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I am wondering if anybody can help describe the terrain, roads and camp site at San Jose del Faro. Images, log books, navigation directions would be appreciated. The site is where the Arroyo San Jose meets the Pacific, and it would seem the nearest community is Catavina.

Is the road to the coast passable for two wheel drive vehicles? Is the navigation straight forward? And, does anybody have imagery of the fishing camp on the coast.

The reason I am asking is to help my sister. Her yacht has been damaged in a grounding and the crew is working from the site.

Happy New Year to you all. The Baja sure seems to be another paradise on earth.

John

Originally Posted by greatbigseas

I am wondering if anybody can help describe the terrain, roads and camp site at San Jose del Faro. Images, log books, navigation directions would be appreciated. The site is where the Arroyo San Jose meets the Pacific, and it would seem the nearest community is Catavina.

Is the road to the coast passable for two wheel drive vehicles? Is the navigation straight forward? And, does anybody have imagery of the fishing camp on the coast.

The reason I am asking is to help my sister. Her yacht has been damaged in a grounding and the crew is working from the site.

Happy New Year to you all. The Baja sure seems to be another paradise on earth.

John

Hi John,

We traveled through there in July, 2007 coming down along the coast road from Santa Catarina Landing... However, there is a signed road that leaves Hwy. 1 about 12.5 miles south of the El Marmol road (or 7.4 miles north of Cataviña).
Some photos in that trip web page: http://vivabaja.com/707

Stand by for more details on that road from Hwy. 1...

I took a photo of the small island/ rock just offshore at San Jose de la Piedra (Faro San Jose).

Here is the AAA map with mileages along that road... "FISH CAMP" (on the map) is Faro San Jose or San Jose de la Piedra.

Welcome John to the forum - DavidK is probably one of the best resources you could find for general Baja questions needing directions/maps, etc and specifically anything around the old missions.

thanks David. In my initial hours of online searching after the distress call I came across your travel logs and descriptions. I even think I sent you an email from a link on a page. The map and travel logs posted here are most useful. I have some people from the cruising world in La Paz interested in lending a hand but were unsure of the quality of the road in from Catavina. This all helps.

John

Originally Posted by greatbigseas

thanks David. In my initial hours of online searching after the distress call I came across your travel logs and descriptions. I even think I sent you an email from a link on a page. The map and travel logs posted here are most useful. I have some people from the cruising world in La Paz interested in lending a hand but were unsure of the quality of the road in from Catavina. This all helps.

John

Hi John... I haven't even looked at my emails yet... so I will say that what is posted here will be all the info I can help with.

The road is/ was graded from Hwy. 1 and is shown as graded on the Baja Almanac topo map... The AAA map (2007 edition) shows it as having a couple of 4x4 spots (shown as broken parallel lines vs. solid)... but AAA is overly cautious and they generally no longer show any roads that need 4WD on. I drove 20 miles of that road in 2007 as I was going southward... and I don't recall any problems at all... I believe it was graded too. In saying that, it is ALWAYS better to use a 4WD vehicle or at least a truck or other high clearance vehicle (no sports cars) on Baja back roads... Do top off with gas at El Rosario... no other stations will be seen. Gas is usually for sale from cans at Cataviña about 8 miles south from the turnoff on Hwy. 1.

David

your replies have been immensely helpful and your quick responses appreciated. I will pass the information onto my sister and the ocean cruisers who are interested in helping out but are unsure how to access the site. Many thanks again, and happy New Year from Nova Scotia.

John

Originally Posted by greatbigseas

David

your replies have been immensely helpful and your quick responses appreciated. I will pass the information onto my sister and the ocean cruisers who are interested in helping out but are unsure how to access the site. Many thanks again, and happy New Year from Nova Scotia.

John

You too... and stay warm up there in the Great White North, eh?

Originally Posted by David K

You too... and stay warm up there in the Great White North, eh?

Holy cow - I just noticed that he is in Nova Scotia. Better get out the long-johns...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Holy cow - I just noticed that he is in Nova Scotia. Better get out the long-johns...

As the Disney attraction has sung endlessly, "It's a small world after all".

Heck, I'm in Canada's Baja. Life is good, plus two and no wind today and the ocean flat calm. Surfers are all bummed out.
Happy New Year

They surf in Nova Scotia this time of year???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmdTE...layer_embedded

surfing occurs all year - check out the link, I like the ice on the board and the snow on the drumlins in the background.

Returning to my primary concern though, today I await feedback from a contact on the Baja who is making the drive in from Catavina to check out my sister's plight and confer on organizing support. I am hopeful but there is still lots to be done.

John

Sorry for the thread detour John - I just spoke with a good friend who has fished that area a lot and he said that it is accessible normally with 2WD vehicles but rains can make it a tough access sometimes. He suggested to at least take a vehicle with high ground clearance and 4wd to be sure, just in case. There is rain in the forecast.

I spent a lot of time driving the area just north of there about a month ago and if the area around San Jose del Faro is similar, I would want a 4wd...

I recieved an email sent by greatbigseas with photos of the ship on the rocks... Here are three of them...

Wow, those images make me cringe. How horrible. And, how in the world will they get it out of there?

I have used expanding spray insulation foam to make emergency repairs in a holed fiberglass boat. Use the cans you can buy at the hardward store. You'll have to lay the boat over on its other side, so move the rocks, or build a pad to protect the other (and hopefully undamaged) side of the boat. Perhaps sheer legs to hold her plumb when you get her rolled upright. Now that I think about it, it may be enough to lift her off the rocks. Make a loose form out of duct tape and cellophane on the outide of the hole, and prepare a similar mold for the inside. Leave them a little loose, you're not trying to get a pretty patch, but one that will last long enough to get to a boat yard.

Spray the foam into the space between the inside and outside molds, make sure to use enough to fill the whole void. The goal is that the foam will expand and "overflow" the hull inside and out, this will lock it into place. I smoothed the outside of the patch and covered it with epoxy and cloth, just so I felt better about going back out with a hole in the boat.

If the engine still runs and the hull is only breached in the one place, I think that she could be saved and make it to a yard, or protected beach where she could be layed over for more repairs, on her own.

I'm sorry for the stress that your sister must be going though. Good luck!

everyday the boat has moved progressively along the beach, first into the boulder area, then into raw outcrops. She now submerges at high tide and in the full surf zone, her condition worsening with each day. What can be done is being done with the limited resources at hand and in the time available. A wheeled 30 ton crane early on might have rescued the situation.

Originally Posted by greatbigseas

everyday the boat has moved progressively along the beach, first into the boulder area, then into raw outcrops. She now submerges at high tide and in the full surf zone, her condition worsening with each day. What can be done is being done with the limited resources at hand and in the time available. A wheeled 30 ton crane early on might have rescued the situation.

Sadly, this is a location that is as far from civilization as could be, in Mexico... No crane... A flatbed truck is about the biggest vehicle to be able to get there. Sounds like she is a total loss now. Too bad that there was no cable strong enough for a truck to drag her up the beach for salvage.