Leg 2 Crew’s final days
Monday May 9th
Yes the tradition continues as Moon Drifter hosted French Toast breakfast for the boats that were still in Coronados this Monday morning. Randy and Jody put together the caramel apple topping like Helen always made. I know Ralph and Helen are following the Updates and will appreciate the thought and of course they were the constant topic this morning. This makes the Rally officially over even though last night was the finial Rally activity.
Boats scatters today. We’re headed north to show Ed and Eric the San Juanico anchorage. We should have favorable winds out of the SE for the 18 miles north. Just out of the anchorage 20 minutes we are treated to a large fast moving pod of small dolphins. The picture doesn’t do it justice, I’ll add a video later.
Well so much for the SE wind forecast. Before long we have 15kt of wind from the north forcing us to make several tacks to make San Juanico. The anchorage is very busy with 12 boats. The classic Moon Drifter location is open and we grab it.
Tuesday May 10th
Today I’m net controller for the cruisers information/safety/weather SSB Amigo net where boats check with their location and condition to share with the cruiser community. 9 Boats check in and there’s lots of boats that just lessen. That’s my civic duty for this years cruise.
We wake up to fog through out the anchorage. Humidity is near 100 and the boat is very wet. Eric again venters up a trail to get another great shot of the anchorage.
Visiting the cruiser tree we find our friend Brian’s Memorial that John, Carol, Frankie and I created in 2019 is still hanging proudly on the tree. Sail On Capt. Brain. I think it will hang for years to come.
The oldest Gato Loco offering is from 2012. I flipper that Bill took the time create one dot at a time with paint and a pencil eraser head. It was Bill, Frankie and I along with Steve that season.
The crew is anxious to see more of the area so late mooring we haul anchor and leave the 12 boat anchorage and head 5 miles south to an anchorage I’ve never been to. Mangles provides good north wind protection with high sandstone bluffs along shore and a unfinished abandon resort on the west end of the anchorage. We have the anchorage to our selves.
There’s a panga fish camp on the south end of the anchorage where fisherman take refuge from weather. They’ve built a rock structure and even have a couch in the little space. Walking the beach we find lots of large shells scattered. The old resort is in shambles falling down but amazingly there’s a date palm that is thriving just in front.
This is the last night at anchorage for the leg 2 crew. They’re very happy to have the solitude of having the anchored to our self. Great crew as always.
Wednesday May 11th
Nice quiet night with the anchorage providing good protection from the light north wind through the night. We’re headed back to Puerto Escondido later today so Ed and Eric can get an early start tomorrow. They need a covid test before boarding their flight back to Phoenix.
2 more fish caught on our way to Puerto Escondido with good winds allowing us to sail only. A very good way to finish the Rally week. Leg 1 crew Chris and Rally crews join us for the final dinner at the marina restaurant.
What a wonderful week in the Loreto area. Ed and Eric had a great time and we’ve became a tight crew running Gato Loco. Hope to see you on Gato Loco again.
Leg 3 will starts Saturday. Crews on their way to Puerto Escondido
Until the next Update.
So lovely to see Brian’s memorial is still there! What a great crew you’ve had..I’ll look forward to seeing the next group! Happy Sailing!
It is so nice to be remembered. Thanks. Yes, we are enjoying a virtual rally by following your blog. Missing MoonDrifter! Missing Baja! Missing you most of all!
Helen
I’ve been studying windy.com to see what’s in store for the crew of leg 3 and looking at all of our photos from leg 2. So many wonderful memories aboard Gato Loco. Happy sailing.