Bahia San Francisquito to Dog Bay on Isla Tiburon

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By Lowell | May 14, 2010 | Category Baja 2010

Tuesday May 11th

Very cool night, we’re now sleeping under blankets and the winds is back after laying down a little overnight. Our NW Francisquito anchorage was calm and well protected from the N winds. Dream Catcher (right) heads out shortly after sunrise. This is where we part company. They are heading into Bay of LA and we have a short 16 mile day to Isla Salsipuedes. They will take our Sonora route through Puerto Lobos to Puerto Penasco.

Salsipuedes lies a little east of our current position and as we enter the Salsipuedes channel we are able to sail with motors. Seas are surprisingly flat, but that all soon changes as winds and waves build mid day. We finally power into Salsipuedes after 2 PM with time to rest and do some sightseeing..

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< Neely plays keep-away with Frankie on the Francisquito anchorage beach

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On first approach I missed the west anchorage and ended up further north on the island. Things just didn’t seem right and after consulting the Jack Williams guide with aerial photos we had missed the anchorage we were looking for. A quick move to the bay just south and we’re anchored in the nice west bay 2 coves west of the slot anchorages. The right photo is taken on ridge at looks down in the north south slot anchorages and out west bay home for the evening.

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Off to do some sightseeing and give Neely a little shore time.

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R & R time during the afternoon. The dinghy cover needs some stitching as the front stitches are worn off from all the dinghy loading/unloading over the past 2 years. We join Neely in afternoon naps and Spades cards are really getting competitive.

Amazingly there are no Bo Bo’s in the anchorage.

 

Wednesday May 12th

We retired with light winds and a calm anchorage. Based on yesterday Ham net weather, winds came up from the north sometime in the middle of the night, as expected. I was up a couple times during the night to quiet things on the boat and set the anchor alarm. Our anchorage is perfect for these winds so other than wind noise it was a cool comfortable night. Ham net this morning indicates 15-20 from the north. It’s going to be a fast crossing to Tiburon with the wind at our beam. Can’t wait to start the crossing. The fishing charter boat Tony Reyes has anchored some time in the night and their pangas are all over the island fishing.

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We pounded north through the growlers on the north end of the island 8ish with 15kts out of the north. Clearing any rocks on the north end of the island we turned east and shut down the motors. Let the fun begin (BIG FUN). Full main sail and screacher and we’re doing 8kts. Winds up to 20kts have us surging to 9. Our destination of Willard anchorage on the SW corner of Tiburon is only 18 miles out and we will be there in a couple of hours at this pace.

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What a shame to waste this wind by only making the Willard anchorage. Besides these winds will make the middle of the gulf anchorage verrrrry chilllllly. Dog Bay on the SE corner is easily reachable with these winds. 11 AM.. Now we have puffs at 30kt and seas at 6′. Heading to Dog Bay allowed us to head down more and we are surfing at 11kts. It’s now necessary to hand steer to add a little anticipation at the rollers come at us. This is Big FUN but Neely is a little nervous with all the boat pitching.

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We made through Monument Pass on the SE corner of Tiburon in 5 1/2 hours with a average boat speed of 7.4kt. That was an awesome ride and the best sailing of Baja 2010 yet. As we hoped, It’s much warmer on this side of the island. The picture above right is our distant anchorage in Dog Bay. We have internet for the evening and still enough ice for happy hour. Supplies in Kino Bay tomorrow.. Life is good…

Until the next update.