Baja 2012, A hot start
Beautiful warm weather is the norm here in Puerto Penasco as we finalize provisions to start our 2012 cruise. Doug Stover and I will be sailing the first leg south to Puerto Escondido over the next 12 days. We arrived in Penasco (Rocky Point) yesterday afternoon after rescuing Owen & Shirley who had a blow out on their truck driving down. More on that later.. I’m starting this blog as we ready to spend the night on the boat in the Penasco marina.
Bill, Owen, Shirley, Doug and I had dinner at the Cholla Cafe with the owner and good friend Sally. The discussion was whether Bill was going to sail with us south on this leg and Owen was going to drive down with Frankie and Steve and join us in two weeks. Lots of badgering but the final decision was no as they drove us to the boat. Anyway we’re ready..
Victor, Roger & Carl will only be motoring out to Bird Island to dive and fish and will not be cruising with us due to forecasted winds. We hope to stop by and check out their catch and score some fish for our trip south.
Owen & Shirley’s little problem that Doug & I were able to help with in the photo below. The rescue led to Friday night pork tacos and can you believe it dancing at the Wrecked..
I need to close since we have to get a 5 AM start tomorrow. Will try to put a final note as we leave tomorrow morning.
BTW: Shirley named this leg “the no stinking women leg”. She said I had to put this in the blog… There you go Shirley.
Sunday morning: Alarm off at 5 AM coffee on and we made our way out of the Penasco harbor without any problem. Years past we’ve had a problem with fishing nets across the channel but nothing this morning except the recent wreck that set to starboard as we exit. Winds are 10kts from the east and seas flat. Looks like we will be that good morning breeze.
Penasco will have a low push through Tuesday night/Wed creating the wind that shut Victor down. We should be south of most of this.. If not we will hold up in Puerto Refugio until it passes.,
The chart below hi-light in yellow is now our expected route. Anchorages are only guesses but we will need to stop in Bay of LA and Santa Rosalia for gas… Looks like everything is in good shape on Gato Loco…
Let the Cruise begin…
Sun Puerto Lobos
Mon Refugio
Tue Bay of LA
Wed Sulsupudes
Thur San Frans
Fri Santa Rosalia
Sat Isla San Marcos
Sun Burthas
Mon Mulege
Tue San Sabastian
Wed San Juanico
Thur Puerto Escondido
Until the next Update
Happy sailors, We only wish we had our ladies were on board!!!
Bon Voyage
Master Bates and Seaman Stains (very old kids animation)
May the seas be as fair as your wenches.
Don’t blame the strange walks on being at sea 🙂
I wish you fair sails! Sorry I couldn’t get with you to sail. Everything in my calendar for the next few months just got turned upside down. Yeesh! Many many thanks for keeping me posted Lowell. Bon Voyage!
MoonDrifter departing Guaymas Sunday afternoon for Santa Rosalia. We’ll see you along the way south.
Fair weather and good sailing. Trip sounds wonderful. Thanks for keeping me updated.
Where is Neeley?
Safe travels! Be careful where you anchor this time! See you in a few weeks. Cheers, Kurt
Ralph, Great.. Looking forward to sailing south with you…
“Ur riding the waves to Loreto” have a great time! Try to stay “in” the water this trip!!
Have a great trip, keep us posted (as if you wouldn’t!) So many great memories of the past four years sailing on Gato Loco, Thanks!
We wish you a safe journey. Remember that big blow in PE last year? We are here in Bahia del Sol, El Salvador and last night we 70 plus knots here for about 10 minutes. One boat totaled, two severely damaged and many others cosmetic damage. Stray Cat survived without a scratch thankfully. Not sure if we will stay here or head back to Chiapas for the summer. Say hi to everyone for us.
We love hearing about your adventures and especially the pictures. Have a safe sail – we will look forward to keeping up with your escapades!
2 PM, Puerto Lobos out 25 miles in the distance.. Not much wind, as we expect, giving us flat seas to motor sail. Good shake-down day to start the cruise.
Guy, Glad to hear from you and Carol. Stray Cat has been through it all.. Hope that’s the end of 70kt winds.. You must have some good holding ground. Be safe.. Sorry you won’t join us this year.
Another wonderful Baja trip about to start. Good luck to Gato Loco and all the many crew. Here at Seawind we will follow your adventures with pride and envy. You are wonderful ambassadors for Seawind and it is terrific to be part of it all in spirit even if, unfortunately, we can’t be actually joining you on any of the legs. As always, have huge fun all the way, great sailing & best wishes.
Oh, to have the decisions of Guy and Carol Dean!!!! (Sorry about the winds, but El Salvador or Chiapas – which beautiful place to live in the summer?!?!) Have a wonderful sail… Having been to many of the places, it is easy to be with you in spirit.
BTW.. We made it to Puerto Lobos with out finding any reefs like last year.. Life is good.
Have a great trip guys…good luck and smooth sailing..Jealous..!!