November 9, 2009
We heard over the morning La Paz net today from Tom of Baja Insider that the entrance buoys to La Paz might have moved around a bit after last week's high tides and the norther that blew through. We were curious so we took the dinghy, GPS and handheld depth sounder to check things out. Nothing too dramatic, just FYI.
La Paz Entrance Buoys
A direct line between the first red buoy (unmarked) and red buoy #2 takes you very close to the bar. The shallowest we saw was 5.8 feet at zero tide. My advice would be to steer clear of the red buoys and favor the first green buoy (unmarked) and green buoy #1. (These are the buoys in front of the Bercovich Boat Yard and Costa Baja Marina.) The unmarked red buoy and red buoy #1 have always been close to the bar so I don't know if they have moved or not. Red buoy #6 has actually broken away and is now sitting on the sand bar between red buoy #8 and red buoy #10. Looking down the channel you can see a long stretch with no red buoy (where #6 should be). Red buoy #6 is currently at 24 11.7N, 110 18.339W, but the next high tide might change that. Needless to say, don't steer towards red buoy #6. Red buoy #10 seems to have gotten a fresh coat of paint, however no one has bothered to repaint "#10" on the buoy - it's faint under the new coat of paint. Finally, red buoy #12 looks to be stretched to the end of its tether at high tide and is a little lower in the water than the rest, but seems to be in a good spot, although probably a new spot judging by its tether.
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email: info@exploringcortez.com
Updates
Last updated 04/17/09
Updates for Sea of Cortez, A Cruiser’s Guidebook -
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We will keep this list updated with any new information and/or corrections as they become known. If you would like to inform us of anything not included in the guide that would be valuable for our readers, please feel free to contact the authors at info@exploringcortez.com or info@bluelatitudepress.com.
Notice to Mariners - The Mexican government office, Secretary of Navy, publishes monthly "Notice to Mariners" updates for the entire Mexican coastline. These updates are available in PDF format.
Pg. 14 - CONAPESCA has recently changed the law regarding fishing licenses required for the boat. Effective January 2008, boat permits are no longer required for vessels practicing sport fishing in Mexican waters. Now a license is only required for the people onboard the boat and cost $25/week, $37/month or $48/yr per person. See www.conapescasandiego.org for more information. January 2008
Pg. 32 - Latitude 22+ Ocean View Roadhouse has moved. Their new location is Km. 4.5 Transpeninsular Highway #1, next to COSTCO and behind the power plant. June 2008
Pg. 33 - Rock Danger near Bahía los Frailes. A reef known as Manta Reef, lying approximately 1 n.m. offshore and 5 n.m. south of Bahia los Frailes, as described on page 33 and in the U.S. Sailing Directions is reported to lie near the position of:
23° 17.937 N
109° 24.777 W
(Information courtesy of Terry Kennedy on s/v Manta) July 2008
Pg. 38 - A flashing white navigation light has been reported on the northern tip of Isla Cerralvo. It has also been reported that the navigation light marking Arrecife de las Focas, the reef just north of Isla Cerralvo, is NOT currently working. Care should been taken when passing in this area until the lights are fixed, that the light marking the northern tip of the island should not be confused with the light (currently not working) marking the rocks of Arrecife de las Focas. (Information courtesy of Colin Pallemaerts on s/v Vita e Bella) May 2008
Pg. 42 - It has been reported that the red and green navigation lights marking the San Lorenzo Channel have been reinstalled. Over the years these buoys have occasionally been damaged or taken out by summer storms or hurricanes. (Information courtesy of Colin Pallemaerts on s/v Vita e Bella) May 2008
Pg. 54 - In late 2007, a new green buoy and a new red buoy were installed at the entrance to the La Paz harbor channel. These buoys, which are currently unmarked, were installed to help move marine traffic away from the Pemex plant that is located on the nearby shore. Some confusion has been encountered over these buoys as they now create somewhat of a dogleg turn when following the channel markers into the harbor. As a result, a few boats have missed making the turn through green buoy #1 and red buoy #2, as listed on DMA Chart #21125, and proceeded directly to green buoy #3 and red buoy #4, which leads directly over shoal water. Waypoints for the new buoys and buoys #1 & #2 are listed below (note: these are waypoints for the buoys themselves, NOT waypoints for a route between):
