Gato Loco back on the water and ready for Baja (5 days & Counting)

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By Lowell | April 14, 2014 | Category Baja 2014

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Gato Loco in the sling heading for the water. Below.. boatyard neighbor.

A little bit about this year’s repairs

Gato Loco repairs and preparations are nearly complete. While hauled in the Penasco Cabrales boat yard the starboard rudder and keel were repaired and a heavy 3 coat dual biocide bottom paint was applied. It was 2 years since our last bottom work and we’re hoping this new technology product and heavy coat will get us back to a 3 year bottom cycle. The workmanship done by Cabrales was very good as usual and we would recommend them to anyone that needs their boat hauled for repair.

Another important upgrade we made was replacing our old very rusty propane tanks with new composite tanks that have nothing that would rust. These have larger capacity and less weight than the steel ones.

As you can also tell we did some mast top repairs, a new LED anchored light, wind vane and screacher shive block.

It’s amazing how our annual preparation puts Gato Loco back in like new shape.

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Leg 1 It’s been an awesome spring weather wise and it’s always interesting to see what happens to the weather as we prepare to depart. We’ve had torrential down pours the night before our departures in the past. This year looks to be pretty calm for our departure. Monday night winds increase as we anchor at Puerto Refugio on Isla Ángel de la Guarda. We’ll be watching this as our departure nears.    Co-owners Dave and Ellen will be on leg 1 with their friends Terry & Debra. I understand they are newbees for ocean sailing. Thankfully the first two days look like light air days. Weather permitting we plan on making the 84 nautical mile sail to Puerto Lobos on Easter Sunday and will make sure to avoid the famous Easter rocks I found back in 2011. Looks be a fun leg.      Monday 64 NMs to Puerto Refugio
Tuesday 46NMs to Bay of LA
Wednesday 59 NMs to Isla Tibiron
Thursday 46NMs to Kino Bay
Friday 54 NMs to Pozo Morano
Saturday 34 NMs to Marina San Carlos Dave has fished the Sea of Cortez all his life with his father so we’re hoping for some good fish dinners along the way.  Internet is pretty sketchy along the way so we will get out updates when we can, probably Bay of LA and Kino. Here’s some pics from along our route.. Right, Puerto Lobos fishermen show us their big catch. Below as we approach Puerto Lobos from the north
 Below.. Fang Rock at the entrance to the Puerto Refugio anchorageBelow.. Sunrise light on the west Refugio anchorageBelow.. Bay of LA

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Gato Loco’s 2014 Cruise planning still has some openings

Leg 1 Apr 20 –26 Penasco – San Carlos (Lowell, Dave & Ellen & friends)
Leg 2 Apr 26 – May 1 San Carlos – Puerto Escondido (Lowell, Jeffery & Lynnie)
cruising with Grey Goose with skippers Jim & Mary Ann Mckenney and crew Dave
and Kelley
Loreto Fest May 1 – 3
Leg 3 Rally Week May 4 – 10 (Lowell,  Murril , Darren & Nell Tosetto)
Leg 4 – May 10 18 -  Loreto area (Bill, Brian & Heather, Michelle Jackson)
Leg 5 May 22 – 26  Loreto to San San Carlos ( Lowell,  Cholla sailor Alan Dekalb and his girlfriend will join me
Leg 6 May 27 – June 3 San San Carlos to Penasco (Lowell, Alan Dekalb & GF, Bill or Rick

June 5 – 8

 

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Gato Loco Sailing Adventures  5 Days and Counting.. Until the next update       

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Riding the Waves to Loreto (By Craig Reay)    right click here to download Craig’s song

We’re riding the waves to Loreto
Wind blowing what’s left of our hair 
We’re sailing with good companeros 
I hope we’ll be seeing ya there.

We’ll soon be in Puerto Escondido
With sailors from far and from near,
We’ll swap tales and curse the mosquitos
We’ll laugh and we’ll drown in our beer.

Hope the wind will be fair in Loreto,
We’ll bask in the dawn’s early light,
Then just like sombrero’d bandidos,
We’ll be off like thieves in the night.

We’re riding the waves to Loreto
We’re brash and we’re “devil may care”
We may move a bit des-pac-ito.
(But) we do it with bravado and flair.

We’ll soon be in Puerto Escondido
Providing the weather is clear,
With ole salts and weathered amigos
We’ll toast to another good year.

Hope the wind will be fair in Loreto,
We’ll bask in the dawn’s early light,
Then we’ll leave you with fond despedidos
And set sail like a seagull in flight…

Just like those fabled bandidos…
We’ll be off like thieves in the night.

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