Roller city sailing north to Santa Rosalia
Thursday June 14th
Hurricane Bud has been our main attention. Today we wait up 45 miles north of Loreto near Punta Pulpito a bit further from the path of now tropical storm Bud. It feels good to be clear although we have some of the biggest rollers (wave sets) I’ve seen in the Sea of Cortez. Our anchoarge in Bahia San Nicolas was not effected by the rollers but had 20kt winds off Baja over night. The winds were a blessing making for a cool night forcing me to close my hatch due to the cool breeze. We’re headed to Santa Rosalia today which should get us well out of the influence of Bud.
So now that drama is over let’s back up a little and cover a few more details on the journey north. Steve without Cindy picked us up at the airport and took us to town for provision. Steve suggested we try the michladas which turned out to be quite the production and tasty as well.
Doug proudly displays his introductory Baja drink.
You gota love the Puerto Escondido marina. They had Gato Loco’s bottom cleaned and moved her to the dock from the mooring field. No time at all we had our provisions and bags stowed and hatches open to let her cool down while we go to the restaurant for dinner.
The crews heading north. Jeffrey and Doug and the Miss Grace crew Laurence, Mat and skipper Mark.
Readying to depart on Wednesday the bat rays were active near us in the marina. In the photo right you see a lady photographing a ray that has jumped 6’ in the air just in front of her. I did fly the drone over them and hopefully got some action shots.
Wednesday after catching all the weather news we made way 10:30 heading 44 miles north to an anchorage north of Pulpito. Winds were light but from the southwest forcing us to motor sail, occasionally giving us a good push arriving 2 hours before sunset. We were 3 boats with Miss Grace and a Canadian boat Shala following us since this was their first time in the Sea of Cortez. The sea swell grew to 4’ as we neared the anchorage and luckily did not reach the anchorage well protected from the SE seas.
Sunset from our anchorage Bahia San Nicolos with Miss Grace at a distance
Fantastic dinner over night with some leftovers for tomorrow.
Back to Thursday
Overnight winds off Baja kept things cool but a bit noisy. The anchorage is calm as we depart 8ish for our 65 mile day to Santa Rosalia. Wind forecast is for 20kts out of the SE by early afternoon. This could be fun!
Jeffrey and Doug proudly pose for the morning brunch serving.
As predicted winds are up 11ish. The rollers have grown to 8’ at times with Pacific like spacing. Autohelm can’t handle steering with the big seas so we’re hand steering. Doug soon takes the helm is loving the experience so much I can’t get the wheel back from him. He ends up hand steering nearly all the way to Santa Rosalia. As you can see in the photos below the seas are large enough to hide Miss Grace behind us.
Awesome, Awesome day of sailing. By far the best day this season. We’re in to Santa Rosalia 2 hours earlier than the 6kt average prediction as we were hitting 10+ kts surfing down the big rollers.
We’re now completely out of harms way.
Friday morning… It started raining 3 am and continues. This is a special event in Santa Rosalia as it rarely rains here unless it a tropical situation. Our plan is to head north tomorrow. Weather forecasts are favorable and we hope the rain is done. Stay tuned.
All good on Gato Loco
Until the next Update.
Great pics of the size of the waves!!! Looks like a sleigh ride North!!
Looks like great food and sailing.
Have fun in Santa Rosalia. Don’t forgot the gingerbread pigs.
We’re leaving Santa Rosalia at 5:30 tomorrow and will be away from internet until Sunday night in Bay of LA. This leg will be 74 miles and a full day of sailing.