Answers -
1. we kept our boat in Cruiseport in Ensenada for several years as we
could't stand LA/OC anymore - left there in 2005. Todos Santos is not
prime cruising territory for neophytes. Go play at Catalina. There are
2 poor anchorages in the lee of the higher island - 1 is full of
mariculture cages, (unlike 1977), the other is small and bad holding.
There's a steel ring for bow tying and drop a stern anchor in the
rocks and hope it holds. Stay away from the low island (the one with
the light) - it's a well known surfer site - not a good anchorage. The
"boat passage" is for dingies - keep your boat in deep water.
2. I don't know what "some bottom work" is - but Bajal Naval is well
known to underquote, over-do and overcharge. Do not leave your boat
and go away for a few days. You to will get screwed. You have to be
there every day and double check the worker's names and their hours
that are charged to you. Eg. a friend had his bottom painted and a new
boot stripe - they charged his for the paper and tape to mask the
bootstripe by the ft - charged him for 5,000 ft - not the 50.00 ft
that they used - Oh - oops - a small decimal point issue. Go down a
few days early and check out the situation on the morning cruiser's
VHF net - I forget the channel and time - ask around. One other point
- don't break down south of the border and get towed. A friend got
towed 40 miles back to SD and it cost US$1800 - in 2004. yeh - 1800.

Another comment - think again about what you're doing in Mexico. If
you have a problem with the yard - there is no easy solution - no
lawyer letters - no Better Business Bureau - you pay the yard bill in
full BEFORE it splashes - then you get to ask for explanations and
money back. They have basically no liability insurance - they drop
your boat - you discuss it. They overspray your boat - you discuss it.
They **** you on the bill - you pay it.

Now - don't get me wrong - I love Mexico - have cruised here for years
and we're building a house here in the Sea - just watch out and don't
expect a cheap ride.



On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:16:49 -0700, Alan Gomes wrote:

I'm planning a trip to Ensenada, mostly to have some bottom work done on
my Catalina 30 at Baja Naval, but also to get in a little bit of sailing
with a few of my buddies. I'm wondering if any of you can comment as to
whether the Islas de Todos Santos might be worth seeing. (These islands
are roughly 8 miles west of Ensenada Harbor.) I'm toying with the idea
of stopping by there on the return trip.

I've looked up some stuff on the web and would read even more on it if
it looks viable, but I'd like to hear from someone who has actually been
there. Anything much to see? Any decent anchorage there?

Thanks,
Alan Gomes