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An Adventure in Puerto Lobos (2nd Update)


By Lowell | April 24, 2011 | Category Baja 2011

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Let me begin this story by saying there was a debate among crew and  extended crew (the Calvary) on whether I would share this adventure on the blog because of the slightly embarrassing situation we found our selves in.. Now does that get your interest up for reading this update?

The sail (actually motor sail) from Penasco to Puerto Lobos was uneventful. Light winds (7–10) starting from the northwest and slowly clocked to the southwest never strong enough to shut the engines down. Steve and I commented that it was nice way to start the cruise with a easy day since this was the first and as always a shake down day to get things in order. We left Penasco with Easter crowds streaming in to celebrate Semana Santa (Easter in Spanish) the biggest holiday for the Mexican culture. Not surprising, arriving in Puerto Lobos we could see huge crowds on the north shore beach which is an area of Puerto Lobos I’ve never visited. IMG_0769 Getting closer, there was a Bonda Band in a truck on the beach blaring out polka- like Mexican music, quads racing on the beach, trucks with probably slightly inebriated drivers doing brodies in the sand and power boats buzzing the water near by.   A quick glance at the cruising guide and no noted hazards so we decided to take a closer look.

Sails down and motors idling we move closer to the beach when BUMP we nudge a rock… Yikes we’re out of here!! Hard right turn and bump, bump and we stopped.. XXXXX!! hard revere nothing, rotate the boat nothing.. A quick look in the water and we see a strong ebbing tidal current created by the Puerto Lobos point driving us on the reef that has us motionless in the water. We’ve got to get off this so I’m in the water with a mask to see what can be done. Starboard keel and rudder are setting on and  driven against a upward tapering rock reef. Push as hard as I can she’s not moving. The tide is receding fast and before we know it the starboard water line is 6” out of the water and we’re going nowhere!!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the tides in the northern Sea of Cortez we are at a medium tide which is still about 15’. As I said, Now this is embarrassing… Between Steve and I we’ve got at least 60 years of ocean sailing experience and this happens. Looking closer we see a headland ridge projecting towards us, and experience says this is an area to be avoided due to possible outcropping rocks. Now the boat is starting to list due to only the starboard hull being on the reef.. This is not good.. Back in the water, the port keel is catching on a ledge as we settle but it will  surely slip off as the water recedes. Time for some under water landscaping to build a platform for the port keel to settle on otherwise when it slides off the reef we will land on the hull which can’t take the load. With mask & fins we place rock after rock and with the help of a solid reef base a nice flat landing platform takes shape. Wow, we’re pretty exhausted from swimming while carrying rocks  and not ten minutes after completing the work the keel slides down the ledge and lands on our platform. Looks like this is home until the next tide cycle. Still embarrassing but we can ride this out with the calm seas and escape with the 5AM high tide.

Reviewing the tide charts we found we’ve stuck ourselves 30 minutes after high tide. Tonight’s high tide will be 1 meter less than today’s, not enough to free us… That means we will have to wait for tomorrow 5PM high tide with thousands of revelers on the beach and a huge catamaran atop a reef like a big monument that completely dries at low tide for people to come visit. Did I mention this is embarrassing? IMG_0772

Code Red… It didn’t take us long to determine that tomorrow’s tide will be 1.8’ feet less that today’s high time and continues to decline each day. The next time the tide will be back at today’s level is at least 10 days if not more. Now this has gone from embarrassing to critical. We can’t have Gato Loco setting on a reef at the mercy of weather over the next 10 days.

At 1AM I got up and walked to set a stern and bow anchor firmly hooked on reefs in case the 5AM tide might be enough to free us with a little tug from the anchors.. Again up at 4:30 and water not touching our keels. 5:10 water resending. No luck. Time to get some needed rest.

