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Trailering C25 to Mexico

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David Scott
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/21/2008 : 22:45:35

Has anyone done this lately or interested? Choices include going down Baja side and launching at San Felipe or points south. The other choice is entering Mexico via Nogales and driving 5hrs to San Carlos. San Carlos offers a modern marina, launch ramp/sling and storage for trailer. If there is interest in this perhaps we can get some discussion going...Dave

Dave Scott 89wk/sr #5973

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2008 : 22:44:35

I've been thinking of that exact same thing. Perhaps spring 2009. I retire a year from now so that would be the Hurrrrrraaaaaay cruise. Thinking about a month cruising the Sea of Cortez. Spent some time researching it on the web and it looks like a great trip. Am now looking for a good cruise book on the area. We'd be coming from Oregon.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 02/24/2008 22:45:41

sterngucker
Navigator

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169 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2008 : 01:46:36

David, I thought a lot about that destination too. Here are some links you might find helpful.
http://www.sancarlosmexico.com/sailing.html
http://nwpotters.org/baja/

The Tucson Sailing Club does annual trips to San Carlos. I think they would be a wealth of current info, http://www.tucsonsailingclub.com/ . They are planning a trip down at the end of May. Hope this helps.

Edited by - sterngucker on 02/25/2008 01:48:02

David Scott
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2008 : 23:47:06

One of my most memorably sails was crossing the Sea of Cortez from Santa Rosalia to San Carlos. Seems like it was about 75mi. Left late afternoon sailed all night and averaged 5+ knts. Wow what a fantastic sail, 12-15 knots of wind on the beam. Did not change tacks all night. Our boat was a Rafiki 37. With good weather I think this crossing is doable in a C25...perhaps this crossing is abit ambitious in a C25 with an o/b, if so, there is still plenty of sailing out of San Carlos on the mainland side of Baja. Any other ideas?

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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2008 : 11:56:34

We keep our C25 in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. It's only a 4 hour drive from Chandler.

We'll be pulling the boat back home in a month or so to ready it for a trip to the Bahamas, after that trip we may consider San Carlos as our next port for awhile.

We did a trip in 2006, short version below...

Oct. 2006, Mexico sail:

We left Puerto Penasco on Oct. 21 and motorsailed to San Felipe. Ancorage is ok but breakwater does not provide much protection from the wind that rolled in on Sunday. Also fuel and supplies are approximately 3 km down the road towards town.

Departed San Felipe for Puertocitos on Monday morning. Could see lightning in the distance over the mainland from hurricane Paul. Mostly motoring but did get some sailing after the sun came up. Arrived Puertocitos early afternoon, no luck on our gas or ice search ashore. Puertocitos is just too shallow to be very useful for protection from East wind that was building. A rough night anchored in an adjacent bay.

Departed Puertocitos for Gonzaga Bay on Tuesday morning. Best sailing day so far. Arrived Gonzaga late afternoon checked Willard Bay first then anchored in the lee of the point in Gonzaga for shelter from the East wind.

Wednesday was fantastic. Tony at Alfonsinas let us use his truck to run to the market for fuel and provisions. Great day on land enjoying the food, people, and beach. That evening we got word of the Norther that was to move later in the night.

By 6:00am on Thursday the Norther was giving us it's best shot. We were protected from the waves but the wind was still funneling down the hills and I saw gusts up to 35 frequently. The anchors were dragging in the rocky bottom so we moved to a cove that had good sand for holding and got two down that held us firm for the next two days.

Spent all of Thursday aboard partly because we did not want to try the kayak in the high winds and partly because of concern over the anchors. We did get an offer to ride to town on the dinghy from an adjacent boat but passed.

By Friday the winds had eased some and we were able to make a couple of shore excursions. Had a nice afternoon. Winds continued to dissapate overnight and we were hopeful of a departure window on Saturday.

Saturday morning dawned with only the slightest of breeze from the South and the 8:00am forecast relayed by Jim "Parrothead" via VHF showed flattening seas and low winds. We pulled anchor and headed out for Puertocitos. Many thanks to Jim and all of the folks in Gonzaga for making our stay safe and fun.

