By Lowell | May 31, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Thursday afternoon May 29th Bay of LA is hot as expected. We off load 4 empty gas cans and 1 propane tank on a quest for energy. We only set road side 5 minutes before Carlos picks us up and we head for the Pemex. Linda heads to restaurant Costa Del Sol for internet while […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 29, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Wednesday May 28th Large sardine fishing boat anchored just outside Santa Rosalia as we depart near sunrise. Calm seas seem to be the morning menu with the current weather conditions. That means we get to test the motor repair right away. Good news, other than some squeals as […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 27, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Gypsum tanker near Isla San Marcos Engine report… We found another good Yamaha mechanic in Santa Rosalia. We brought the lower unit and our new seals and he installed them and confirmed that the old seals were leaking. Not sure if they were replaced in Escondido. He came back to the boat and checked the […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 26, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
It finally feels like we’re cruising again as we get a rhythm making progress each day to Penasco after delays. Sunday May 25th .. Above..We were blessed with another huge pad of dolphins as we motor sail north to San Sebastian. Departing Coranados 9ish seas are flat as winds laid down overnight and are still […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 25, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Saturday afternoon May 24th Thanks to a huge effort by David Cunningham working on our wounded motor we were able to pull the dock lines and head north at 4 PM Saturday. Exiting Puerto Escondido there’s 10 boats in the mooring field and another 15 in the waiting room. Weather over the coming days looks […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 24, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Thursday May 22 I’m loving the new option for commuting to Loreto through Tijuana. Today’s fights went like clock work. The weather in San Diego was very cool. I had a seat on the left side on the flight south on Calfia and was able to view the Baja coast starting at Puerticitos south to […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 22, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Gato loco sets in Puerto Escondido near Loreto after the Leg 4 crew left her on a mooring and arranged to have a mechanic work on our port engine that has developed a problem. News on Leg 4 is slow in coming because of high winds that forced them to hang in the Salinas anchorage […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 12, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
I’m writing this update Monday back in Phoenix after the Leg 3 crew has made their way home safely. This update covers our final days on board. Friday May 9th French toast brunch on MoonDrifter starts the day. Helen entertains the brunch crowd with her sail board lessen from Bruce on Kat Kan Do. With […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 10, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Wednesday May 7th Salinas Bay Isla Carmen Rough night last night with rollers hitting us broad side with west winds gusting all night though the anchorage. Finally quieted down as the sun came up. Good news, No bees. Plans today, Check out the old salt mine, dive the wreck in the bay and then head […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 8, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Tuesday May 6th Windy night last night with cool breeze out of the south off Isla Monserrate. Good sleeping but we woke up with a boat load of bees loving all the empty beer cans in the trash. Darren quickly retired to his cabin waiting for us to move the boat to a bee clear […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 7, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Sunday May 4th Sunrise with calm Puerto Escondido water. Lazy day waiting for the Leg 3 crew. Hit the Loreto Fest pancake breakfast and a seminar on tablet navigation host by Eric on Seawind Pied-a-Mer . Kurt helped me put Gato Loco on the dock for the arrival of my crew late night then went […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 4, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Friday May 2nd Isla Coronados The turquoise waters of isla Coronados are glowing especially bright today with water clarity exceptional. We rode yet another north wind from San Juanico to Coronados with sea building to 3’ and a 20kt breeze (again a N wind that keeps on giving). Jeffrey […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | May 2, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Thursday May 1st These 2 photos illustrate our big winds through the anchorage yesterday Wednesday afternoon. The sailboards were near out of control with the high 20kt puffs. The little land yacht actually put his away as we’re sure he would of capsized driving is nose into the sand. The dust off the beach was […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 30, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Wednesday April 30th Writing this update hunkered down in Conception Bay at Playa Santispac with strong north winds stopping our progress south. We anchored on Isla San Marcos Tuesday night with the beautiful sunset taken by Dave on Grey Goose. This leg has been plagued with the flu. I came down with it first as […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 27, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Sunday April 27th Today we cross to Santa Rosalia, our 3rd Sea of Cortez crossing heading south. Winds cranked up yesterday much more than expected so we’re expecting a bumpy crossing. We’re heading out at 5:30 with an option to turn back if the conditions are too rough. Every body is excited and hoping we […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 26, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Friday April 25th Samata Santa Easter week is still going strong as we arrive at the Soggy Peso. The crew did some quick boat cleaning then we joined leg 2 crew mates Dave & Kelley and Jeffrey & Lynnie waiting at the Soggy Peso bar for us to arrive. We set our anchor just […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 25, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Thursday April 24th Dog Bay on Isla Tiburon. Another well protected bay and a restful night. Today we head down the Sanoran coast to an anchorage north of San Carlos. We were able to sleep in a bit as we only have a 55 mile day in front of us. Anchoring last night, Dave said […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 24, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
April 22nd Tuesday afternoon Bay of LA Setting the anchor in front of beach today gets lots of attention with 20kts gusts coming off the beach. Usually this is a sunset event but the weather system that Villa reported is in full force. The plan, get our provision have some […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 23, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Monday April 21th Safe Sea of Cortez crossing is always a good thing.. Today we probably had our safest ever with hardly a ripple for most of the crossing from Lobos to Puerto Refugio. We would have preferred a little help from mother nature’s wind Gods but arriving in Refugio safe and sound is the […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 23, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Best day sailing to Puerto Lobos yet. Morning east winds gave us a good motor sail for the first 2 hours. This is a solar wind that can be counted on under normal weather condition and those of us who live in Cholla enjoy this every morning. I’m happy to report that sailing newbees […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 20, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
5 Am departure after a noisy (and still noisy) Easter night in Penasco. Now just the hum of the engines as we motor sail at 6.5 kt with the morning east wind. Post office mug shots or is it the Leg 1 Crew… Debra, Terry, Ellen, RRR Dave and Lowell Departing on Easter weekend can […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 14, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Gato Loco in the sling heading for the water. Below.. boatyard neighbor. A little bit about this year’s repairs Gato Loco repairs and preparations are nearly complete. While hauled in the Penasco Cabrales boat yard the starboard rudder and keel were repaired and a heavy […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | April 1, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
April 1 (Last call for Rally shirt orders) Gato Loco’s crazy crew after a perfect day of sailing. Weather continues to be ideal for day sailing and would have been perfect for the first day of the upcoming leg 1 to Puerto Lobos. This might have been our last chance to get out day […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | March 13, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
March 12 the count down starts Life is very busy this year but our time on the Sea of Cortez is very special time not to be missed. It’s time to put things aside and focus on what we all love, adventuring on the Sea. We’ve got a […]
Read MoreBy Lowell | March 7, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Watch an amazing afternoon in Puerto Penasco Crew having a great day Whale watching on Gato Loco Send article as PDF
Read MoreBy Lowell | January 21, 2014 | Category Baja 2014
Whales back in Penasco Soon it will be time to head out on the 2014 Baja adventure. Plans are beginning to gel after a fun musical January Jam weekend with Peacemakers and their musician friends in Penasco this past weekend. Gato Loco has been busy taking friends out whale watching with lots of humpback and […]
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