La Paz Sailing
During the winter months, generally from November through April, One World Sailing Academy operates offshore sailing expeditions departing from La Paz, Mexico, and other nearby locations in the southern Sea of Cortez.
La Paz is considered the gateway to the Sea of Cortez and has long been one of the primary cruising hubs for sailors exploring the region, with extensive marine support and a strong marine-based industry serving cruising sailors.
The surrounding Sea of Cortez was famously nicknamed the “Aquarium of the World” by legendary marine biologist Jacques Cousteau because of its extraordinary biodiversity and marine life.
La Paz is also well known for incredible wildlife encounters, especially whale sharks, along with dolphins, mobula rays, sea lions, and countless other marine species commonly found throughout the southern Sea of Cortez.
La Paz is an outstanding place to begin a cruising adventure in the Sea of Cortez. It is relatively simple logistically, whether students choose to fly directly into La Paz or arrive from the international airport located in San José del Cabo and then travel north to La Paz by bus or car.
Provisioning in La Paz is also excellent, which makes preparing for offshore cruising expeditions straightforward and efficient.
On our seven-day and ten-day offshore sailing expeditions, we typically begin by meeting students in La Paz, dropping off gear, then provisioning the vessel together, gathering any final supplies, fueling the vessel and dinghy if necessary, and preparing the boat for departure before heading out into the Sea of Cortez.
Nearby islands such as Espíritu Santo and La Partida are absolutely incredible cruising destinations with numerous anchorages. Regardless of the wind direction, there is always an anchorage nearby that provides protection from the prevailing conditions. The region also offers beautiful desert landscapes, clear water, abundant marine life, fantastic hiking, snorkeling, and excellent sailing conditions.
Farther north, destinations such as Isla San Francisco are the quintessential Sea of Cortez cruising location, famous for its highly photographed crescent-shaped anchorage, dramatic desert scenery, outstanding hiking, and incredible sailing conditions.
During these fully immersive seven-day and ten-day offshore sailing expeditions, students are exposed to not only excellent sailing and seamanship training, but also some of the most beautiful cruising grounds found anywhere in the world.
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During these expeditions, students learn essential cruising, offshore sailing, and blue water sailing skills in a fully immersive La Paz sailing course aboard a true offshore cruising vessel.
We place a very heavy emphasis on seamanship and onboard systems training. Students are introduced to navigation, weather routing, passage planning, watchkeeping, night passages, anchoring techniques, anchoring strategies, offshore decision making, and the day-to-day operation of a serious blue water cruising sailboat.
We also spend significant time covering onboard systems such as watermakers, charging systems, electrical systems, emergency equipment, safety systems, maintenance procedures, and general offshore vessel management.
Our goal is to expose students to virtually every aspect of offshore cruising and passage making that is essential for becoming a capable long-distance cruising sailor.
All of this takes place while actively cruising through one of the most beautiful regions in the southern Sea of Cortez.
You are absolutely going to love this experience.
If your schedule allows, it is highly recommended that you arrive a couple of days early or stay a couple of days after the expedition to explore the city of La Paz itself.
La Paz has a rich culture, excellent food, a historic mission, a very long waterfront malecón area, and a relaxed town atmosphere with plenty to see and experience.
This La Paz sailing course is designed to provide students with serious offshore cruising and blue water sailing experience in one of the most beautiful sailing destinations anywhere in the world.
One World Sailing Academy looks forward to meeting you in La Paz and setting out together on an adventure of learning and discovery.