lagoon anchorages has always bypassed the yacht basin.

BANDERAS BAY, JALISCO: Two natural blockades (the bold Cabo Corrientes headland and the Sierra del Cuale (8,858’) above Banderas Bay’s south shores) have long

Stars indicates hurricane hideout locations. (map courtesy Mexico Boating Guide)

sheltered hundreds of recreational boats that summer over in four interior marinas located along the bay’s north shore. How’s that work? Tropical storms’ counter-clockwise rotation prevents violent winds and seas from breaching the blockades and reaching west into the bay. Marina Vallarta is in Puerto Vallarta’s municipal harbor. Marina Nuevo Vallarta and Paradise Village Marina are in the Nuevo Vallarta Inlet four miles to the northwest. Marina Riviera Nayarit lies six miles northeast at La Cruz. All are all good hurricane hideouts.

LA PAZ, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: La Paz is Baja’s gateway to the Sea of Cortez. The year-round liveaboard boating community here is huge. La Paz enjoys general shelter from cyclonic storms thanks to the massive Sierra Las Cruces peninsula to the east and the low El Mogote peninsula to the west. But specifically, only one marina offers good hurricane shelter. Marina CostaBaja’s two yacht basins are shielded by massive Punta Prieta, and they’re tucked inside tall breakwaters. This marina is located at the start of the narrow La Paz Channel. The downtown anchorages are not safe from storms.

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, BAJA CALIFORNIA

SUR: Let’s move up to the mid latitudes of the Sea of Cortez. The dramatic peaks of the Sierra La Giganta (900’ to 3,000’ tall) rise three miles west of this small, enclosed bay, effectively shredding any hurricane winds that manage to cross 50 miles over the Baja Peninsula. Puerto Escondido means Hidden Port because overlapping hills hide the entrance. Marina Puerto Escondido is a major boating center with 70 slips and 85 moorings in the mile-long bay. Their concrete-floored boat yard is a popular place for summer storage. At 15 miles south of Loreto, this is the best hurricane hideout on the Baja Peninsula.

GUAYMAS & SAN CARLOS, SONORA:

Along the coast of the Sonora Desert, Guaymas commercial port is well enclosed by high hills, especially the bay’s southern shore where boaters haul out for hurricane safety at economical Guaymas Marina Seca boat yard. The harbor’s north end has been storm damaged.

Only 12 miles north as the crow flies, San Carlos is a beach resort village. The enclosed yacht basin (350 slips) of Marina San Carlos is such a good hurricane hideout that it often gets booked full by August. The marina’s separate dry storage yard (about 350 spots) lies a safe mile inland, also a popular place to park boats over the summer. However, boats anchored outside the marina basin has suffered storm damage.

L.A. BAY: BAJA CALIFORNIA NORTE:

Taking a last look at the Baja side of the upper Sea of Cortez, the area around remote Bahia de Los Angeles offers absolutely no marinas or yacht services, just a zillion tiny island anchorages. But only one half-mile wide bay called Puerto Don Juan offers reliable hurricane hole protection, thanks to its natural dog-leg entrance channel and hilly enclosure. Hurricanes’ rainy outer bands may occasionally reach this far north, but seldom do the damaging eyes.

PUERTO PENASCO, SONORA: For several reasons, this pleasant little shrimpboat harbor provides the safest hurricane hideout in Mexico. (1.) Its narrow dog-leg

Look for concrete floors when selecting a boatyard to store your vessel over the summer in Mexico. Concrete withstands torrential rain and blistering heat without softening and possibly letting boats tip over.

entrance channel angles NW to SE, thus preventing cyclonic (counter-clockwise) seas from entering this small (quarter mile long) enclosed harbor. (2.) Cliffs of Cerro Penasco and La Choya Peninsula block storm winds from reaching the harbor’s interior. (3.) The eyes of full-blown hurricanes have never survived this far north; mere remnant depressions bring only rain. (4.) Cabrales Boat Yard specializes in lifting yachts for summer storage and can haul them across the U.S. border only 50 miles north.

CONSIDERATIONS? Nobody likes to be stuck in one place, especially right after sequestering during the pandemic. If you’re going to stay aboard your boat all summer, I suggest you consider picking one or two hideouts to serve as your home bases. Monitor weather reports before scooting to a different hidey hole. If you wait too long, the entrance may be closed by breakers. Or no slips will be available to you.

Pick your hidey holes near interesting land- and water-based activities like restaurants, pools, day hikes, air-conditioned cinemas, grocery shopping, fishing grounds, pristine dive spots and anchorages. Will you want easy access to an airport or ground transportation?

If you’re leaving your boat berthed in Mexico, pick a safe marina that offers sufficient shore power and reliable boat sitting services, like daily checks of your dock lines and fenders, onboard daily checks of your air conditioning, batteries, bilge pumps and engine room. Ask for a weekly report via phone or email.

If you opt to leave your boat on the hard, pick a reputable boat yard and inspect their floor surface (concrete) and bracing methods (beefy) to see exactly how and where they’d secure your particular hull. It’s up to you to secure your ports and stuff on deck from potential storm wind and rain.

FROM THE HELM By DUNCAN MCINTOSH

Continued from page 2 an R22, (two-seater, it was about $480 an hour with a pilot.

For a couple more passengers, see if they have an R44 which is a four-seater where the pilot sits on the right with the photographer on the left (it’s the same with an R22). Some photographers like to remove their door for shots, we do remove the door next to the photographer giving that person an unobstructed view of his subject vessels, but because I have no desire to stand on one of the runners outside of the cockpit, I’m just enjoying my time on this earth too much to add any air acrobatics to my routine, I take all my shots buckled up in the cockpit) 5. But remember, not all boats photograph the same, some will look much better with a little more speed. You will need to experiment to find the sweet spot for your vessel. Then be sure to trim her so she rides in the water as she was intended to be driven, while others will look much better at lower speeds. 6. I was wrapping up in Miami one year, had two more vessels to shoot, but was completely out of time, had to do two more boats and miss my flight. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of my all-time great photographers, Forest Johnson in the terminal. Running up to him I asked if he could help me out and knock out two boats so I could catch my flight. He said, of course, Duncan, “What’s you got”. I gave him the details along with my camera and some film, if you can just ship it back freight collect along with your bill and I’ll take care of the rest. Some people are just too good and very professional. About 30 minutes later, we’re taxiing out for our takeoff when my cell rings; it’s Forest with one last question. Duncan, how do you turn this thing on? This reminded me of one last item, there is so much different equipment out there that you never know what you’re going to pick up next.

Life will take you to strange places and present you with strange opportunities, photography works in a similar way, keep your camera up and take advantage of the shots life gives you.

Share your stories and photos: seaeditor@goboating.com Follow US: Instagram, Facebook, twitter www.seamagazine.com

6 ISSUES(1 YEAR) PRINT + DIGITAL FOR $16

seamagazine.com