A Taste of Cruising Mexico

We have spent the week preparing Journey for the trip back to California. Although we won't be venturing far offshore, we prepare as if we were. The Baja coast is 850 miles of unforgiving, desolate, and largely unpopulated coastline.

We started with a top to bottom survey of the standing rigging. We found two compromised bolts in the headsail furler that were replaced. Next, we swapped to our smaller 110% headsail and rigged our inner forestay and staysail.

The diesel engine is probably the most critical single system. It got an oil change, transmission oil change, belt check, and valve clearances were checked and set. We checked all the hoses, fuel lines and wiring for signs of chafe or cracks. The air filter was cleaned. The prop shaft and flange bolts were checked. The MaxProp got greased (underwater!). The bottom got scrubbed super clean.

Then we dug through all those things that can sink us: We checked every through hull fitting, made sure the seacocks worked, inspected more hoses and all the hose clamps. Any questionable ones were replaced. All our bilge pumps were tested including our manual pumps.

On deck, we went through all the lifelines, clevis pins, cotter pins, cotter rings, set screws, etc. to ensure all were tight and secure. Cotter rings were all taped so they couldn't get snagged loose. The kayaks and surf boards were moved inboard on deck from the outboard racks and tied down securely. Jacklines for our safety harnesses are rigged bow to stern.

Of course, all the diesel, gasoline, and propane tanks were filled. We carry 110 gallons of diesel, with an additional 12 gallons on deck in jerry cans. We expect to motorsail for the better part of 900 miles. We will refuel in Turtle Bay, approximately half way up.

Our house bank of batteries was on its last legs with hardly any capacity left, so we bit the bullet and bought a whole new set. Prices are pretty similar here compared to the States. The local battery store delivered them right to our dockside, but it was still an effort to get 700lbs of batteries out and back in the boat.

The liferaft tiedowns were checked, EPIRB beacon tested, and the abandon ship bag contents double checked.

This morning we made the run to the Chadrui grocery store and provisioned up for approximately a month's voyage.

We hope to make the trip in about two weeks from Cabo to San Diego making a number of stops along the way. But, we know it could take longer if the weather doesn't cooperate. Usually, June is a bit lighter for wind and seas. Tomorrow, we will start making our way around the East Cape towards Cabo in anticipation of the hoped for "weather window" for heading north. Right now, it does not appear there will be break until at least next weekend.