Motorsailed from Gonzaga to Puertocitos on lumpy seas. Arrived Puertocitos early afternoon, scored beer and a 25lb block of ice at the market. Had a terrifict dinner at the resturant prepared by Eddie. Got some sleep in a fairly calm anchorage. Up at 3:00am to head out for Puerto Penasco.

Sunday motor sailed from Puertocitos back to Puerto Penasco. Flat seas. Arrived late afternoon at sunset.

Upon return we found out that the Norther had been very bad, sinking a boat out from Cholla Bay and tossing a Hobie unto the rocks at Bird Island. The folks at Safe Marina were worried about us in part because of some confusion over our return date and also because of the unusually bad Norther.

Great trip.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2008 : 19:41:18

Doug, are you towing the C25 to Florida and then sail it to the Bahamas? I think that the trailerability of these boats is one of the best things about them. Thanks for posting your Mexican cruise information.

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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 10:01:45

Yes we'll tow to the West Palm Beach area.

This makes the third trip to Florida for this boat. Being able to tow to the various locations we want to sail is great. Also like areas where we can keep the boat on the trailer in mast up storage so there is no bottom maintenance or concerns associated with leaving a boat in water so far away from us.

Doug

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David Scott
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2008 : 13:47:40

Thanks Doug C for the reply and detail of your trip across the Sea of Cortez. I assume you have a outboard on your C25? I think that is one of the major concerns in crossing any large body of water subject to tides, currents and possible high winds. Your trip to the Bahamas sounds interesting and challenging especially if you do have an outboard as opposed to an inboard. The gulfstream between Florida and the Bahamas can be a bugger as you are undoubtedly aware. I have crossed it a number of times but not in my C25 with outboard. All our crossings necessitated using the engine as the wind and opposing 3-4knt current created a serious chop. Our 40hp diesel Yanmar did a great job yet I think back on how it may have gone in my C25 with o/b engine. I know its been done with small boats with outboards but the timing of weather conditions are critical. By the way Doug where are you going in the Bahamas? Abacos? or across the banks to Nassau and beyond? Take care, Dave

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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 11:31:20

Inboard would definately be nice but we have an outboard (Tohatsu XL shaft). We'll be waiting for a weather window to cross.

Last time (2003) we crossed to Bimini and then circled through the Berry islands. This time we will cross to West End and spend our time in the Abacos.

Edited by - Doug C. on 03/24/2008 11:33:01

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 13:14:13

Doug, I can recommend launching from Black Point Marina in Miami. Great truck and trailer parking. It also has the advantage of being further south for the Bimini crossing (the gulf stream will drag you northwards)

When we eventually make our bimini plans, we will be taking the route south in Biscayne bay to go out via Angel fish creek which is further south than Miami.

When do you plan on being on this coast?

Paul

Edited by - on

Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 23:12:43

Thanks for the input.

At present we are planning to launch in West Palm (Phil Foster Park) and store at a local facility. We will sail South to Hillsboro Inlet and jump across to West End. As West End is much further North we should have a good angle on it. The return will be from the same general area (West End) so we won't have to sail so far South to get dragged back North to West Palm.

When we did the Bimini trip in 2003 we launched at Homestead and went out Angelfish. The folks at Homestead were very good to work with and the trucks were still there when we came back after 3 weeks.

Currently planning for the first week of May for the crossing to the Abacos.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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Response Posted - 03/30/2008 : 08:54:23

Doug, any updates on your trip to Abacos?

(input, input!

)

Paul

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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 09:57:36

Still on track with planning for the trip, new charts should be in tomorrow. 3 boats going at this time.
We've entered the get serious about prep work stage of the trip.

Brought the boat back from Mexico on Sunday to begin prep work on the boat and trailer. Sandblasting, paint, and new axles for the trailer. New radio, electrical, general maintenance and polish for the boat.

FWI, I took the truck and trailer across a certified truck scale on the way home. 7700 lbs on the trailer axles with the boat in ready to use trim. 3500 lb axles are way under whats needed on these boats.

Doug

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