Duration: 1.5 hour session
Recording: The live wabinar was held on Thursday, September 29
Registeration Closes: Oct. 1
Instructor: Captain Pat Rains
Course Fee: $25 SSCA Members / $35 Non Members

1. Who, What, Where?
   • Who? We’re all “Cruisers” down here. Sail & power. Commuter Cruising is on the Rise. VHF & SSB nets.
   • Where? Geographic areas in Pacific Mexico: both coasts of Baja, entire Sea of Cortez, all mainland Mexico down to Guatemala. (3,250 n.m.)
   • What? Foreign country; Paperwork is easiest in the Hemisphere. Port Captains, Navy.
2. Upper Sea of Cortez Cruising Zones. Summer is best.
   1. Santa Rosalia to San Felipe:
      • Santa Maria wharf and the void.
      • San Francisquito & caletas
      • The Midriff Islands crossing zone.
      • Las Animas & La Unica
      • Puerto Don Juan major HH
      • LA Bay & myriad islands, Guardian Angel Refugio
      • Gonzaga & Willard
      • Las Encantadas & Puertocitos
      •  San Felipe marina basin. Don’t go north of here.
   2. Puerto Peñasco to Guaymas.
      • Puerto Peñasco harbor marinas
      • The Lost Coast (Isla San Jorge, Cabo Tepoca Bay, La Libertad, Pato Island, Sargento Bay, The Seri Indians. Little Hell Canal, Tiburon Island stops).
      • Kino Bay & Club Deportiva
      •  The Found Coast (20 small anchorages).
      • San Carlos & Guaymas as major vortex.
3. Winter Cruising Circuit around the Lower Sea of Cortez (SoC)
   1. Why cruise the Lower SoC for the winter?
   2. Clockwise Circuit from Baja to Mainland, back to Baja:
      • Cabo San Lucas to Santa Rosalia,
      • Cross via Isla Tortuga to Topolobampo,
      • Topo down to Mazatlan,
      • Cross from Isla Isabela to Los Frailes.
   3. Resources: Anchorages, Marinas, Fuel Docks, Boat Yards, Port Clearance, Provisioning, WX reporting, Mexican Navy charts.
4. Summer Cruising Circuit around the Upper Sea of Cortez (SoC)
   1. Why hide out in the Upper SoC during summer?
   2. Where are the hurricane holes?
   3. Zig Zag from Baja to Mainland, back to Baja.
      • Santa Rosalia to Guaymas-San Carlos via Isla Tortuga,
      • Found Coast and Kino,
      • Cross via the Midriffs to L.A. Bay,
      • Encantadas and San Felipe,
      • Cross to Peñasco and the Lost Coast.
   4. Resources: Anchorages, Marinas, Fuel Docks, Boat Yards, Port Clearance, Provisioning, WX reporting, Mexican Navy charts.
5. Trucking back from the Sea of Cortez: what works, what doesn’t.
6. Commuter Cruising: how to make this work.
7. Cruising Pacific Mexico mainland (more tomorrow night).
   • 4 cruising destinations not to be missed.
8. Security for Cruisers – briefly.
   • personal security measures without guns.
   • steps to prevent petty theft.