Apr 03 2010

Channel Islands boaters can learn lesson from Mexican experience

12 responses so far

12 Responses to “Channel Islands boaters can learn lesson from Mexican experience”

1. # Capt. Danon 03 Apr 2010 at 06:44

   One of their lessons learned (paraphrased): Don’t try to buck the ebb current; wait until slack water after the ebb.

   The water is fairly shallow across this bar, going across after the ebb means you’re attempting to cross the bar at the lowest tide.

   Seems to me that slack after the flood would be safer … if you elected to go in at all.

2. # Rob Waltonon 03 Apr 2010 at 07:40

   I fully agree with the Captain’s assessment – slack water after flood tide would be the only way I would enter an anchorage like San Blas.

   One of the things I’ve noticed from reading many cruising blogs is that there are a lot of really good sailors when in the presence of fellow sailors will act like sheep and follow the flock no matter what their gut is telling them.

   Big lesson: don’t let your ego get in the way of what’s best for your vessel & your crew.

3. # Capt. Danon 03 Apr 2010 at 08:22

   In their lessons learned, they commented that they had bad tide data.

   Anyone know where to get current tide data for Mexico? I’ve found lots of information on surf for – get this – Stoner’s Point, which is just off San Blas. But so far I’ve found no Tide information for the area.

   Is it, perhaps, on up-to-date chartplotters?

4. # Capt. Danon 03 Apr 2010 at 08:38

   Here’s an answer to where you might find tidal data for Baja and farther south -

   http://oceanografia.cicese.mx/predmar/predlin.htm

   http://www.freemobiletides.com/jsp/coverage.jsp

5. # Rob Waltonon 03 Apr 2010 at 09:38

   Bad tide data is one thing, and if they were all alone, I could possibly excuse the attempt to enter. But they witnessed what happened to the boats in front of them and received depth reports to boot.

   The other lesson they learned was she shouldn’t have been up on the bow filming in such conditions. Maybe if she had been in the cockpit the Captain would have heard the concern she voiced on the video…wheter he would have changed his mind we’ll never know?

6. # Capt. Danon 03 Apr 2010 at 16:28

   Sounds right to me, and, though we have the benefit of hindsight – why weren’t they tethered in? And the way I read it, they must have had a portlight open … they weren’t ready for any heavy action even though they witnessed the near-knockdown of the boats in the lead.

7. # Wiley Rottendockeron 04 Apr 2010 at 09:34

   Lord a mercy, as shallow as the waters looked I think a pause and a brief time out to ascertain exactly what they were about to attempt might have saved them a double shizelick situation. The fact that they clearly ignored the plight of the other boats was very significant.

   As calm as the outside seas seem to be, dropping the hook, gathering facts, preparing the boat and themselves would have probably eaten up enough time for the tide to come in and a safe passage. The fact The women was standing on the bow untethered clearly denotes the fact that she felt if a maritime accident was going to occur she wanted to be involved, and be the first one there along with Cappy the sheep who allowed the entire thing to happen during his watch.

   I am fairly sure that this couple and others like them is what makes marine insurance agents awaken in the night screaming.

8. # Khrystle Raeon 07 Apr 2010 at 07:48

   Just watching that first boat go through would be enough for me. I am really surprised they attempted it and what was she thinking standing on the bow? Whew… scary situation.

9. # R. Harveyon 08 Apr 2010 at 07:53

   We had an interesting situation last weekend at CIH. The wind was out of the SSW and required a North Jetty departure. The wind clocked around to the W during the day and built to 20 kts. Upon our return we had two sailboats ahead of us and all three of us were on the usual S jetty approach. Just then the lead boat suddenly changes course and heads for the N jetty entrance. Strange I thought as this approach is going to require two jibes? We held our course and low and behold the boat ahead of us heads for the North entrance. Now I’m concerned, are there breakers? Traffic? Flotsam? Why would these skippers subject themselves to not one but two jibes in 20 kts of wind? Now we normally like to a sail into the harbor and if conditions are benign and traffic light we’ll sail all the way to the turning basin before starting the engine. That day we started the engine 1/4 mile from light 1 and decided to investigate the approach. There was a bit of a swell but nothing actually breaking (we’ve powered through a lot worse) and we had a clean shot in with no outbound traffic. The lead boat was now making his second jibe and it did not look like he was having fun. The boat that was directly ahead of us was now finishing his first jibe and had one more to go. Long story short, we motorsailed into the harbor without incident and without having to attempt two difficult jibes.

10. # Randy Bon 09 Apr 2010 at 11:12

    R. Harvey–There does indeed seem to be some mystical attraction to the North entrance for some sailors. Never quite figured it out, since as you say, you’re almost always in jibe territory.

    We had a situation almost identical to yours last night: 14-15 gusting 20 and pretty lumpy at the South entrance. Sure enough the boat behind us peeled off and headed for the North entrance. Never saw how he fared, though I’m betting he got beat up a lot more than we did.

11. # R. Harveyon 09 Apr 2010 at 13:00

    Randy I can’t figure it out…maybe they just love to jibe?

12. # Capt. Danon 09 Apr 2010 at 13:23

    Could be they’re all Beer Can racers. Those races usually depart and reenter the north end.

    Just a habit they can’t break.