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

30 kt winds in Puerto Refugio (3rd Update)


By Lowell | April 25, 2012 | Category Baja 2012

Spread the love

IMG_0658 Fang Rock in the East Bay of Puerto Refugio

IMG_0645

Tuesday April 23rd, 8 AM — Confused Seas was definitely the word of the day on our crossing from Lobos to Puerto Refugio. Winds started at 8 WNW, enough to motor sail through 3’ seas. As the morning progressed winds died and we had to take our sails down as they were being bashed by the quartering seas. Seas flattened to smooth as we approached Puerto Refugio on the north end of Isla Angel de La Guarda the second largest island in the Sea just off Baja. Another uneventful crossing after starting our rough. No sea life spotted during the crossing, especially whales since this is leg we hit a whale last year.

As you approach Refugio the first island you pass is Isla Granito which has a huge sea lion rookery. We made the anchorage early and decided to stop from some photos. Getting close we could smell fish breath and soon started picking up gnats like Bird Island near Penasco. Passing the eastern end of the island we found lots of them lounging in the sun.. As you can se we started a stampede of one large sleeping group.

IMG_0643 IMG_0649

IMG_0659

IMG_0661

 

Our normal anchoring spot was taken by a small sail boat. There was room but with this huge anchorage why crowd. This all turned out to be definitely in our favor. We ended up in the west bay off a north shore. Right at sunset strong south winds started blowing and as we retire gusts were blasting by at 30kts while we were smooth and quiet. Our usual anchorage would have been uncomfortable with white caps and swell. We’re livin right.

G-Refugio-txt

IMG_0691

Tuesday April 24th.. When we woke this morning winds were gone, seas were glass and we had two Mexican fishing boats anchored next to us. They must know the anchorage and came in during the night.

The West Bay landscape looking south is interesting with cool trees well adapted to the dry harsh conditions on the island. They have huge trunks and very little vegetation on them and probably only bloom if it rains.

IMG_0666

IMG_0673

 

<<< West Bay anchorage shoreline

Doug checks out the trees >>>

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_0681

Our usual cruise south leads us directly to Bay of LA. We have some extra days and have decided to explore the eastern shore of Isla Angel de La Guarda. This will take an extra day because the island is 42 miles long, 7.5 miles wide with peaks at 4315 ft. The east side has 3 anchorages that would be new to us so we’re going adventuring.

BTW: Doug, Dougie as his wife Connie calls him, is doing fine. He’s an old naval boy and is right at home on the sea. Neither of us are big fishermen so don’t expect in big fish stories. We do have a line in the water how ever. He will be an old salt by the time we reach Puerto Escondido.

On to the east shore…

G-Guarda

Guarda-south

 

Early cruiser Gerry Cunningham documented anchorages on La Gurada in his cruising guides. The group of anchorages on the north shore near the south end of the island Bill and I have been eyeing on Google Earth so that’s our east shore 1st stop and then on to Isla Estanque and an overnight anchorage in the Pond.

 

IMG_0717

 

 

<<< Gato loco anchored in 20’ on sand bottom in Caleta Pulpito West. Good anchorage with lots of steep rocky shore line near by looks to be good diving.

IMG_0753A

 

 

 

 

Right – Gato Loco anchored in the “Pond” on Isla Estanque off the SE tip of La Guarda. Below is a sea cave we didn’t have time to explore near the east tip for the Caleta Pulpito shore. We need to check it out.

IMG_0740

 

The tale of “The Pond”.. As you can see the “Pond” is a perfect anchorage with total protection from sea conditions. The entrance has a shoal with a narrow channel. Tides are swing 10’ at the moment. You’ll notice the panga in the right side of the Pond. Arriving at high tide we made it over the shoal with 10’ to spare. Anchor down, we check out what looks like a typical fishing camp. At closer inspection with the binoculars everybody is in uniform and the panga is dark green. Nice we’ve got some authority present (Marines). As you might expect their job is to check out all boats in the area and they soon launch their panga and motored over. With my limited Spanish and their zero English we finally settle their concerns about who we might be and as they depart they ask if we have any extra water. It’s always nice to have an offering and we give them one of our 5 liter bottles of water.. There’s a well worn trail from their camp to the mountain top and we ask if we can climb it?? No problem.. Since they are providing security in the Pond we take cerveza for the six camp members. With big smiles, they accept our offer and we enjoy a cold beer with them and then on to the top of the mountain for the photos you see.  IMG_0752a

IMG_0745

At night fall clouds obscured the sunset and darkness arrives early. Steak dinner and a game of Bitchin Rummy (I’m holding my own at one game a piece) and we done..

Wed April 25th.. Still cloudy and wet decks. Ham weather report indicates winds forecasted won’t arrive until Thursday.. Time to depart the pond. Tides are out at least one meter from our entrance and flowing out.. Approaching the channel out, 17’, 10’ 4’ 3.5’’ Nope.. Back up and retry to port… Same result. Backup and set the anchor. We may be here for a while. Next thing I notice is the Marines are launching their boat.. They come to Gato Loco and indicate for us to follow them. Much closer to the south shore than we would have braved, they lead us safely out of “The Pond”. The moral of the tale of “The Pond” is a “favor given is a favor returned”.. Thank you to the Marines for the escort from the Pond.

We’re off for Bay of LA.. Fresh breeze from the north as we clear the south tip of La Gurada. Engines off and smokin toward the Bay at 6kts..  Until the Next Update

 IMG_6569 IMG_6570IMG_6571

Sending this from Bay of LA.. All is well on Gato Loco

BTW: Port motor working great. Keeping it 5/8 throttle or less and it doesn’t use any oil. Sounds like Jackie’s diagnosis of a leaking lower crank seal is sound. Less power mean less crankcase pressure reducing the amount of oil force out.. All good news. The problem is manageable.

Share this:

  • Facebook
   Send article as PDF   

7 thoughts on “30 kt winds in Puerto Refugio (3rd Update)”

  • Brian says:
    April 25, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    Sounds like you are being smiled upon! Great stories and photos….. Thanks for the update!……Sail on….

    Reply
  • Ralph Marx says:
    April 25, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Lowell, we just left Santa Rosalia and now anchored at Punta Chivato. Plan to be at Coronado on Friday.
    Ralph

    Reply
  • Marilyn Haney says:
    April 25, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    Lowell and Doug: Great to see two updates today! Sounds like you both are enjoying the voyage and who wouldn’t. Doug, Coni and I chatted today about our trip to Penasco next Friday, May 4th. All is good. Enjoy and see you then. Lowell……….your photography and stories are so refreshing! 🙂

    Reply
  • Coni Stover says:
    April 25, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Love the up-dates & this has been a long Patrol compared to when you were in the Navy Looking forward to seeing Marilyn & Tom because I will head down with them to see you. Lowell thank-you for the pictures & the knowledge to Sail the Goto Loco. Have Fun

    Reply
  • sally dalton says:
    April 25, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    Thanks for the updates… I remember all the effort you had put into updates – I am really appreciating them from this end.

    Reply
  • Gill says:
    April 26, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Just back from our trip, and enjoyed catching up with you boys, and Gato Loco!! Thank you Lowell.. as always, gorgeous fun filled photos!!

    Reply
  • Don Julio says:
    April 28, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    The photos are great. Keep it up! ( That’s for Doug!) Don Julio

    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