Mexico Report

MEXICO REPORT By CAPT. PAT RAINS

THE WEST COAST’S CUBAR POWERBOAT RALLY IS BACK ON! HERE’S THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW

IT’S BACK! THE WEST Coast’s Cruise Underway to Baja Rally powerboat rally was postponed for 2021, but it’s back on for 2022. This is the premier international powerboat cruise on the West Coast of North America. Registration is already open, and this year’s 50-boat roster is filling up fast.

Here are the details, and if this sounds interesting, fill out an online application or at least get on the mailing list at https:// cubar.sdyc.org/2022/12/01/ submit-your-interest/.

The CUBAR is an organized 15-day cruise (October 30 to November 13) from San Diego to La Paz in the gorgeous Sea of Cortez. Staff arranges for the Mexico paperwork, fun sponsored parties, vineyard tours, and generous discounts on fuel, and slips at the six popular rest stops along its 95-mile route. Hosted by San Diego Yacht Club, the organizers are inviting the owners of 50 “qualified” powerboats to join this pleasant southbound cruise, now in its eighth rendition since 2007. What’s the CUBAR’s purpose?

Since its inception in 2007, the primary purpose has been to help the many power boaters who’ve always wanted to cruise Mexico’s tropical waters, but who didn’t feel they had enough local knowledge or experience to voyage down the outside coast of Baja on their own. If you’ve looked for an opportunity to experience long-distance

Route for the 2022 CUBAR cruise from San Diego to La Paz in Baja.

Bienvenidos means Welcome. Cubaristas are welcomed to the Miramar beachfront restaurant in Magdalena Bay in 2019.

Courtesy CUBAR.org cruising to Mexico within the safety of an organized flotilla, well, this is it. You don’t have to head south on your own. CUBAR gets power boaters – newbies and old salts together – safely down Baja and into those balmier waters where cruising dreams flourish. Approximately300 power boaters have become Cubaristas since 2007, including those who’ve joined the semi-annual cruise multiple times.

A secondary purpose is social. Participants in the 2022 CUBAR will get to know dozens of other likeminded boaters during the 15-day southbound cruise. After La Paz, boaters usually split into smaller informal groups to cruise farther into the Sea of Cortez, strike off across to the mainland or mosey down toward Barra de Navidad, Costa Rica, or the Panama Canal. Or they share the return voyage up Baja. Many life-long friendships have been formed on past CUBAR rallies.

Finally, CUBAR is a charity event; excess proceeds benefit the Sea Scouts, Junior Sailing in Southern

Three boaters grab a cerveza at Enrique’s Cantina overlooking Turtle Bay’s fuel pier and anchorage during the 2019 CUBAR cruise.

California, and donations by participants to the people of Baja California, such as medical supplies to remote villages. What do you mean by “qualified”?

All vessels must be designed for at least coastal cruising and be capable of safe overnight anchoring. Each boat will need to pass a comprehensive safety inspection prior to departure. The boat must carry enough diesel for a 450 n.m. fuel range at an 8-knot average speed. Those requirements are dictated by the route, which is mostly along the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, famous for its world-class fishing and rugged beauty - but also for its lack of yacht services. That’s what makes the jump down Baja seem a bit daunting to newbies.

But don’t worry. Nice marinas and yacht services are available at Ensenada, Los Cabos, and La Paz. Fuel will be available at those three stops and also at the Turtle Bay anchorage. Who goes on the CUBAR cruise?

Everyone must have a valid passport, but nobody needs to be a member of any yacht club. Owners and/or their crew must be able to run the boat non-stop during the route’s three longer overnight legs,

Courtesy CUBAR.org

Touring the aquaculture facility in Turtle Bay, Dr. Gwen O’Keefe on the CUBAR 2019 inspects the health of a mother lobster.

rotating helm duty between capable watchstanders. That means a crew of at least three, preferably four, and they should have at least some coastal-cruising experience.

CUBAR staff accompanying the fleet includes professional captains, a medical doctor, mechanical technicians, a communications director, a weather wizard or a WX routing service, several Spanish speakers, and other support personnel, and old salts who have significant Mexico cruising experience. Participants should expect to live aboard (eat, sleep, steer) the whole way to La Paz, so assemble your crew list accordingly. Wondering if you’re CUBAR capable?

If you’re a newbie to Mexico cruising, you won’t be alone. The staff doesn’t hold your hand, but everyone stays in radio contact, travels in small groups, and meets up at all the rest stops. Many veteran “Cubaristas” are again signing up to participate in this 2022 cruise.

For starters, you might post questions on our FB page at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/630473503755578 to exchange thoughts between first-timers and old salts. Or contact Cindy Sanborn, event coordinator, at cubar@sdyc.org

To better prepare, registered participants are encouraged to attend CUBAR’s professional training sessions at Training Resources Maritime Institute in San Diego; www.TRLMI.com Each day is packed with savvy seminars on medical care, provisioning, radio communications, safety, fishing, night cruising, customs, and immigration paperwork, and other relevant information. Lunch and snacks are provided.

During training, we often launch a life raft just to demonstrate how it’s done, to see what’s really packed inside a coastal raft. History of the CUBAR Odyssey

Bruce Kessler, a circumnavigator and member of Del Rey Yacht Club, dreamed up and organized the first FUBAR (Fleet Underway to Baja Rally) in 2007 as a biennial cruise in conjunction with California Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club. In 2009 it was hosted by San Diego YC, in 2011 by Long Beach Yacht Club, and in 2013 by Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Since 2015, when the name was changed to CUBAR, it has been hosted indefinitely by San Diego Yacht Club. What’s included and what does it cost?

CUBAR’s entry fee covers the two-day Training Sessions Sept. 17-18. And more.

Courtesy CUBAR.org

Courtesy CUBAR.org

Each boat gets a 100-page Operations Manual ring notebook containing detailed charts of the cruise route, GPS waypoints, port contacts, anchorages, preparation details, and more.

The 50-page Program is a yearbook of all participating boats and people, the events calendar, articles on marinas and Sea of Cortez cruise routes, etc.

CUBAR helps with each boat’s Mexico customs and immigration paperwork processing.

It provides a courtesy safety inspection of the vessel prior to departure.

It hosts the Send-off Party on October 28 at San Diego Yacht Club, as well as welcome fiestas at Ensenada, San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz.

It organizes fun group activities at all six of our R & R stops in Baja.

You get cool CUBAR swag – tote bags, hats, shirts, burgees, guide-

Courtesy CUBAR.org books, etc.

You’re invited to the CUBAR Reunion Party in April 2023, at Marina Puerto Escondido near Loreto in Mexico’s gorgeous Sea of Cortez.

You gain the ability to cruise with 40-50 other powerboats, meet 200 or so new friends who have a passion for cruising, and enjoy the company and camaraderie of fellow Cubaristas.

The CUBAR 2022 entry fee is $1,100. The experience you’ll have – priceless! Where to find more information?

If you’re interested in joining the 2022 CUBAR cruise, visit www.cubar.org Sign up to say you’re at least interested, to get updates when they’re released. Fill out an application, and when that’s accepted, then you can register to become a participant. Due to logistics, only 50 boats can be accommodated, so get your pata in the puerto (foot in the door) pronto.

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