Time to call in the Calvary… 6AM (Good Friday), I placed a call to boat co-owner Bill back in Cholla Bay and informed him of our situation. I explained my plan that I hatched during the night.. Innertubes!!! We need an insurance policy to ensure we get Gato Loco off the reef today. With the tide down 1.8 feet and we stuck Gato Loco about 30 minutes after high tide yesterday we have no margin and flotation is what we need to add insurance so we can free ourselves today. Cholla Bay/Puerto Penasco is 2 hours north by road so I asked him to find some large innertubes and bring them to Puerto Lobos.. Meanwhile it’s time to go ashore and see if I can find some tubes in the village and try to arrange a fishing panga to stand by at high tide to help free us…

Lobos is just awakening from a serious party night. People sleeping in cars, on cars, in tents and a few just passed out on blankets.  After a few inquiries I meet Luis from Caborca now living in Tucson. He had a friend that lives here with a panga. I could try later after he returned from fishing. Now I need to find a tire shop… More walking and I can’t believe how this sleepy village has grown to a huge Easter party. Locals have concessions for stuff everywhere. I walk past a huge mud bog created an extreme high time and see a burned out jeep covered with mud. Luis tells me it caught fire during the mud bog party last night and they tried to put it out by throwing mud on it. More walking and enjoying the sights when I spotted the best concession, a mobile tire repair truck. Yep, they have innertubes. Three big truck tubs BUT they want $500 pesos each ($42 US). After inflating them and fixing a few leaks I have flotation. The price is a little steep but we need insurance… Good karma, Luis drives up and offers to give me a ride back to Gato Loco with tubes in hand and hopefully a panga arranged. Life is good in Mexico..

Arriving back at Gato Loco I find the expected beachcombers around the Lobos monument called Gato Loco. We even got a comment on whether we were opening a sports bar on the beach. Did I mention this was embarrassing… With all the onlookers, we set about the task to secure our Lobos tubes to the starboard hull while we wait for Bill to arrive from Penasco.

The Calvary arrives… Bill, Carol and Brian arrive around 1PM from Penasco with 3 more tubes and good sprits after driving the brand new coastal highway which cuts the drive to less than 1 1/2 hours. Yes, this was “ho shit” moment when they first saw the Lobos monument call Gato Loco but after assessing the situation they were confident the tube flotation plan should work.IMG_0767 With our Lobos tubes secured between the starboard keel and rudder we decided to add a second tube (double flotation) at the ruder to protect it and two more in front of the keel. A total of 6 large truck tubes should offset the loss of 1.8’ of tide (fingers crossed). That plus sticking Gato Loco at least 30 minutes after high tide we were all optimistic we would be floating soon. Now it’s time to wait for water.

Lobos has a large fishing fleet that drive their boats up on the sand beach daily. They must have repairs to maintain their boats and we have Brian a fiberglass specialist and a few hours to kill before the tide  comes in so why not make IMG_0774 repair of the keel ding from our original bump. A few inquires in town and we found the local tienda sells repair kits for $12. Probably not enough time for things to set properly but worth a try.

As the tide began to rise some of the local American homeowners arrived to wish us luck. A couple who have a house in Cholla Bay as well as here in Lobos (Ted and sorry didn’t get his wife’s name) became our tide mentors. Ted runs fishing charters from Lobos and understands the tides well. He checked details and was also optimistic about us floating.. With water approaching a light sea swell developed. Would this be a problem or the extra nudge to free us?

4;15 after riding some light swells, Gato Loco felt like she wanted to be freed. Loosening the stern anchor and tightening the bow anchor she lunged forward and after a few more bumps on the reef she floated listing to port due to six innertubes. Just at that time our panga arrived and towed us to a safe anchorage where we could free Gato Loco from the embarrassment of 6 innertubes secured to her starboard under belly.  The flotation worked. A closer inspection revealed we lost 4” off the bottom of the starboard rudder and only  minor scuffs to the keel and the repair of the original bump was holding. All in all a happy ending to what could have been a huge disaster.  Time for a beer.

Adventure we want, adventure we get..IMG_0776

Prologue: You try to be vigilant and safe on the water but sometimes circumstances overcome your inclinations. They probably did in this case and we have hopefully learned a valuable lessen. This experience will heighten our awareness of the risks but not dampen  our desire. Thanks to the Calvary, Bill, Brian and Carol for coming to our aid and finishing another episode of adventure with us and thanks to the Lobos community both Mexican and Americans for your well wishes and especially help.

