MEXICO REPORT
By CAPT. PAT RAINS
5 TIPS FOR SOUTHBOUND SUCCESS THIS FALL’S ANNUAL MIGRATION of
recreational boats into Mexican waters is expected to be quite a bit larger than it was back in pre-pandemic 2019. This is mostly due to a pent-up demand from 2020’s withered cruising season, and the statistics are already showing a healthy increase. For example, as of Aug. 1, 2021, the venerable Baja Ha Ha southbound group already had 160 sailboats entered for their Nov. 1 pilgrimage into Mexico. The relatively new Panama Posse (Mexico to Panama) already had 214 early entrant boats, and more than a quarter of those were long-range trawler cruisers. This cruising season some Panama Posse participants are expanding their cruising plans beyond Panama and well into the Caribbean and South Pacific. Obviously, this year’s southbound migration will not be a one-size-fits-all activity. The only common factor is that all of us West Coast boaters will start our southbound adventure by voyaging down the 800-n.m. Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula. The outside of Baja is ruggedly beautiful, but it is also infamous for its lack of marinas, fuel docks, yacht services, and reliable overnight anchorages.
5 Tips for Successful South-Bounding Here are five little tips for successful south-bounding. These were learned in the proverbial school of hard knocks and trial and error, discovered
12 SEAMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER 2021
