Baja Boater Safety

Recently Baja California has been the subject of many new stories regarding crimes perpetrated against visitors from north of the border. As in all walks of life, one must take all measures possible to prevent being in the “wrong place at the wrong time”. But if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, the glaring difference in Mexico is that you are basically on your own and can’t rely on local authorities to protect you or to pursue those that may have committed a crime with you being the ill-timed involved party.

Any trip south of the border must be well planned at the outset. Whether traveling by sea or by land, file a float plan or a road itinerary. Be sure that those at both ends of your journey have a copy of your agenda. Try to depart and arrive during daylight hours. While in Mexico stay in well populated areas preferably gated with guards in attendance. Install an alarm system on your yacht and know how to activate the alarm in your vehicle. Always secure your vehicle with a club device and park in well lit and well traveled areas. If possible, transit by convoy on the road, or fleet by sea. The support group strength in numbers is a great haven when in a new and unfamiliar country.

Be sure that your yacht and car insurance are extended to cover you and your crew south of the border. Bearing arms in Mexico is strictly prohibited, and if you violate that law you will spend time in a Mexican jail. Your best weapon in Mexico is a working cell phone. Be sure your phone plan includes Mexican coverage before you depart. All areas of northern Baja now have excellent cell coverage. Arrange to have someone on speed dial back in the States to act as your personal 911 contact.

Above all, behave respectfully while in Mexico. Mexicans resent the “ugly American” syndrome and can sense it immediately. Speaking what little Spanish you know goes a long way toward bridging the gap between cultures. Remember, attitude begets attitude, and your good behavior while in Mexico will often determine the mood and tenure of your surrounding environment. But, again, careful pre-planning is the key to any adventure in Mexico. We hope to see you here soon!

ADDED NOTE: If you are carrying a cell phone and need vehicle roadside help during your True Travels to Ensenada you are encouraged to dial 01-520-800-990-3900, if you need crime prevention help dial 01-520-800-440-3690. There are also phones along the way on the Toll Road at various distances that will connect you directly to the Green Angels green emergency service trucks.

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home.

Roderick Haig-Brown, Fisherman's Spring, 1951