Gato Loco Sailing Adventures
Menu
  • Home
  • Latest Posts
  • Blog Index
  • Crew
  • Subscribe to Blog
  • Links
  • Home
  • Latest Posts
  • Blog Index
  • Crew
  • Subscribe to Blog
  • Links

Leg 8 Starts with Fish in the Cooler!!


By Lowell | June 10, 2011 | Category Baja 2011

Spread the love

 

Okay boys put the poles away we’ve caught enough… Read on…

Wednesday afternoon…Arriving in Santa Rosalia we find Marina Singlar nearly full forcing us to take the outside end-tie which turned out to be a mistake. It’s squid season and nearly every panga in the harbor left at sunset and returned during the night each time creating a wake rocking us. Not much sleep… Note to self no end-ties in Santa Rosalia.

Shortly after arriving Pat showed up at the dock. Pat, Sue, Lew & Agnes had left Cholla yesterday, driving one 12 hour day and 6 hours today arriving mid-afternoon. They drive and run support for Baja race teams and are used to driving in Baja but very happy to finish the drive.

While they collected provisions Dave, Kelley, Randy & I did some sightseeing. The flame tree in the plaza was in full bloom. I caught a picture of mass underway in the Eiffel Iglesia. The priest kneels in front of the white draped alter.

IMG_0700

Provisions stowed and hotels secured the crew change will be official after we have our traditional Santa Rosalia dinner together.

IMG_0698

 

Dave performs a fish catching ceremony as his final fishing activity on Baja. Maybe it will help us on Leg 8

Another excellent dinner at El Muelle.

 

BTW.. Meet Stevie Ray  our 2nd mascot on board for Leg 8, Stevie and Wilson are getting along great. Sue even repaired Wilson so he’s now in great spirits. IMG_2628

Thursday morning 5AM.. Guess what.. with daylight savings time it’s still pitch dark out. I should have set the alarm for 6AM. We have a big day today with 78 miles in front of us and nowhere to hide from weather along the way and we want to get an early start. I’ve been awake for the past hour stressing over the strong north winds blowing through the harbor.  That’s just what we don’t need heading north with heavy seas and wind in our face. If it blows too hard we will have to hold tight on the dock until conditions improve. This wind wasn’t predicted. Checking the internet weather there’s no forecast to support it but it’s blowing 14 and gusting higher.

To go or not to go.. Lew is the only one of my crew that’s been on board before. I don’t want to beat them up or the boat by pounding north in north weather. If this is local wind we don’t want to delay.  Finally we have enough light to tell there’s no white caps outside the harbor… The plan… Let’s go, head north and retreat to harbor if it seems to rough. Exiting the harbor there’s a confused sea with 1-2’ tight chop.. This will be a rough ride. IMG_2546North of town things improve and winds are now from the west at 16. Jib out and we’re more stable and motor sailing at 7.5… This will work. clearing Cabo Virgenes 15 miles north of town and we have the main up engines backed down and still 7 kts with a west wind still holding.  Yes we’re going north.

 

 

 

 

The crew seems to be dealing with the rough ride okay.. Not sure why the last 3 legs day one has been the most challenging day of sailing but spirits are high and as the Peacemakers new CD song says… “Go With The FLow”. Pilot whales come by to take our mind off the bumpy seas although they certainly don’t appear that way in these pics.

IMG_2561

Averaging close to 7kts. What a great surprise from this morning’s weather. Sing… goes the starboard fishing pole.  It’s a nice dorado. pole back in the water.. not 10 minutes later… Sing… 2nd dorado… Hey guys, we’ve got to cover 78 miles today and at this rate we will never get there. Two nice dorados so no more fishing.. Crying face

IMG_2563IMG_2568

 

 

We’ve made great progress and the wind is building. Our apparent wind is approaching 30kts and it’s time to reef the mainsail for safety precautions. Pat’s our man to head up on the foredeck harnessed just in case.

All good with the reduced sail.. As usual, when you reef within 30 minutes the big winds have passed and we shake the reef out. Good practice for this green crew.

 

 

12 hours later and we’re in the north anchorage slot of Bahia  San Francisquito and the crew got to experience conditions from extreme to dead calm seas, saw hundreds and hundreds of dolphin, pilot whales and fin backs just as we arrive in the anchorage. A good day and safe passage.

IMG_2587

Dock side in San Francisquito’s north slot. Above, our internet provider Alberto who Pat & Sue met 15 years ago for flat tire assistance.

IMG_2593

 

 

 

Friday..  Perfect night sleeping after a rough night in Santa Rosalia. We’ve got a 52 mile day today – much easier. The plan is to stop by Isla Salsipuedes for lunch to break the day up.. Lew & Agnes enjoy the calm weather on the foredeck.

