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 After keeping Jangada in La Paz (Baja) for three years and cruising nearly all of the spectacular islands and mainland Baja anchorages in the Sea of Cortez from La Paz all the way up to Mulege, I sailed her across the Sea of Cortez in December, 2005. After a week in Mazatlan I began working my way down the coast, ending up in Puerto Vallarta in January 2006. And that's where the journey now continues.
I'll have room for crew on many of my junkets which generally last 5-10 days. If you're interested in coming along, let me know. Pick some dates and I'll give you an idea of where I'll be. Your only job is to get there, either flying (or driving or taking the bus) into Puerto Vallarta, depending on where I'll be. My satellite phone number is: 254-381-6470; my cell phone (541-490-9606) works now and then.; I will have occasional email access also (ericsan@earthlink.net). When on the boat I try to remember to have my SAT and/or cell phone turned on Mon/Wed/Fri from 8am - 10am Mountain Time.
If you're interested in coming along the PLEASE READ ALL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. In fact, read it twice; especially the 'Responsibilities' and 'What to Bring' parts. No excuses!
A Jangada is a type of Brazilian fishing boat
made from small logs which are lashed together and powered by a
rickety sail arrangement made from mahogany sticks and old pieces
of canvas. 2-3 fisherman at a time will head out to sea –
as much as 40 miles off-shore – and spend 2-3 days out fishing,
somehow finding their way back to their departure point with no
navigation equipment other than their senses and experience. It
is a truly wild contraption and I have been off the north coast
of Brazil on a Jangada in 25 knots of wind and very aggressive seas.
Amazing!
Jangada is a 42’ Fountain Pajot Venezia
catamaran built in 1997. It has 4 cabins, each accommodating 2 persons
(cozy….), and two heads, each with their own shower. It is
powered by twin diesel engines with enough fuel for approximately
350 miles of cruising at 6 knots. Also on board is a watermaker
(makes 80 gallons a day), hot water heater, propane BBQ, and solar
panels providing battery charging for 110v AC power. You can see
photos and the layout at www.bayacht.com/fp42.htm.
A catamaran offers an enormous amount of cockpit,
salon and deck space so that you never feel cramped. The galley
has a large stove, refrigerator/freezer, double sink and all kitchen
paraphernalia for eight people. The sailing is generally easy, safe
and fun due to the fact that a cat will not heel over – everything
stays flat as we fly along the water! We have a big spinnaker for
downwind cruising; Jangada will easily make 14 knots on a reach
and we’ve had her up to 18 knots (20mph)!
Toys on board include an 11’ Zodiac with
20hp outboard, wakeboard, windsurfing, fishing, rock climbing gear,
and an inflatable kayak. We have a killer stereo and a DVD player.
Our safety gear includes an EPIRB, emergency
strobes, lifejackets for everyone, and safety harnesses for (4)
persons. Navigation equipment includes an autopilot, 24 mile radar,
GPS/chartplotter, SSB radio with weatherFAX, VHF radios, satellite
phone, 110v generator, (2) backup GPS, dual sonar depth sounders
and complete helm-mounted instrumentation.
Everyone on board will chip in with chores, from
cooking and cleaning to provisioning, trimming the sails and giving
the captain long, deep massages. It’s fun, easy and generally
humorous. We have two deep-sea fishing rigs on board meaning lots
of fresh fish! Unfortunately, everyone on board needs to buy a Mexican
fishing license ($42), whether you are fishing or not. Baja is very
fun, but not as cheap as it was twenty years ago.
We’ll share all the boat expenses including
food, fuel, booze, moorage, check-in fees, fishing licenses and
other bureaucratic fees. Past trips have averaged around $300/person/week
(depending on the number of people on board). To avoid having to
waste time running around provisioning, fueling up, etc., I’ll
have everything ready when you arrive. If we end up spending more
(longer trip, more motoring…) we’ll share the added
cost.
One word on fresh water: be prepared to take
"boat showers" (quick rinse, shut off water and take your
time soaping up, finish with a quick rinse). When it’s hot
we’ll take salt-water showers off the stern swim ladder with
a fresh rinse at the end. Easy! Water and power conservation on
a boat is a way of life, which is easy to get used to (and VERY
important).
As with any group situation there are a few things
to keep in mind. If you make a mess, clean it up. If you break something,
tell the captain (whether you fix it yourself or not). Keep your
personal belongings stowed and out of the way. Be courteous and
respectful of others on board (late-night noise, long sessions in
the head, lounging while others are working, etc.) Common sense
goes a long way to making life on board easy and fun. And there
is NO SMOKING anywhere on board, on shore or even near the boat.
If you smoke…. don’t come.
You’ll be helping out raising and trimming
the sails, taking turns at the helm, and anchoring. It can be very
fun and exciting in brisk (30 knot) winds. If you have never sailed
before please get a book and familiarize yourself with how a sailboat
works and basic sailing terms and techniques. Sailing For Dummies
is as good a place to start as any; there are many more good basic
books.
Remember, a boat can be a very small place. At
times you may need to be very flexible and accommodating, patient
and cooperative, positive and helpful.. So bring a BIG smile!
Forget it. While we do have a satellite phone
on board for emergency calls ($3/minute), if you absolutely positively
have to be somewhere or constantly keep in touch then a cruising
holiday on JANGADA is probably not for you. Anything can happen
to alter our schedule: things go right (we discover the most perfect
beach on earth and stay an extra day) and things go wrong (we hit
bad weather and have to hang in a protected bay an extra day).
We’ll do our best to stay within everyone’s
schedule but this is sailing, weather and sea conditions can change,
and there’s fun to be had!!!
WARNING! Sailing on JANGADA might just be the
most fun you’ll ever have in your life, but no, you cannot
stay and sail around forever. You must go home! Go back to work!
But don’t worry, you can always come back!
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