Best and cheapest place to sail in winter (1 month)

stevenieve · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 14

Any suggestions for US or south?

mtnview · Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Posts: 53

Los Barilles in Baja. Wind comes in 4-5 day cycles, when it's on there's huge (non-breaking) swell, mast high some times. Mostly mellow winter sailing though. Definitely a cheap alternative. December - February.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Baja is great and corpus christi can be good, but for the real thing try Maui. If you are creative and stay at an upcountry hostel you'll probably spend $1000 more than you would for the other locations and get the real deal, big surf or flat water, tropical trades, Mai tai's and American doctors for the accidents.
I was there for a big swell and had a lifeguard following me onto very large surf on a jet ski. Priceless!

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

Let's be honest here. Any discussion of destination has to include travel costs, with today's fuel and flight costs, in the equation. Where are you located? I'm guessing the biggest cost of your trip will be gas if you drive and airfare if you fly.

Coachg

andydavis · Joined: 11 Apr 1999 Posts: 319 Location: Point Isabel

LeeD · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 1175

Any sailing destination is a crap shoot for wind, so whether it's Maui, Oahu, Canaries, Baja, Texas, Florida, Hats, it's still luck.
But you mentioned "cheapest".
Calculate gas $$$$.
SPID has free beach camping.
Most of Baja's camping is $7.
Camping is cheaper than staying at a hotel, hostel, or condo.
Closest Baja destination is SanFelipe, maybe not the strongest winds.
BahiaLosAngeles is next down in winter.
Old Chivato can be windy, but Mulege and Loreto much less so.
Another 8 road hours to Ventana........
I'm in the same boat.

tetiaroaxx · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 225

jordanwd · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 158

look into SPI (south padre island, texas) usually daily 15-25 knots in late fall early winter, air temp=75, water temp = 75 (ie NO wetsuits), beautiful, clean water and beaches..flat water sailing on laguna madre, wave sailing on the gulf (s/se @ the north jetty...nw at boca chica)..real laid back south of the border atmosphere....the fishing is world class that time of year (admittedly the primary reason I'm goin), all the tourists are gone and motels/resturants are cheap and a solid core of winter ws'ers and kiters there...hell , i live & sail on the central cali coast and i'm so lookin forward to my 3 week trip there in early december..just my 2 cents worth..

keycocker · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 3598

Belize is about $800 to fly but we got $10 beachfront hotels/shared bath. 75 deg water is a very cold day. Mostly the water is crystal clear, fishing is world class, snorkling too. You need me to get you gear if you don't bring it. I rent by the month at the cheapest rates on earth if you help the local kids get going in the sport and don't annoy me.
It is a lot of 5.0 to 6.0 but we get 4.0 too. Every kind of sailing from the same launch. Big waves,bump and jump,flatwater drag racing,safe island crossings.No shoes ride bike on sand streets lifestyle. Fresh fish- the real kind -cheap lobster.
Lots of reefs so you got to listen to local advice or you get spanked by Mrs. Nature.

89Spring · Joined: 24 Jul 2003 Posts: 241

I've always wanted to go to Belize.
The carriabean is a good winter time location, but the price?
FLA Keys is awesome
West coast head to Baja