By Lowell | June 30, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
It’s always great to look back on a sailing season and recall all the fun and fascinating memories that will linger over the coming months. I would like to thank our crews for their participation in creating these memories which includes those vicarious crews that followed us from update to updated writing wonderful comments […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 20, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Story & Photos by Lowell McCulley sailing Gato Loco (a Seawind 1000) Seawind Rally boats in the south bay of Agua Verde near Loreto The Baja Seawind Rally always starts as boats gather for the annual Loreto Fest cruiser rally in Puerto Escondido, a huge protected harbor 10 miles south of Loreto, Baja California South […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 19, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Yes, Seriously it’s over in what seems like a flash. Feels like only yesterday the initial planning was underway and now it lots of great memories. More on the some of the memorable moments but first a quick fill on our final passage from Gonzaga to Penasco. Tuesday June 14th (last day of Baja […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 14, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Sunday PM.. Refugio to Gonzaga. Today was the biggest sailing day of the season with 30+ at our back most of the day. My arms a little tired from hand steering with 4’ seas and lots of surfing which takes lots of attention on the wheel. Winds and seas lighten up enough to fly the […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 13, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Sun’s in our face as we sail into Bay of LA. >>>> South winds have come and gone as we’re heading north from Isla Salsipuedes. Water is very cloudy probably an algae bloom just south of Bay of LA. Turning west with Guillermo’s in our sights, north winds give us a great ride in […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 10, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Okay boys put the poles away we’ve caught enough… Read on… Wednesday afternoon…Arriving in Santa Rosalia we find Marina Singlar nearly full forcing us to take the outside end-tie which turned out to be a mistake. It’s squid season and nearly every panga in the harbor left at sunset and returned during the night […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 9, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Our San Juanico anchorage island that we anchored behind overnight. 3 Osprey nests set on the pinnacles. Monday…We’re out early hoping to make some miles north before the predicted wind comes up on our nose. First stop Punta Pulpito for some bottom fishing. This huge rock headland stands 475 feet high and has 2 […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 6, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Having a car makes provisioning much easier. Dave, Kelley & Randy rented a car for $60/day and visited the area including Puerto Escondido. As we sailed north they were setting having lunch at Augies Bar & Bait Shop on the malecon. As we set the anchor just south of the breakwater marina they hopped […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 5, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Wednesday, day 3 and we have the wind at our back. Life is good. Just north of our anchorage on Isla San Francisco is a small rock of an island that is the only inhabited island in the Sea. We had thoughts of stopping by with Victor on board who could speak with the locals […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | June 4, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Monday I guess waves sending water over the cabin is not the best way to start our leg north. After having breakfast on the La Paz malecon we headed north 11ish. As we sailed north clearing the north shore of the La Paz area, winds piped up considerably. By the time we reached the Partida […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 30, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Strong south winds blew all day Sunday as we enjoyed the company of Victor’s family on the boat and doing some sightseeing on the north shore beaches of La Paz. It’s Monday and we’re motoring north with winds in our face at 15kts.. Things switched one day to soon on us.. What a nice visit […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 29, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
A chime of my phone greeted us as we returned to our room after dinner in Hermosillo. It was a text message from Gato Loco indicating they were in Marina Palmira Friday night a day earlier than we expected. Turns out Rick was flying home on Saturday so they had to be in a […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 25, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Seawinds in Agua Verde Lowell here.. Sorry updates have been slow in coming over the past weeks. Some crews spend much too much time on a computer in their real life and would prefer understandably to cut the computer tie. Frankie and I will return to Gato Loco this weekend and I will catch you […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 18, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
And away we go!!!! Leg 4 crew about to leave Santa Rosalia for points South. Lunch in a new little restaurant we found that had excellent pork tacos!! Tables were full so we were about to seek out a different location, but the owners convinced some very nice people to relinquish their table. We hated […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 15, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