After a calm night at anchor in the south bay of Lobos, getting much needed sleep, we’re off for Puerto Refugio.

Until the next Update

Puerto Lobos lighthouse and sunset view from our south bay anchorage

IMG_0787 IMG_0788 IMG_0789

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16 thoughts on “An Adventure in Puerto Lobos (2nd Update)”

  • Dave says:
    April 24, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Holy Shit! Don’t know what else to say…..
    Glad everyone is safe.

    Reply
  • zurlo says:
    April 24, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    GREAT story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  • Richard & Kerry says:
    April 24, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Great story, well told. Getting Gato Loco floated off with inner tubes was quite ingenious – well done.
    The Lobos locals probably thought it was staged as part of the Easter celebrations. You’ll be remembered in that part of the world, I’m sure – and its good to get the embarrasing bits out out of the way early in a voyage.
    Safe sailing from Kerry & Richard in Vietnam.

    Reply
  • Trish Kaller says:
    April 24, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    My question is…..who is going to play you in the movie? What a great adventure and you are a wonderful story teller.
    Glad you are safe.
    Trish and Greg

    Reply
  • Liane says:
    April 24, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Wow, wow, wow! What a predicament. You guys are amazing…..so glad the outcome kept you safe and allows a continued voyage. Bon Voyage and looking forward to more (but less hazardous) updates haha. Take care,
    Liane

    Reply
  • CJ says:
    April 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Hey Gato Loco! Happy to hear you made it out of Lobos and off to Refugio! Crazy story about the whale bump! Next time you come through Lobos, give us a heads up. It was fun meeting you guys – but under better circumstances next time! CJ (Ted’s wife!)

    Reply
  • victor Rangel says:
    April 24, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    I couldn’t wait to hear the story. I saw Cj’s pictures on Facebook and couldn’t believe it. Lowell you tell a great story. The whale bump also is a weird occurrence. Poor old Gato Loco, getting some punishment this year. Great solution by the way. Take care and see you in a few weeks Victor

    Reply
  • Gill says:
    April 24, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    Well done!! You made it safe and sound!! Brilliant story telling Lowell.. No more need for “embbarassment” You got her take care of.. That is what counts!! Happy sailing from now on! xo

    Reply
  • Jane Jadlot says:
    April 24, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Holy CRAP!!!! Can’t wait to read the next blog! Lowell, you must start writing books!! Such exciting stories. Are these REALLY true???? Hoppy and SAFE sailing from now on!!!!

    Reply
  • Cynthia says:
    April 25, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    I knew you could do it, MacGuyver!!!

    Reply
  • Leslie Rangel says:
    April 26, 2011 at 2:20 am

    Next time I am in a predicament, I know who I am going to call. Super great recovery!!
    xoxo

    Reply
  • Kurt says:
    April 26, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Been there, done that! If I havn’t shared Lori’s and my reef story, remind me when we are sharing a cold one next time! A happy ending and lessons learned, that’s life on the water. Safe travels and have fun at the Rally! Kurt and Lori Jerman and the So Cal Seawind Fleet.

    Reply
  • Peggy Lucas says:
    April 26, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Wow! Exciting and dangerous too. Be safe!

    Reply
  • Lowell says:
    April 26, 2011 at 11:04 pm

    Thanks for all the great comments. Now that it’s all over it makes a great story for rocking chair days. We’re making every effort to be safe..

    Reply
  • kayak will says:
    May 12, 2012 at 3:13 am

    when sailing this stuff happens,congrats on not panicing and thinking of a solution. happy sailing Will

    Reply
  • Jason & pajarita says:
    May 23, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Jason and pajarita, Americanos from Puerto Lobos,send blessings to you! btw, Ted’s wife’s name is CJ. and yes they are great folks.we live in the pink motorhome on the estuary. next time you come, by come over and have a beer. we loved your story. glad you safe.

    Reply

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