The Baja California Travel & Living Webzine

San Blas - Cruising the Mainland

San Blas and Matanchén Bay have new rules for visiting yateros
 

Article & photos by Capts. Pat & John E. Rains

(Click on photos in this article to enlarge)

Capts. Pat Miller Rains & John E. Rains are the authors of “Mexico Boating Guide” and “Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama” and they write for many national and regional nautical magazines. John and Pat Rains, both former cruisers, are an active yacht-delivery team who homeport in San Diego. If you have questions or comments, please email through their websites: www.MexicoBoating.com or www.RainsYachtDelivery.com

San Blas is a mid-sized fishing harbor on the mainland side of the Sea of Cortez, often overlooked by the megayachts as they cruise between the resort ports of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. But for relaxed cruisers on shorter-legged yachts moving between the two big destinations, little San Blas makes a convenient fuel stop and rest area. Adjacent Matanchén Bay is a major stop on the surfing circuit

Boaters can just hail me as Agent Irma,” she says. She speaks perfect English and knows all the local repair services. Clearing in and out in one operation is still the fastest and least expensive way to go, especially if you’re stopping just for fuel or one or two overnight stays. However, if you clear in and stay awhile, give Agent Irma a 24-hour notice to begin your outgoing clearance papers. By the way, the “Ing.” before her name means she has a PhD. 

CHEAP FUEL

Second, the price of diesel and gasoline in San Blas is reported among the lowest along Pacific Mexico, because there’s no “pipa” or tie-up fee – at least for now. This benefit won’t last forever; it’s intended to help the community of San Blas get back on its feet

economically after Hurricane Kenna’s devastating blow.

The nicer fuel dock for yachts is along the northeastern side of the harbor channel. It is a high stationary concrete deck, about

We covered the San Blas region in our nautical guidE-book, “Mexico Boating Guide.” Hurricane Kenna thoroughly trounced San Blas when it made landfall here in late summer of 2002, and the entrance had some big waves during Hurricane Marty in 2003.

We stopped in at San Blas and Matanchén Bay to see how well the harbor facilities had been repaired and if the nearby anchorages had recovered their former beauty. We post our Updates page on www.MexicoBoating.com so check there often for news from us and Baja Insider, too.

The good news is that San Blas and its environs are up and running – but with three significant changes of importance to boaters.

SHIP’S AGENT

First, US boaters should note that the Port Captain of San Blas, Ing. Hector Leal Soberanes, now requires recreational boaters to use the services of a local ship’s agent to handle their port-clearance paperwork and to arrange for the boat to take on fuel. This includes boats anchored in adjacent Matanchén Bay.

Soon after San Blas reopened, San Blas got a new ship’s agent just for yachts and recreational  sportfishers. You can contact Ing. Irma Fernandas Zuñiga Bugarini on VHF-16 or 22, and her office in the center of San Blas is at #143 H. Batallon. If you’re going to walk from the dinghy landing, take the street to the right, go three blocks east to H. Batallon and turn left. A sign marks her office. You can phone Agent Irma: 011-52 (323) 285-1025. The port clearance fee is 200 pesos (about $20 US), the minimum charge nationwide, and it includes the Port Captain’s office, Migración, Aduana and the bank lines.

200’ long on the channel side, about 100’ long on the perpendicular basin side. At lower tides, boaters should constantly tend their dock lines to keep the gunwales from slipping beneath the concrete ledge and getting damaged.

We won’t quote exact fuel prices, because they can change before publication and are often based upon the quantity purchased. However, about $2 per gallon is typical throughout Mexico. Fueling in San Blas could be a new and interesting stop for sportfishing boats heading to and from the tournaments at Mazatlan and PV.

PILOT SERVICE

Third, especially since Hurricane Marty in 2003, silt continues to wash down into San Blas harbor’s narrow entrance channel from the surrounding mountains and estuaries, so the bending channel into San Blas harbor shifts its position every few months.

“Boaters should not follow the range markers or they will be in trouble,” says Norm Goldie, a local sportfishing captain well known to cruisers for the past 10 years. We saw local shrimpers with 8’ draft having no problem coming and going, even with the maximum 3-knot current – but they know where the shoals are that day. New summer storms of 2004 will add to this problem before dredges can clear the harbor and reset the channel buoys.

Instead, boaters should hail “Captain Norm” on VHF-22 and Goldie will come out in one of his boats and pilot them in. Goldie has lived in San Blas for many years and is well known as “the cruisers’ friend” for his helpful advice on dozens of local services.

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