Read Before Panic Spreads Through the Fleet

An article by Rich Boren of La Paz Cruiser's Supply

This Mexican Law/Rule was posted on the San Carlos Cruisers Facebook Page. Before panic spreads through the fleet with rumors of Boat impounding and the Navy blocking the entrance to the La Paz Channel (like what happened in the Early Covid Days) a little perspective and reality check could be of value.

First, this isn’t a new law or regulation. Nor has it ever been applied for transient cruising boats.

Second, private moorings have always been illegal in Mexico without the appropriate permission and fee payment from/to API, but we call them “anchoring systems” as if that protects us from the laws. This isn't a judgment about Moorings or a commentary on those who have/use them, it's just a reality of understanding that what you have and use today could be gone tomorrow if/when the applicable laws/rules are ever enforced.

I think it is important to remember that this Law/Rule isn't targeting the transient cruising fleet, but rather in place to deal with the worldwide problem of derelict boats left in anchorages. Using the La Paz Anchorage, for example, three such boats have sunk in the last year, to the irritation of the Navy and the local Mexican community. This raises eyebrows and attention to the permeant non-moving floating houses in the bay.

The last time this regulation was used in the Sea of Cortez was in Puerto Escondido when they cleaned out the “waiting room” of permanent float-aboard boats that many had long ago lost their ability to move and would routinely sink in the bay.

Now, I’m sure the “sky is falling panic folks" will see this as a harbinger of the “Good Old Days” of Cruising Mexico coming to an end, but this means very little to the transient cruiser fleet. Other than the possibility that the anchorages and bays in the main cruisers' hang-outs may not be as cluttered and filled with permanently attached to the bottom boats. We have all seen them, slowly rotting away as a threat to the cruising fleet every time the wind blows over 20kts or a storm sends them to the beach or sinks them further spoiling the anchorages. They pinball through the La Paz anchorage every time we have a strong Norther, are a hazard to the fleet, and are an irritation and eyesore to the local Mexican authorities.

So my advice after being in Mexico since 2008 is to relax when seeing and hearing about this Rule/Law and avoid the knee-jerk panic spiral that seems to happen. Waves of panic and assuming the worst are nothing new and I've seen many of them over the years, but this Law/Rule is NOT targeting the Transient Cruising Fleet. Rather its posting can serve as a reminder that Mexico (like all Countries) has the right to protect its natural treasure of a Coastline from those that would act irresponsibly and leave their boats to rot and sink.

Cheers
Rich-Taco Sherpa, La Paz
April 2023