Hazard spot
Gulf of Tehuantepec: Strong katabatic winds
Gulf of Tehuantepec: Cold air from the Gulf of Mexico funnels through a gap in the mountains and reaches gale force within hours. Staying close inshore is the usual answer.
- Cause
- Strong katabatic winds
- Main season
- October to April
- Position
- 15° 12,0' N 095° 00,0' W
On the map
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Gulf of Tehuantepec: how the place works
When cold air from the Gulf of Mexico is forced over the narrow isthmus, the Tehuantepecer forms: a katabatic wind that reaches gale force within hours and extends far out into the Pacific. From October to April it occurs regularly, signalled by the pressure on the Atlantic side.
Gulf of Tehuantepec: what breaks there
The wind sea turns short and steep and builds fast. Anyone caught outside collects damage to rig and sails; the usual answer is to run close inshore, where the wind still blows but the sea does not build.
Gulf of Tehuantepec: what this means for your policy
This situation is visible days ahead, and that is exactly what the gross negligence defence aims at. Check whether your policy waives it, and whether it covers sail damage from overloading.
Read this in full: At anchor the policy is awakeCruising range
This spot lies in the cruising range the calculator lists under this step: Worldwide
Calculate a premium for this cruising rangeNearby
And what applies right now?
This page shows what holds at a spot at any time. Whether an official warning is out for it this minute is on the warning map, by your position and updated hourly.
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