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Baja Bash

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 18:35:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 You go long distance sailing on a boat designed for long distance sailing not one designed for buoy racing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">John, there are two versions--one they say is for buoy racing, and the other they say is for offshore racing. Jim's first picture is the former, and the second (apparently what they'll be on) is the latter. Same hull, keel, rudder, etc... with the added diesel and saildrive, water tank, head, etc. Columbia claims it has stood up to gale conditions in ocean races. Not my style, but it is Jim's. In the final analysis, he probably understands the parameters better than you or I do.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2009 : 11:43:38

I'm going, now the only question is what to bring?

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2009 : 12:36:20

Fun equipment - camera, fishing rod, radio, book, etc.
Supplies - clothes, food, drinks, treats, lamp, etc.
Safety equipment - rented ePIRB from BoatUS, pfd & tether(s)
Legal supplies - passport, dinero, plastic
Extra stuff - Sense of adventure and, last but not least, our best wishes!

ePIRB from BoatUS is $40/week + shipping

Edited by - JohnP on 02/09/2009 13:38:23

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2009 : 13:15:36

The boat has:

liferaft
EPIRB
ditch bag with hand pumped watermaker
full offshore electronics including SSB with weather software to receive GRIB files
Weather routing service
Sat Phone
lifejackets/harnesses for all with jacklines

As you can see this is a well funded offshore racing program, which is why I decided I just can't miss it.

I am planning to take very little:

foulies
boots
chocolate
batteries
my best LED headlamp (with red)
small flashlight
clothes for a week
medications
passport/wallet with some $ and some plastic
the book "Baja Bash" the Jack Williams guide to Northern Baja
earplugs
gloves
camera, extra memory

on the maybe list

my new handheld GPS
my new handheld wind meter
my leatherman (worried about getting it on the plane)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2009 : 14:36:26

Ya, the Leatherman will be a problem except in checked baggage. How bout a little log-book for your off-watch time? Maybe the association should get you a little "netbook" that you could use to post here via the sat-phone... We want a detailed account!

Will that be it for your vacation time this year? What happens if you run over?

Have a ball!

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2009 : 17:58:07

A few years ago SAIL magazine had an article about going up the coast step-by-step, called: "The Baja Dash" - May 2004. A LOT safer way to go. Try their archives for the article. Fifteen stopping points, can anchor every night to wait it out. No "need" to bash your body out at all.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2009 : 13:38:23

I have the book "The Baja Bash". I need to do this trip in 10 days.

I'll use all my current vacation time, should have time for a few races here and there the rest of the year.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2009 : 15:03:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 I am planning to take very little:

foulies
boots
chocolate
.
.
.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sunscreen (SPF 2000) and an aluminum hat!

Edited by - on

Cloudveil
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2009 : 16:01:50

Jim - Having done the Baja bash in a C&C 46, I wouldn't consider it
in the Columbia 32: Chances are good that the tiller pilot (IF there is one.) would be overpowered at times - probably at night,
it seems that everything happens at night - and you would be hand steering a lot. Now I know you have done a lot of offshore stuff in
your C25, but this is a whole lot different, even than your trip(s) to Ensenada. Fuel would probably be a problem, especially if you track offshore. All in all, I does not sound like a great idea.
Someone will probably do it, but I wouldn't.

JohnW (Cloudveil)

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2009 : 16:11:57

I feel a whole lot better today about this decision because I did my due dillegence today and researched the boat, crew and owners.

Google "Uncontrollable Urge Columbia" and you'll find a lot of hits about the boat. This very boat has done the transpac, Puerto Vallarta, and other major ocean races.

I got a very good recommendation on the skipper for the return voyage from multiple sources at the yacht club.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5896 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2009 : 09:06:41

Good decision, Jim! It isn't often that opportunities arise to sail on a great, well-equipped, state-of-the-art boat, with an experienced, blue water racing skipper. It's a terrific chance to learn. Even though he's a racer, he'll be in cruising mode on this trip, making more conservative judgments, because he's not racing on this trip, and it wouldn't make sense to risk expensive damage to the boat or sails on a delivery. Have a great trip!

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2009 : 21:15:04

Have a great trip. Thanks for sharing the details. Through the Forum I get to tag along. May you have good winds and fair seas.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 09:01:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 I'm going, now the only question is what to bring?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
'shrooms and Quaaludes. Peace out.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 12:43:51

I bought my ticket and talked with the owner and skipper. I was told to bring long underware and fleece, to go with my foulies. We are sailing from the tropics back to winter.

They described the motion of the boat upwind in rough seas as "lively".

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 13:40:01

Hah, "lively", now there's a euphemism.

It sounds like you've done your homework. Polypro long handles sound like an excellent idea (Cabelas or REI are both good sources), they'll keep you warm even soaking wet as long as you have a shell over them to keep the wind off. Make sure you have one for your head, that's where you can lose 70% of your heat when uncovered.

