GatoLoco’s 7th Annual Baja Cruising Adventure
GatoLoco’s off again this April!
The GatoLoco’s 2010 Baja spring cruise is looking to be 8 legs of Sea of Cortez sailing. There’s still a big “IF” in our plans.. Bill has developed serious back problems and is in rehab/therapy as I write this. If he is able, and we’re pretty confident he will be, he plans to sail at least the last 3 legs. I will sail leg 5 back to Puerto Penasco if he can’t sail.. We’re “thinking positive” and assuming Bill will be able to sail so here’s to 8 weeks of adventure on the high Seas of Cortez.
Leg 1 will take us 9 days south to Puerto Escondido and Loreto Fest. Leg 2 is the 2nd Annual Seawind Rally with Kurt and maybe 6-8 other Seawinds sailing back to Santa Rosalia. Leg 3 will take the northern circle route through the mid-driff islands and back to San Carlos. Frankie, Neely and I will get off here and drive from San Carlos back to Penasco after Leg 3. Leg 4, Rick will sail in the San Carlos area. Leg 5 is still open for planning. Leg 6, Bill will head for the Loreto area. Leg 7 will sail back to Santa Rosalia. And finally Leg 8 will head into the mid-driff islands and then on back to Penasco, our home port. Plans are still developing. The first 4 legs seem pretty firm with Loreto Fest and the Seawind Rally locked down. A week might be taken out of the San Carlos lay-over shortening legs to 7.
Baja 2010 Cruising Schedule <<<<< Baja Travel Information Click here >>>>>
Leg 1 – April 22 (thur) – May 1 (sat) – Penasco to Puerto Escondido (Lowell, Frankie, Neely & ?)
Leg 2 May 2 (sun) – May 8 (sat) – Seawind Rally, Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalia (Lowell, Frankie, Neely, Bob & Chris Sanders, Craig & Karen Reay)
Leg 3 May 9 (sun) – May 16 (sun) – Santa Rosalia to San Carlos (northern route) (Lowell, Frankie, Neely, Bruce & Cynthia Tegge)
Leg 4 May 16 (sun) – May 23 (sun) – San Carlos area (Rick sailing with friends)
Leg 5 May 23 (sun) – May 30 (sun) – San Carlos area (Open)
Leg 6 May 30 (sun) – June 6 (sun) – San Carlos to Loreto (Bill, Dave, Ellen & Eric)
Leg 7 June 6 (sun) – June 13th (sun) – Loreto to Santa Rosalia (Bill & ?)
Leg 8 June 13th (sun) – June 20th (sun) – Santa Rosalia to Penasco (Bill & ?)
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Leg 1 distance in ()s
South to Loreto Fest
Thurs, Apr 22 (72nm) Penasco to Tepoica
Fri, Apr 23 (55nm) Teopica to Puerto Refugio
Sat, Apr 24 (41nm) Puerto Rerfugio to Bay of LA
Sun Apr 25 (50nm) Bay of LA to San Fancisquito
Mon, Apr 26 (38nm) San Fancisquito to Trinidad
Tue Apr 27 (48nm) Trinidad to Santa Rosalia
Wed Apr 28 (27nm) Santa Rosalia to Mulege
Thur Apr 29 (35nm) Mulege to San Sabastain
Fri Apr 30 (51nm) San Sabastain to Puerto Escondido
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Leg 2
Seawind Baja Rally 2010 
The sunset colors are starting to shine as the beach campfire glows hot enough for roasting our hot dogs. We’ve been sailing together for the past 4 days, anchoring in one beautiful location after another. Some of us are old friends and some new. It’s great how sailing together in the first Seawind Rally has formed great bonds. Tomorrow we sail to Loreto Fest ending the rally. Campfire talk babal is about how we need to do this again next year.
The Time Has Come !
We’re sailing north from Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalia with a lay-over day in Bahia Conception and an excursion to Mulege. This is a good chance to sail together with friends and see the “middle sea” and her Baja destinations ending in historical Santa Rosalia. Remember, plans are weather permitting and we will only sail in safe conditions so keep your travel plans flexible.
Here’s the Rally Itinerary
Fri – Sun (Apr 30 – May 2) Loreto Fest, Seawind crews join during the festival. Gato Loco should arrive by Friday mid-day.
Sun, May 2 (20nm) – Depart Loreto Fest, stop over in Loreto for provisions and final arrivals, Anchor Isla Coronado.
Mon, May 3 (26nm) – Lunch stop over San Juanico, Anchor Pta Pulpito, Explore sea caves and dive for lobster.
Tues, May 4 (45nm) – Pulpito to Coyote Bay in Bahia Conception, Beach cookout and Bertha’s Cafe
Wed, May 5 (0nm)- layover day, Taxi to Mulege for sightseeing
Thurs, May 6 (38nm)- Lunch stop over Punta Chivato, Anchor Isla San Marcos 
Fri, May 7 (15nm)- Depart early to Santa Rosalia to have the afternoon for sightseeing. Rally farewell dinner at Fernando Pizza Restaurant.
Sat, May 8 – Rally over, Transportation back to Loreto or fly out from Santa Rosalia. The drive back to Loreto is an awesome snapshot of Baja desert and seascapes. You will enjoy it.
Kurt’s accounting of boats planning to join us…
Moondrifter (Ralph & Helen)
Gato Loco (Lowell & Frankie)
Razzle Dazzle (Carmy and Terry Wepsic, Gregg and Terry Wickstrand, Len Gregory, Michael and Elizibet Harth)
Selah Roy and Debbie (Roy is heading down mid March and will be based in La Paz at Marina Palmira
Mariah (Seawind 1000XL currently at Costa Baja) Gary and Diane
Rufener
Tenacious Grace Send me info on your boats….
Stray Cat
Slyvester (Fountaine – Pajot 36 with friends Rob and Char Fraser) Currently in La Paz at Palmira)
Tango (friends on a Perry 43 that came to last years Catalina Rally)
Leg 2 route.
Leg 3
Northern circle route through the mid-driff islands
Sun May 9 (52nm) – Santa Rosalia to Punta Trindad
Mon May 10 (39nm) – Punta Trindad to San Francisquito
Tue May 11 (20nm) – San Francisquito to Isla Salsipuedes
Wed May 12 (23nm) – Isla Salsipuedes to Isla Tibroun Pt. Willard
Thurs May 13 (22nm) – Isla Tibroun Pt. Willard – Isla Tibroun Dog Bay
Fri May 14 (57nm) – Isla Tibroun Dog Bay to Pozo Moreno
Sat May 15 (22nm) – Pozo Moreno to Marina Real San Carlos
Crews will experience wide variety sailing experiences from the solutude in northern anchorages to carousing with a 100 boats at Loreto Fest, Sailing and anchoring with fellow cat sailors and as always the Sea of Cortez seascapes and sea life. We should be dispatching Updates depending who’s crewing GatoLoco. I’m looking forward to reporting on Legs 1 -3.
Stay tuned for the next UPDATE>>>
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Lowell