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#1
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Down Mexico way
We always hear of people going west to east on the Gulf of mexico down
west Fl and then over to teh bahamas. Why not go the other way, toward TX and then down to Mexico. Does naybody have any experience with that part of the Gulf Coast (northern Mexico that is)? |
#2
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For one, it's the long way around by at least 1,000 miles or so. It is
also my impression, perhaps wrong, that there's not much "there" there, at least not until you get to the Yucatan/Cancun/Cozumel area. |
#3
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wrote:
We always hear of people going west to east on the Gulf of mexico down west Fl and then over to teh bahamas. Why not go the other way, toward TX and then down to Mexico. Does naybody have any experience with that part of the Gulf Coast (northern Mexico that is)? Several years ago I researched such a cruise and found it daunting -- nothing south of Brownsville TX until Tampico and then, much further south, Veracruz, a manufacturing center and major oil depot, and then, around the corner, Cancun. Between are only small fishing villages with ragged fuel docks and empty or virtually empty (small villages), small mouth bays for anchoring. Charted depths are unreliable, at best. Sport fishing boats from TX carry extra fuel to make Cancun in long, uninterrupted runs across Gulf. Mexican Customs is also uncertain -- full fees may be charged at each port -- (graft warnings from two other cruisers.) After months of reviewing charts, communicating with Mexican officials , a Mexican immigration law firm, and a few locals, I decided not to do that cruise. |
#4
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I've been up and down both coasts of Mexico a few times. When I was
on the pacific side, (1994-7) you'd pay little fee at each port, in the amount of about $3 US or so. I delivered a boat a few years back to Cancun and was charged $400 and change. - Just a side thought- As for sailing the long way, there are a lot of considerations to take. I too thought about that route a few times and decided against it because of the remoteness. On the other hand, if you wanted to be that alone you might find it to be the way to go. Your final destination considered, if you leave key West and head toward Havana and then toward the Yucatan, you get a back current near Cuba that is counter to the gulf stream. The US imposed some extra restrictions against getting that close to Cuba around about January of 2003, so if those are still being enforced, that is no option. Going through the Bahamas gives you lots of protection from weather that may come up plus as previously stated, there are fuel stops and a few stores not to mention boat yards for the occasional mechanical mishap. Back to the Mexico routes, if you do make it to Cancun area, from there you will find a current in your southerly favor so long as you stay fairly close to land. The Yucatan channel has had incredibly fast currents from time to time and I have never seen the pinch less then about 4 knots. Another thing to consider is that cutting across the Caribbean from the Bahamas to the canal (if you should want to) you may encounter a very nasty sea. I've cross several times and my luck has never seen less then 15 foot and once I was caught in storm where at one point I saw 35 foot seas (and believe me, I had every intention of selling the boat and moving to Montana!). I have known people that loved the sail through 4 foot seas but that was not my luck. |
#5
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"Between are only small fishing villages with
ragged fuel docks and empty or virtually empty (small villages), small mouth bays for anchoring. Charted depths are unreliable, at best." this is the type of cruising destinations people used to seek ,the way the bahamas used to be, and most of the caribbean, now if there is no Mcdonalds and a jacuzzi in the marina people bitch. |
#6
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Cruisers have changed. The reasons many cruise is for comfort
vacations. Me personally, I like the boonies most of the time but as I get older I am finding the need for a little comfort myself. |
#7
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yes cruisers have changed, thats why mooring and anchoring is banned
almost everywhere now. its why the legends like Tristan Jones and other well known sailors of the past would be shunned as gypsy sea trash if they were around today. today if your boat doesnt have a fresh coat of shiny awlgrip your looked upon with suspicion. What do you do if your boat is damaged in a Hurricane, A scratch?!?! Will you be shunned by your boat slip neighbor? oh my gawd!! You ever hear of the "stroller wars?" Its a big thing in the midwest, mothers with the "wrong" baby carriages are looked upon as trashy or not good enuff. Wrong side of the tracks?? Apparently there are only one or two eletist brands of carriages, Thrown glances of disapproval by other new mothers. I found out about this when i visited my niece and her new born. Who knew? How pathetic and sad. I had to laugh. The mountain climbers of MT Everest are all now wealthy yuppies paying 10's of thousands for a thrill. Its all about image. |
#8
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OH here is a funny one. In a marina I was visiting recently I was
saundering down the dock and I heard this woman in utter disqust criticize a boats anchors as being ugly. Wwhy dont they buy some shiny ones like ours? It's so trashy!" I had to laugh but contained myself for fear of being arrested for offending the women. Have you heard of the new monogrammed designer anchors? Heres the link: |
#9
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upset 'eh?
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#10
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no i am not upset, disgusted maybe. and laughing at the stupidity but
not upset. |
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