Puerto Escondido to San Juanico (Seawind Rally)

---

By Lowell | May 5, 2010 | Category Baja 2010

Sunday May 2

Loreto Fest swap meet, Pancake breakfast and we’re off off at 9:30 to Loreto to pick up Bob and Chris flying in today on Aero Califia, probably the same plane Craig and John fly out on. Winds are out of the south east at 12 and we are making great progress. Winds continue to build and Rally boats are having a great time with wind and flat seas.

.

.

.

<.. Anchors, anchors & more anchors at the swap meet.

.

.

We set the anchor down on the north side of the Loreto break water at 1 pm and were off to find Bob & Chris. Walking down the water front, a taxi slams on the breaks and there they are! That was an easy connection. Frankie, Neely and I jump in the taxi van with Bob and Chris for the short drive to the super Mercado for provision. We soon learn that they had arrived in Loreto and went to the B&B La Damiana but had not receive our email that we would pick them up there. Not knowing the plan, they took a taxi to Puerto Escondido to find that we were not there and had just returned when they met us. Maybe it wasn’t so easy for them.. Like last year our emails sent from the boat don’t seem to be getting out or are being spammed.

5 trips to Gato with provisons, bags and the crew and we’re off to Isla Coronado by 3 PM with winds even stronger now. Salah & Razzle Dazzle (Seawind 1160s) are still anchored getting provisions when we haul anchor and head north under sail at 7-8 kts. No wonder all the other boats are having a great time sailing towards Coronado. Not 10 minutes out of the Loreto anchorage and Bob has this beauty, a sierra mackerel.

Approaching our Coronado anchorage, Moondrifter suggests that with this great wind we should continue north 16 miles to San Juanico since the forecast is for north winds on our nose tomorrow. This el nino weather pattern looks to bring strong winds back into the forecast..

Group decision.. San Juanico it is and Gato Loco has her spinnaker flying thanks to Frankie and Chris’s foredeck work 🙂

 

< Kat, her father Brad on Tenacious Grace watch the sunset with Neely.

2 foot seas are rolling into San Juanico as we arrive. Boats anchored deep in the anchorage are rockin and rollin. The south shore of the bay is the only relatively calm area and there’s room for all 8 of us. We set our anchor and soon all 7 of us are resting comfortably. Salah is missing and not answering her radio but arrives at sunset as we all join Razzle Dazzle for sunset munches aboard…

.

Monday May 3

Relatively calm night on the south shore.

Ham net reports a strong wind event is heading our way and of course from the NW the direction we need sail. The next leg was planned to be Punta Pulpito only 8 miles north and since we over achieved and made Juanico yesterday we can relax today. Our option is to head for Pulpito before the winds start or head deeper into San Juanico and ride it out. Group decision… stay and explore beautiful San Juanico and take advantage of the nice beach for a BBQ tonight. Tomorrow will be our long leg to Conception Bay (58 nm) since we are only 8 miles south of Punta Pulpito.

Part of the fleet anchored on the south shore of San Juanico with the pinnacle rocks in the distance.

.

Exceptionally white beach with bright white rock behind.

.

.

Bob and Chris are settling into the cruise pace after their 2 days of traveling to join us

.

Wind is up from the north as we move deeper into the bay where all 8 of us anchor in 6 – 10 ft of water near where we anchored the group last year.

.

Winds rattled the bay until late afternoon. Mid-afternoon the Seawiind 1000XL Mariah appears outside the bay heading north. Our original plan was to be north at Punta Pulpito tonight and they appear to be beating hard into this wind to catch us there. A quick radio call and they are extremely happy to join us in our flat calm anchorage after beating north 38 miles from Puerto Escondido today.

We now have 4 1160 Seawinds (Moondrifter, Salah, Razzle Dazzle & Tenacious Grace), 2 1000 Seawinds (Mariah & Gato Loco), one 36 Fountaine Pajot (Slyvester), one 42 Catana (Paradocs) and one 34 PDQ (Dream Catcher), 9 total in the Rally. Guy & Carol on their 1000 Stray Cat took advantage of canvas repair options didn’t make it out of Puerto Escondido and these north winds probably held them there.

.

Winds lighten late in the afternoon and the beach BBQ is on…

.

.

 

Rally BBQ with cats anchored in the background. Great to meet new friends and visit with our past cruise mates..

The seas are rolling but all is comfortable in San Juanico.

.

Everybody agrees we will shoot for Conception Bay tomorrow with a 7 AM departure. The leg will be 58 miles and we’re hoping the seas will lay down and we get wind at our backs. Salah (Roy, Debbie, Rick &), Paradocs (Carl, Clair & Joe) and Mariah (Gary & Joe) will turn and head south for La Paz. Adios amigos, It’s been great sailing with you…

.
.

.

.

Dinner being served.

.

.

Until the next Update.

Rick,

Email is not working well from the boat. Can you leave a comment on this update on your plans for Leg 4. We plan on bring Gato Loco into Marina San Carlos this time assuming they have space. Marina Real will be the fall back plan. We should arrive on the 15th.. Bill will put his crew on for Leg 5 on the 22nd. I can call your ATT phone as we arrive in the San Carlos area and get cell service.

……

Sunset in Caleta San Juanico. Zac, from Tenacious Grace, doing some rock climbing.