Good luck, have a great trip, with fair winds & following seas. We're looking forward to your write up and pictures afterwards.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 13:46:16

Following seas ain't likely!

Safe journey.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 14:18:25

Yeah, I know, but it's the saying.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 15:21:33

I bought my long underware from the REI outlet store for $16 top and $19 bottom. I am looking at their fleece now. REI has MUCH better prices than the boat stores, even Annapolis Performance Sailing (APS).

I'm not sure I need the fleece, the long underware is a poly-wool blend. However REI has a nice long sleeve fleece middleware top for $29. Comments welcome. I am a big, heavy man. I sweat a lot when working, ex. changing jibs. Then I get cold when sitting and driving.

If I don't buy the fleece I have a hooded sweatshirt.

Next layer is the foulie bib and jacket I already own (West Marine 3rd Reef). Yes they are cheap, I got them for $150 together, but warm and dry.

I have a wool watch cap. Foulies have a hood. I have a good hat.

I have 2 different types of gloves, one with fingers bare, one with fingers covered. I almost never wear gloves, my hands are tough. I always wear gloves when up spin.

I am going to buy some cheap sea boots - Gill rubber boots made for West marine $55.

I am thinking about gortex socks. Usually I stay warm and dry even on winter night passages but my feet get cold. Add rain and spray and 200 miles offshore and I may need something else down there.

I may treat myself to a new pair of sunglasses and bring the old pair, too.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 15:57:11

Jim,
I'm a big guy too, and I'm with you in regards to sweating while I'm working and then getting chilled afterwards.

Check out http://www.duluthtrading.com/, they have stuff that was built for bigger guys, and it's all very well made, with a guarantee very similar to REI's, pretty much 100% no questions asked. Probably 90% of the everyday clothes I wear are from them.

Probably the biggest thing you need to remember is that cotton will kill you if you get it wet & it's cold or windy, even in sub-tropical conditions. When it's nice & sunny out and you're doing swim call, cotton is your friend, but when it gets nasty out, you want fleece, polypro, wool, or silk. All of them will keep you warm even when wet, cotton will make you colder. We keep a complete set of polypro/fleece on SL along with our foulies for nasty conditions. So far we've never had to put them on, but they're there. Again, a good hat or balaclava can go an extremely long way towards keeping you warm. I just bought a full faced balaclava on sale at REI this past weekend. The Saturday before I let Rita use my old balaclave because she was cold, (she had on a big wool beanie too), and I didn't have a hat on. As the sun dipped in the sky, the temp dropped about 8° in less than 1/2 an hour, and I was wishing for a hat. Now we have two balaclaves so we can both be ninja sailors.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 18:03:54

Go to your local ACE Hardware store and buy a pair of UGLY ORANGE WATERPROOF gloves. I have never found a pair of REAL waterproof gloves in a marine store, but these guys really fit the bill in keeping my hands dry. You can get thinner liner gloves for warmth, but nothin'll keep you dry like these guys. Price?: less than $10. Better yet, buy two or three, the other crew'll love ya!

Warm hands, warm head, warm heart!

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 02/15/2009 13:04:47

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2009 : 21:28:36

I second David's comments on cotton vs. fleece. The only place for that sweatshirt is in the berth. Actually the best place for it is at home.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2009 : 14:57:06

I will buy the fleece. REI has good stuff for about $30.

Still trying to find boots. Size 14 is not easy to come by.

Here is a URL for the race and they will have transponders so we can follow the action on the way down.

https://event-manager.compete-at.com/Manager/event/home.do?clubcntxt=nhyc-cobo& eventcntxt=09CaboRace

I am seeing the boat on Sunday.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2009 : 11:19:43

Stu is right about the gloves. I picked 3 pairs of inexpensive fleece-lined plastic/rubber gloves at Harbor Freight last fall for my November cruise. We were dry and warm as toast with cold rain/fog one evening.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2009 : 18:31:14

Today I picked up rubber insulated gloves from Home Depot for $4. Yesterday I ordered size 14 Gill long boots from APS for $75. They are backordered and I hope they come in time. I have the poly wool base layer ordered from REI they come in Feb. 21. I have to find some mid layer fleece. I'll shop at REI next week.

Its cold and raining now and I just keep thinking about spending 3 days in this stuff as we come up the line.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2009 : 10:49:52

The only other thing I hope is aboard is a decent med kit.

http://www.coastlineadventures.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Marine-2000.html

That is the one we carry. The 3000 is not much more but is more $.

I also recommend calling your doc for some Ciprol, Amoxycillan, and/or whatever antibiotic works best for you. You may need it. I also suggest a chunk of ginger - yeah, I know you're tough - and possibly some meds for that tender condition known as mal de mer as well. NOT FOR YOU, possibly for your crewmates. If one of them gets it, you'll be doing double watches or worse.

have a great ride!

sten

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