Cruiser Collision Occurs off Baja; No Injuries
February 22, 2012
Byline: Capt. Pat Rains
BAHIA SANTA MARIA, Mexico — With all of Baja California’s open water, how could two cruising boats collide? It happens more often than you might expect.
In January, a 50-foot trawler yacht named Mona Mona and a 40-foot cruising sailboat named Stella Blue collided after dusk about 45 miles northwest of Santa Maria Bay.
The three-person crew of Stella Blue said they were motoring south about 6 knots and had all their proper running lights on. After scanning the horizon and seeing no other traffic, they ducked below for a moment to set the night watch schedule.
That’s when the impact occurred.
Mona Mona’s singlehanded skipper, age 84, said on VHF radio that he was surprised by the collision. Mona Mona was northbound, and the skipper said he had not seen Stella Blue.
Both parties exchanged names and insurance information, reported no personal injuries, reported some obvious boat damage above the waterline (but nothing disabling) and went on their ways. Stella Blue motored into Puerto San Carlos at Bahia Magdalena, where the boat was assisted by the Mexican navy. To make repairs to the bow and rigging, Stella Blue then motored to Marina Puerto Los Cabos.