New Green Buoy:
24° 12.979 N,
110° 18.467 W
New Red Buoy:
24° 12.928 N,
110° 18.529 W
Green #1:
24° 12.948 N,
110° 18.281 W
Red #2:
24° 12.941 N,
110° 18.394 W
Pg. 57 - Marina Costa Baja is no longer part of the BellPort Group and is now called Costa Baja Resort and Marina. Their contact email has been changed to: gley@marinacostabaja.com. February 2008
Pg. 58 - The Moorings Charter Base is no longer at Marina Palmira, they are now located at Costa Baja Resort and Marina. Marina Palmira is under new ownership. Their contact email is fabiola.guerrero@marinapalmira.com. April 2009
Pg. 61 - Atalanta Marina has reopened the work yard and dry storage facility next to Marina Palmira. For more information (including rates), contact the manager, Lourdes Nunez Aramburo. Phone: 612-121-5186. Email: lourdes.nuara@hotmail.com. April 2009
Pg. 62, 64 - Velas de Baja is no longer doing business in La Paz. Coast Marine Chandlery at Marina Palmira is no longer in business. Baja Marine Supply is a new chandlery located at Costa Baja Resort and Marina. February 2008
Pg. 64 - Snug Harbor Sails, operated by Douglas and Rae have a new email: snugharborsails_la_paz@yahoo.com, and a new phone number: 612-123-0496. May 2008
Pg. 64 - Pacific Thread, owned by Danny Gonzalez, repairs and sews new sails, as well as doing canvas work. They monitor VHF channel 22, (612)151-2746, gonzalezdanniel@yahoo.com. (Information courtesy of Alex and Sue Hasenclever s/v Maitairoa) February 2008
Pg. 64 - Custom Fabrication and Machine Shop, owned by Malcolm and his son, Malcolm Jr., perform stainless work. Located on Belizario Dominguez #2622, between Encinas and Navarro. They monitor VHF channel 22, (612)123-2761. (Information courtesy of Alex and Sue Hasenclever s/v Maitairoa) February 2008
Pg. 66 - La Belle Epoque is no longer in business at Costa Baja Resort and Marina. The restaurant, Azul Marino is now in its location. February 2008
Pg. 124 - The longitude scale on the chartlet for Bahia San Marte is incorrectly labelled. The correct longitudes should be 111° 00' and 111° 01' (right to left).
Pg. 132 - A revised chartlet is available for San Cosme. Changes to the chartlet include the reef off Punta San Cosme, the hot springs and additional anchorage. The chartlet is available for downloading and printing in JPEG format (San Cosme Chartlet). San Cosme, like Bahía Agua Verde, can be affected by nighttime/early morning westerly winds coming down from the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. These winds can be mild, moderate or occasionally strong in force and neither anchorage at Isla San Cosme provides protection from these winds. (Information courtesy of Terry Kennedy on s/v Manta) July 2008
Pg. 134 - A revised chartlet is available for Isla Monserrate. Changes to the chartlet include the shallow and rocky area surrounding Las Galeras. The area north of Las Galeras including the exposed rock has not been surveyed and is known to have shallow water and possible pinnacle rock(s). Passage through this area is not recommended. The chartlet is available for downloading and printing in JPEG format (Isla Monserrate Chartlet). Isla Monserrate, like Bahía Agua Verde, can be affected by nighttime/early morning westerly winds coming down from the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. These winds can be mild, moderate or occasionally strong in force and neither the north or south island anchorages provide protection from these winds. It has also been reported during north winds, that waves can build as they travel over the shallow area around Las Galeras, creating a dangerous lee shore at Yellowstone Beach on the north side of the island. (Information courtesy of Terry Kennedy on s/v Manta) July 2008
Pg. 140 - Rock Danger near Los Candeleros. A submerged rock pinnacle, 7.5 feet deep at zero tide, lies approximately north of mid-channel between Isla Pardo and Isla Las Tijeras in the Los Candeleros area. The position is:
25° 44.328 N
111° 14.082 W April 2009
Pg. 162 - The waypoint given for V-Cove is incorrect. It should be listed as it is in the Waypoint Index (pg. 301).
BCS391 -
26° 03.500 N
111° 05.094 W
Pg. 226 - Rock Danger in East Bay of Isla San Esteban. A rock, known as Gallup’s Ghost, is six feet by four feet and coming within four feet of the surface at zero tide has been reported to be in the east bay anchorage at Isla San Esteban. The rock is covered with seaweed, as is much of the surrounding bottom. The reported position is:
28° 41,485' N
112° 32.727' W
(Information courtesy of Capt. Rob Earle, Megan Pearia, Shawnda Gallup - M/V Safari Quest) April 2008