28 • Sept. 26 - Oct. 9, 2014 • The Log


Mexico From page 26


Get a good inflatable and reliable


outboard, because anchorages are often a couple miles or more of open water from the nearest places where you can actually land safely to get ashore. You’ll need reliable water trans- portation to reach the best diving or fishing spots, and you will want to visit friends on their boats in neighboring coves. First timers, “yatistas,” soon


upgrade to more durable dinghies and more powerful outboards– as much expense and weight as you can man- age. One limit is that you want to be able to bring your dinghy and motor onboard at night. Davits off the stern are popular. Sailboats often rig a block and tackle from the boom or spar for bringing the dinghy aboard, and use the topping lift or extra halyard to hoist the motor into its bracket on the stern rails. Dinghy wheels are a nice option. They make it easier to land on Mexico’s abundance of long, gently sloping beaches and spend more hassle-free time ashore. You just hop out and roll the dinghy farther up the beach, instead of having to drag it through the sand and rocks to get it pegged above the surf or rising tide line. The type of dinghy wheels kit that locks the wheels down underway seem to be preferred, because you don’t always have time to tilt the outboard up and simultaneous- ly force the wheels down as you surf clear of the last waves.


Lingo Bingo Cruisers report having a much more


rewarding experience in Mexico after they have learned at least a few key phrases in Spanish. A very helpful book is called “Spanish for Cruisers,” by Janet Parsons, which covers nautical conversations from rigging terms to engine mechanics. Practice what you’ll say on VHF, like identifying yourself to authorities, get- ting directions into a port, or asking for a weather forecast. Say “cambio” for “over.”


Power & Water Independence has a price tag. A


water maker and generator/alternator are expensive gear, but they may be requirements for comfort and safety. Veteran cruisers pay close attention to their power consumption, and to the level of water in their tanks. They employ all kinds of solar panels, wind generators and power saving devices. Consider outfitting your boat with


power-thrifty appliances, like a microwave instead of an electric oven, or a built-in ice box with side freezer instead of a household type refrigera- tor. Consider installing a foot pump for fresh water at the sink in a guest bath room, or installing heads that flush with salt water instead of fresh water.


The more electrical power and potable water you can carry or pro- duce onboard, the less time you’ll spend tied to a dock while charging batteries and refilling your fuel and water tanks.


Tropical heat wave As you cruise south, it’s easy to


underestimate how hot the water and air temperatures can become at lower latitudes, and again when you sum- mer over in Mexico. Expect to spend more time loung- ing or sleeping in your cockpit, fly bridge or pilot house berth than you did stateside. Outfit these areas with durable seat cushions and insulating window shades, but avoid dark color materials that collect more heat than they reflect. A canvas wizard can cus- tom fit a snap-on awning that creates on deck shade and helps cool below decks. Install low-voltage fans in the galley, nav desk, berths and main salon. Chandlers sell simple “wind scoops” that clip on over deck hatches to direct any little breeze down to your sleeping quarters. When it gets really hot, many cruis- ers pull into a marina slip and plug into shore power, just to run the air conditioner and to enjoy the poolside comforts as well.


Just do it Don’t get mired down in preparing


your boat for every possible contin- gency. At some point, quietly slip the stateside dock lines and make your escape to Mexico cruising.


Poised at the gateway to the Sea


of Cortez, the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos is just 10 miles from the renowned Gordo Banks fishing grounds and some of the finest sportfishing in the world. Puerto Los Cabos fishing departures put you closer to the fish that “didn’t get away,” providing you with the most memorable deep-sea, big-game fish- ing experiences of a lifetime. With slips that accommodate boats up to 260 feet in length, the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos provides security, service, shelter and serenity in pristinely beautiful natural sur- roundings. The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos currently has 200 slips avail- able in a friendly, service-oriented, tranquil atmosphere. A boatyard with dry stack storage and a 150-ton Travelift is also in place. When fully completed, the


Marina at Puerto Los Cabos will offer 22,000-linear-feet of dock space, 400 slips, a long dock for boats of up to 400 feet in length, dedicated slips for yachts of more than 150 feet in length, two luxury restrooms and laundry facilities, a fuel dock build- ing with state-of-the-art filter sys-


tems and high-speed dispensers, and a convenience store in the fuel dock building for last-minute shop- ping.


An exhibition of sculpture by the


internationally renowned surrealist artist Leonora Carrington lines the walkway surrounding the marina. Activities and amenities here include the Dolphin Discovery Center, sea- sonal whale watching, The Container Restaurant and Bar, the Wirikuta Botanical Cactus Gardens, the Sculpture Garden and Hotel El Ganzo, a chic hotel with a spa, a fit- ness center, restaurants and a beach club within walking distance of the marina. Discounts are offered on Questro Golf and at the many fine Questro Hotels throughout Mexico. Located at the tip of the Baja


Peninsula, the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos is a short two-hour flight from Los Angeles, a 20-minute drive from the Los Cabos International airport, five minutes from the charming colonial town of San Jose del Cabo and 20 minutes from the shopping and nightlife of Los Cabos. For more information, visit marinapuertoloscabos.com.


thelog.com


The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos offers worldclass sportfishing and luxurious facilities


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