From El Burro Cove in Conception Bay…. Great day at the beach with some snorkling! Oh but before we head North~ Most amazing Sea Creature to stop by and visit all the sailers who spent the night in El Burro~ Bill got his chance of a lifetime….. a ride on a Whale Shark! She […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 12, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Farwell to Lowell in Loreto and heading out to Isle Coronado.. Wonderful week with Lowell and spending some fun times with new found friends from the SeaWind Rally….. Hope to have them to visit us in the Puerto Penasco area sometime soon… Safe sailing to all! Our first stop and a […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 7, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Friday… After saying goodbye to our Seawind friends we decided to stop at Roca Solitaria and do a little snorkeling. One problem.. the bottom falls away very fast so there’s no place anchor.. Problem solved, Bill and I took turns onboard drifting Gato Loco while we check out the huge boulders surrounding what […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 7, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Thursday… Cinco de Mayo … Sunny skies is always beautiful in the North Isla Coronados anchorage with the white sand bottom producing glowing turquoise water. Only 8 boats remain as we finally stir from the party last night. We did catch weather and we should have a light northerly wind at our backs as we […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 5, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Tuesday AM… Instruments say it all. 25kt winds gusting to 30, on the lee of Isla Carmen with small seas and jamming at 7.4kts towards Bahia Salinas on the NE corner of Carmen. Rally boats trickled out of Escondido as they completed provisioning which was a little more practical today. Gato Loco lead the […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 3, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Monday morning.. Our northern winds continued through the night and waves are still rolling through the anchorage. Steve is leaving Gato Loco today after 11 days on board. I’m heading to Loreto with him to do some provisions. No way can our little dinghy get us to shore without soaking his bags so we hailed […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 1, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Friday – With Bill & Carol on board after provisioning and visiting some of Steve’s Loreto friends, we headed south to Puerto Escondido. For the first time we’ve got wind on our nose and wave action coming from the channel between Isla Carmen and Danzante. Half way there and winds clock favorable for sailing and […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 29, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Mulege River Channel… 7:45 AM and the last panga that motored by finally woke us up. We were up just before sunrise when winds cracked up a bit and the anchor bridle needed a little adjustment to quiet it down. I guess we both fell asleep hard, over sleeping for the morning ham weather report. […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 27, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Our first steps on a dock since leaving Puerto Penasco 6 days ago. We’re swaying… Our 2nd day drama free (now don’t get bored on us now) went as expected. Our 5AM alarm allowed us to make Santa Rosalia by 6PM even losing an hour from sailing into Baja Sur (south) which is on […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 26, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Monday… Today’s destination is a great anchorage Bahia San Francisquito with lots of options about 42 miles south, another easy day heading south. This positions us for the leg to Santa Rosalia tomorrow, the last of our long legs (72 miles). About an hour out north winds at 14kts came up giving us a […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 26, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Telling Steve about our adventures sailing through Canal de Ballenas (Channel of the Whales) only heighten his vigilance because he’s been there himself before a few times. What will this passage bring? Wind is light so we decided to leave sails down as we approached the wind slot with blue water indicating wind. The […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 24, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Baja2011 cruise is very young and so far our truck broke down and we were grounded in Puerto Lobos… What’s next? Puerto Lobos light house stands tall and well maintained>> After our Lobos update I’m not sure we can match the drama on any future updates.. Or can we.. Read on… Anchor up around 7 […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 24, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Let me begin this story by saying there was a debate among crew and extended crew (the Calvary) on whether I would share this adventure on the blog because of the slightly embarrassing situation we found our selves in.. Now does that get your interest up for reading this update? The sail (actually motor […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 21, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Can you believe it! Our cruise start “the drive to Penaoco” didn’t go quite as well as expected. Our truck “diesel” was in the hospital recently and was given a clean bill of health. We headed for Penasco and only made it a few miles after picking up Leg 1 crew Steve at […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 15, 2011 | Category Baja 2011
Our cruise starts next Thursday. Weather forecasts for that window are good at the moment. This time of year we have weather system after system fly out of the northwest at us. A weak system arrives next Mon/Tue which should give us a excellent chance to escape south before another one arrives. As it […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | March 18, 2011 | Category Baja 2011, Seawind Rally
Engines pulled, serviced and running great, ready for the Baja Cruise Our plans are firming up for our 2 month sailing season. Loreto Fest is April 29 – May 1 giving us an anchor for our planning. This season’s legs will reach from Puerto Penasco, our home port in the northern sea to, La Paz […]
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