Baja hit pretty bad

[Quickmarch 488]

Some pretty serious damage in Hurricane Odile. Baja California Sud (Mexico) was trashed by some really high winds.

 

Here's a shot of the airport: http://sailinganarchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/plane.jpg

 

Pam and I are (maybe were) planning on heading down there by car this winter to check out La Paz as a possible new winter home for our sailboat.

 

http://www.therebelheart.com/blog/2014/9/15/hurricane-odile-slams-into-la-paz-baja-sur.html

 

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2014-09-16&dayid=1114

 

This might require a rethink.

 

 

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

Hmmmm, pretty hairy, It's even more scary when you're out at sea, you know its coming, and you know your ship cannot outrun it! The only thing you can do is clear all the decks, shut all the deadlights. Batten down and secure everything possible, then turn the ship straight towards the hurricane aiming to hit the wind head on. Even a 270,000 will shake and roll. But I've been on two ships that have done it and it still scared the crap out of everyone aboard!

[allardjd 1,853]

I think an important piece of information would be how often this has happened there. If it's infrequent, treat this one like a fluke and make your plans. I made the decision a long time ago not to plan my life around the possibility of a hurricane. I make my plans, schedule the things I want to do and keep a weather eye out - adapt if necessary. Insure the boat well, keep an eye on the forecasts (you'd have to be on the moon not to know one of these is coming your way) and have a safe, high and dry place to go (with supplies) all scoped out ahead of time.

 

That's a really bad one. I feel bad for the locals, many of whom will not have insurance or a Plan B.

 

John

[Quickmarch 488]

No way these guys are paying attention!

 

It's about 12 hours across the Sea of Cortez (in a slow boat) to Mazatlan - which didn't get hit. I totally agree with JA - you have to have left the boat for the season on an anchor without supervision for this to happen. The last biggie to hit the area was around 2006 or thereabouts. It trashed the south end as well as the north end. Storm surge lifted the docks off the pilings - after that it's all over. Most of the marinas learned their lesson from that one, so it's the cheapskates (no marina berth) that suffered this one. Darwinian, IMHO.

[britfrog 180]

where i grew up in the Bahamas hurricanes are part of life, as John says everyone knows if there is one travelling and you move your boat to a hurricane hole a day or so before it strikes. If its a biggie you fly your plane out to a safe port of call. I have crossed Miami - Nassau in a grade 4 hurricane (INEZ) as an engineer , we lost the whole deck cargo (5 cars , 2 boats and a whole load of outboard engines) i was in the engine room hoping we didnt turn into a submarine. quite an experience!

this site gives all the info you ever need:

 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac