Loreto & the Islands

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By Lowell | May 4, 2013 | Category Baja 2013

Sorry about the delay on sending updates. Things got a bit busy once we arrived at Puerto Escondido & Loreto Fest. More on that in the next Update.

Tuesday, April 30

Anchored in the north anchorage at Isla Coronados with MoodDrifter, Maria & Pacific High, boat friends from Phoenix. Our departure from San Sebastian was mid morning after waking later and taking a walk through the Sebastian HOOD. Winds were light as we motored to Punta Pulpito. Jeffrey and Craig attempted a little bottom fishing on the south side of Pulpito and only caught the bottom, a similar experience that Dave & Kelley had 2 years ago. One panga was working the bottom using air and we thought we might see what we could buy but he was very busy managing hoses. Winds are building as we depart pointing our bows towards Coronados. It’s a little sad we won’t be stopping by San Juanico, one of our favorite anchorages, but we want to be positioned for Thursday’s wind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isla Coronados

We put the Anchor down late afternoon with time to take a hike on Coronados’s volcanic slops. Jeffrey wants’ to hike to the top but changes his tune as soon as we hit the first steep volcanic shale trail. It’s a hard climb that looks very easy from shore plus doing it in the heat of late afternoon isn’t the best timing. Good exercise and just what we needed.

Ralph & Helen had the dinghy out of the garage when we arrived. They soon arrived from doing some beach time and after catching up on the latest news, invite us over for sunset happy hour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MoonDrifer

Ralph & Helen’s Seawind 1160 is perfect for sunset and an opportunity for the Gato Loco crew to see the difference 5’ and a new design makes. It’s a beautiful boat and a beautiful crew.

  

 

 

 

 

Back on Gato Loco, Our crazy pirate on board cooks another great dinner. I think He’s had one too many glasses of wine tonight from the looks of this picture.

 

Wednesday, May 1 – Loreto

 

 

 

Crew shore leave

We pushed our cruise plan up one day to have a calm day for anchoring off Loreto to do some sightseeing & provisioning.  The plan is working out fine with light winds out of the NE. Landing on shore we find that all the waterfront remodel is completed. The crew poses by the new whale shark art near the breakwater marina.

Below.. Hotel La Placida de Flora with the awesome colors and light from the roof top pool is always a must see.

Historic Mission and local merchant

 

More closed restaurants but we found an excellent lunch spot just south the Mission hotel on the waterfront

Some how I managed to get my crew back on board (no mutiny). We’re off for Isla Carmen and  Puerto Ballandra 14 miles east. Gato Loco is now a finely tuned machine with the crew executing their duties perfectly. The keelhauling worked.

   Ballandra has Loreto in it’s western horizon with a clear view for internet. We find 3 other boats anchored and some beach campers just behind where we set the anchor down. Looks like a perfect spot for the expected North winds tomorrow. A cool breeze from the west at sunset as we enjoy the colors from the foredeck. Water clarity 25’ and temp was comfortable for swimming. Another perfect day.

Thursday May 2

Very calm cool night. No north winds as we have breakfast and listen to the ham weather report. Everybody is enjoy watching 2 adult dolphins cruise around the anchorage with a small youngster between them. They must be getting the little one off it’s training wheels.

Finally 11ish the first hot puff of north wind blows through the anchorage and before long it becomes steady. Today is our last day for leg 1 sailing and we want to make it a sail only day. Looks like the wind Gods are cooperating. Sails up and we’re off for Puerto Escondido and Loreto Fest and sadly our last day of sailing on Leg 1. We’re going to make the best of it.

Until the next Update