Blue skies, magnificent stars and clean surf marked the 3rd annual SMA Mag Bay conference August July 31- Aug 7th this year. The attendees were a mix of ages and backgrounds, covering multiple disciplines and ranging from a recent college graduate to one octogenarian who was killing it on the big sets. We were a mix of multi-year attendees and first-timers.
Despite a mandatory-masking rendezvous at LAX, the group quickly renewed old acquaintances and made new ones. For members who have never been to Mag Bay, the trip to the camp is an adventure – easy flight to Loreto, 3-hour van ride to Puerto San Carlos, followed by a 2-phase panga ride out to the camp. The panga ride itself has unusual aspects, entailing a trip across the bay, A short overland trip, towed by the world’s rustiest vehicles, across a sandspit (while riding in the boats) to relaunch in the open ocean for the last 45 minutes to the camp.
The camp is unique, situated on an empty desert point, overlooking 2 surf breaks, with multiple “glamping-style” campsites, surrounding a large open dining room and common area. There are multiple perspectives about the degree of glamping – large tents, cots with mattresses and sleeping bags, drinking water and a bucket/sawdust model for more basic needs. Maybe a little rough for those seeking more luxury, but for most of us – well suited for a desert camping adventure. There is a large surfboard room with multiple boards – long and short – available for rent for those who do not wish to bring their own equipment.
In prior years, we had not hit the swell just right, but always found surf at Cuevas, which breaks on almost any swell, and works best with longboards/ funboards. This year, a great SW swell hit during the week and we got surf 4-6 foot surf at Campsites. Campsites is a long sweeping right with a takeoff in front of rocks and then peeling along the point for up to 150 yards. Luckily, Campsites was surfable for 4 of six days during the week.
The food as always, was excellent with lots of seafood, and Mexican dishes. The camp is known for being in the center of some of the best fishing in Southern Baja. With two trips out, we added multiple skipjack tuna to the menu (bring your own wasabi), and had excellent sashimi and sushi on many dinner menus. If you like panga fishing, bring your rod and some krocodile lures and rapalas
The trip was well-coordinated – for the third year in a row – by entrepreneur and businessman – Dan Moffatt. Dan did an excellent job organizing the evening CME Schedule and met the requirements for CME accreditation, allowing attendees to obtain 15 hours of category 1 credit. And the icing on the cake was Dan’s collection of thousands of great songs which kept us entertained every night.
As with all SMA trips, there was the usual cast of characters providing both bad jokes as well as excellent lectures on a diversity of topics. Topics ranged from veterinary topics by holistic vet Doug Coward, DVM, dental issues by Rym Partridge (SMA co-founder and unofficial “mayor” of Steamer Lane), through clinical topics on spine issues, knee issues, eye issues, a remote lecture on Migraines by Dr. Mark Henschke, and across the spectrum to breath-holding techniques, the business of medicine, value based care, and an outstanding lecture by Danielle Vinn on the trials of trying to teach pre-school kids, with autistic tendencies, remotely during the pandemic. This trip is not for everyone. If you are looking for luxury accommodations and deep, late takeoffs pitching hollow over shallow ledges, focus on other SMA trips including Tavarua and the Marshall Islands; this trip is not for you. But if you are looking for an adventure with an austere, beautiful desert setting, fun surf, great food and excellent collegiality, Mag Bay is the place to be.