 

 

 

 

IMG_2609

 

11:30 and the anchor is down in Salsipuedes in our usual spot. There’s a fishing camp in the next bay on the beach with 2 boats and probably 8 fishermen. After lunch a quick visit we find they are fishing for sharks.The big catch of the day appears to be about 4’. He would get my attention.

Pat & I brave the cold water.. Visibility is very low for some reason.

 

IMG_2625

Off for Bahia Los Angeles…  All is good on Gato Loco… Until the next update.

Share this:

  • Facebook
   Send article as PDF   

4 thoughts on “Leg 8 Starts with Fish in the Cooler!!”

  • Lowell says:
    June 10, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    Sendin from Bay of LA.. Dinner and 2 margs.. All is well on gato loco

    Reply
  • Shirley says:
    June 10, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Glad you are having fun. Beautiful scenery and everyone is smiling. Life is good.

    Reply
  • ex crewman John says:
    June 11, 2011 at 8:56 am

    I have not been on email for a while and have not kept up with Gato Loco updates. You look to be in fine form Lowell and crew. I am glad to see that my old shipmate Wilson is still with you. I am wishing I was too. At your next opportunity, have a marg for me.

    fair winds!

    Reply
  • Flipper says:
    June 12, 2011 at 11:57 am

    Looks like my Big Little Brother and His beautiful Wife are having fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you all are having a great time!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories


  • Baja 07
  • Baja 08
  • Baja 09
  • Baja 2010
  • Baja 2011
  • Baja 2012
  • Baja 2013
  • Baja 2014
  • Baja 2015
  • Baja 2017
  • Baja 2018
  • Baja 2019
  • Baja 2020
  • Baja 2022
  • Baja Haha
  • Baja2016
  • BirthdayWeek 07
  • Day Sailing
  • Early Days
  • Greece
  • Multihull Rally
  • reference
  • Seawind Rally
  • Uncategorized
March 2023
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« May    

Archives


  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • January 2018
  • September 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • August 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • August 2006
  • June 2006
  • March 2006
  • April 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • October 2003
  • July 2003
  • April 2003
  • February 2003
  • January 2003
  • November 2002
  • May 2002

Recent Posts

  • Big wind in whale channel–A cautionary Tail
  • Foggy days in Baja
  • Conception and Mulege heading north
  • Leg 3 back to Penasco begins
  • Gato Loco Live (Heading north)
  • Leg 2 Crew’s final days
  • Rally Days 2022 part 2
  • Rally Days begin
  • One more anchorage before the Rally
  • Live from Gato Loco

Tag Cloud

#gatolocosailing #sailinggatoloco #seaofcortezsailingadventure Bahia de Los Angles Baja Baja Rally Baja Sailing Rally Baja Sea of Crotez Sailing Cabrales Boatyard Cholla Bay Dolphins Gato Loco Gato Loco Sailing Gato Loco Sailing; Sea of Cortez; Puerto Penasco; Sailing; Mexico; Baja; Baja Rally Gato Loco Sailing Sea of Cortez Gato Loco Sailing Sea of Cortez; Puerto Penasco; Sailing; Mexico; Baja Gato Loco Sea of Cortex Puerto Refugio Gato Loco Sea of Cortez Sailing Mulege Baja Pilot whales Puerto Peasco Puerto Penasco Puerto Penasco; Sea of Cortez; Baja Rally Puerto Refugio Sailing sailing Sea of Cortez sailing Sea of Cortez Puerto Refugio Sea of Cortez Sea of Cortez; Baja; Seawind; Gato Loco Sea of Cortez; Baja; Seawind; Gato Loco; Baja Rally Sea of Cortez Baja Seawind Seawind Seawind 1000

Pages

  • Crew
  • Facebook Feed
  • Gato Loco 2016 Sailing Season
  • Home
    • Blog Index
  • Latest Posts
  • Links
  • Rally Days–Juncalito Birthday
  • Subscribe to Blog

Categories

  • Baja 07
  • Baja 08
  • Baja 09
  • Baja 2010
  • Baja 2011
  • Baja 2012
  • Baja 2013
  • Baja 2014
  • Baja 2015
  • Baja 2017
  • Baja 2018
  • Baja 2019
  • Baja 2020
  • Baja 2022
  • Baja Haha
  • Baja2016
  • BirthdayWeek 07
  • Day Sailing
  • Early Days
  • Greece
  • Multihull Rally
  • reference
  • Seawind Rally
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2016 Updates from GatoLocoSailing

Theme created by PWT. Powered by WordPress.org