Foilers launch 200-km Baja crossing from Loreto to La Ventana

More than 200 kilometers of open water separate Loreto and La Ventana as a group of foilers set out for the Foil Baja California Sur challenge, a three-day maritime expedition that began January 15. The route is designed as a non-motorized endurance crossing for windsurfers, kitesurfers and wingfoilers riding hydrofoil-equipped boards that lift above the water to minimize drag and increase speed.

Adam Withington Sánchez, a La Ventana-based sailing athlete and businessman, is among the registered captains making the crossing. He expects the fleet to reach La Ventana the afternoon of January 17, weather permitting. "The Foil Baja California Sur expedition brings together different sailing disciplines, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, and wingfoiling," Withington Sánchez explains.

Organizers split the roughly 200-kilometer route into three legs: an opening stage of about 65 kilometers from Loreto to Agua Verde, a second day of roughly 75 kilometers from Agua Verde to San Evaristo, and a final stretch that includes a land transfer from San Evaristo to El Saltito beach followed by about 35 kilometers on the water into La Ventana. The itinerary threads scenic stretches of the Sierra de la Giganta, Loreto Bay National Park and the Sea of Cortez, an area long nicknamed "the world's aquarium" for its marine life and clear water.

Safety and logistics are central to the plan. Organizers put in place a coordinated water-and-land safety program that includes two nights of camping for participants, hydration stations and support services along the route. The expedition emphasizes seamanship and weather forecasting as much as physical endurance: foilers must manage long downwind runs, variable Gulf of California conditions and the demands of riding foils over extended distances.

For the community, this event is both a test of racecraft and a showcase for Baja California Sur as an international watersports destination. Local outfitters, guides and camp operators can expect increased attention as footage and progress reports post to the event's official digital channels and to athletes' social accounts throughout the weekend. For active foilers, the crossing is a rare long-distance benchmark that highlights gear selection, foil setup and pacing for multi-day runs.

Check the event channels for live progress and arrival updates; expect the fleet in La Ventana by the afternoon of January 17 if winds and seas cooperate. The challenge puts endurance foiling in the spotlight and could steer more long-distance foil events toward Baja's sheltered bays and open gulfs in coming seasons.