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

Home to Penasco, Bay of LA – Puerto Refugio


By Lowell | June 7, 2012 | Category Baja 2012

Spread the love

IMG_7568

 

Monday June 4, Day 7

The fog bank east of us, as we motor out of Cala San Francisquito 8ish, slowly rolls over us making a nice cool morning. The day starts with flat seas and 1.5 kt tide running in our favor this time.

It seems the magic time of day for us lunch. If we decide to have lunch the wind comes up. If we’re not careful we’ll be fat boys eating lunch all the time to draw in the wind Gods.. Anyway, before we finish lunch we have 18 kts on our stern. We haven’t put the main up yet and decide to fly to spinnaker without the main giving us a nice 7+ kts ride towards Bay of LA 52 miles north.

 

IMG_7571 IMG_7570

 

 

 

 

 

What can I say?? >>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_7577

IMG_7580

 

Quick stop in Bay of LA

Winds held until we pushed through the island entrance east of the Bay. Winds lighten and it looks to be a warm day ashore as we put the hook down 4ish. We’re thinking we’ll get supplies and move on after Doug and my experience on the trip south. We used lots of gas coming north in these extreme tides and need to fill all 4 gas cans. A stop at the internet cafe to send an Update then shopping at the mercado across from the cafe and it’s time for dinner at Guillermo’s. As we set down for dinner light wind gust start blowing through the patio area. Can you believe it, not this again.

With the treat of a windy night in the Bay we make plans to sail to Isla La Ventana anchorage 8 miles away.

IMG_7584……………….IMG_7590

As  we depart 6ish, bellies full from a good fish dinner at Guillermo’s, it seems pretty sure it’s going to be windy. Ventana here we come. Sreacher out and we’re making 7kts as wind is at 18 as we round the sand spit 1/2 mile off shore. Approaching La Ventana it becomes apparent that the NW facing anchorage will be a poor choice since that’s the wind direction off shore. We’ve been wanting to visit Este Ton 18 miles across the Ballenas (Whale) channel on Isla Angel de la Guarda. Do we dare crossing the channel in this wind at night?? We power by the window on Ventana.. Wind has gotten very gusty from the island causing problems with the screacher and this sail won’t roll up in big winds without another to shadow it. We finally won the battle by rolling out the jib and turning downwind creating enough shadow to dowse it BUT it took some abuse and will need a little attention.

IMG_7589  IMG_7599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_1031

As you see from the photos we made the decision to go for it.. The moon comes up around 8 and the winds are stable at 15kts as we sail out into the channel watching the sun setting on the NW corner of the channel. Looks like we will make the anchorage around 9:30 giving the moon time to rise enough to be our beacon into the anchorage. We’ve only read about Este Ton and haven’t visited it which make us a little nervous since we are now committed. I have google earth up on my big computer so we review the aerial and set a way point outside the entrance and one where we want to put the hook down. It’s reassuring that there’s no rocks near the entrance.

We see what looks like a flying saucer on the SE end of the channel and it’s coming at us fast?? That soon turns into a very memorable moon rise.. Awesome. Rick put’s Gato Loco right on the rheum line for our GPS heading and counts down the feet as we approach. There’s the entrance left where we expected, We turn to the waypoint to anchor just as we hoped it would work while the moon shined brightly allowing us to see clearly. Anchor down, time for a celebration on a passage that was a bit unnerving.

Tuesday June 5, day 8

We awake from a quiet restful night to the view you see below. It’s a very cool place just as the Gerry Cunningham describes in his guide.

IMG_1040 IMG_1038

View of the anchorage looking SE gave us good protection from the NW winds last night. Paul stands in pumas stones washed up on the beach. Below, Climbing the ridge for the photo exposed the cactus valley and Paul holds a leg from a big lizard that was probably the victim of an Osprey.

IMG_1041 IMG_1046

IMG_1055 IMG_1064

 

Every anchorage frequented by Mexican fisherman will have a cross erected. This one was a little difficult to climb to but worth is.. It’s made of agave stock.

Right, Paul checks out the outside reef at the anchorage entrance.

Just as we started our hike winds come up out to the NW gusting to where it’s difficult to keep a hat on. AND we need to sail up the channel to Puerto Refugio today. No joy…

Cool place.. We want to return.

 

Preparing for the worst we reef the main and head out for Refugio 10ish. We’ve got a big current in our favor and winds are pretty steady at 18. Gato’s riding smooth through swells with the sails loaded. It’s so much better than we expected.

 IMG_7606 IMG_7608 IMG_7614

Fish boil and Paul’s headless Bonita.

IMG_7616  IMG_7633

Tacking back to the island we sail towards a fish boil covered with birds. Paul drops a line in the water as we approach and with in 15 seconds he has a Bonita on the line. A bit later Rick hooks a yellow tail. Fish for dinner tonight for the first time on this leg.

 

 

The Puerto Refugio shrine greets us as we pull into the anchorage.

IMG_7639

Paul love’s this anchorage and he caught a big fish today. He’s happy. IMG_7637 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P6060526

At sunset we’re joined by a sports fishing boat from Caborca. They put in at Puerto Lobos and came out to Refugio today. Nice group but they ran a noisey generator until late in the evening. We had to keep our tunes up to drown them out. It’s a shame since we’re in such an isolated location. The fish was very good for dinner.

Wednesday June 6, Day 9

We’ve decided to take the Baja route home instead of the Sonoran Puerto Lobos route so we’re off to Bahia Gonzaga 48 miles west. Before departing Paul and I make a visit to the Shrine.  I’m pretty sure it would be bad luck to not make a visit and take a ceremonial photo.

Winds out of the SE from Ballenas channel giving us a nice ride as we exit Refugio…

Until the next Update.

(Sending this Update from Alfonsia’s in Gonzaga)

Our Penasco arrival plan.. We will leave Isla Polmo after sunset, sailing  through the night and arriving mid-day Friday, just in time for El Capitan. 🙂 🙂

 

[xmlgm {https://www.gatolocosailing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/MyPlaces.kmz} maptype=G_SATELLITE_3D_MAP;gpxview=all]

Share this:

  • Facebook
   Send article as PDF   

2 thoughts on “Home to Penasco, Bay of LA – Puerto Refugio”

  • Doug Stover says:
    June 7, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Hey Guys…good fishing for yellowtail…save some for Bill H. The one that got away.
    I hope the crossing goes smoothly with winds at your back and Whales out of your path.
    We look forward to your return to Cholla.
    Currently, we are loading the truck to head south of the border.
    Doug

    Reply
  • Gill says:
    June 7, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    See ya Marg in hand!! safe sailing!

    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