Rally Days Update #3

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By Lowell | May 10, 2014 | Category Baja 2014

Wednesday May 7th Salinas Bay Isla Carmen

Rough night last night with rollers hitting us broad side with west winds gusting all night though the anchorage. Finally quieted down as the sun came up. Good news, No bees.

Plans today, Check out the old salt mine, dive the wreck in the bay and then head for Isla Coronados. It’s been reported the owner of the resort near the salt mine isn’t allowing anybody ashore but that’s not going to stop us from trying. As you can see we we made it on the island for some classic photos.  We walked to the salt pond and had a WTF moment as the pond has be flooding and there’s no longer any salt. It would be interesting to know if it was flooded due to the disrepair or intentionally to keep visitors way.

The old chapel continues to deteriorate and still has some amazing artifacts that remain untouched. I only wish there was a way to freeze everything in time as it won’t be many years and it will all be gone.

 

Some beach time before heading back to Gato Loco for some morning refreshments. Too bad Nell doesn’t like bloodies..

 

Our last night swells are now gone making it good conditions for snorkeling the old salt barge wreck in 30’ of water.

Back on the boat MoonDrifter reports winds our up to 12 out of the north with 3’ swells up on Punta Lobos on the NE corner of the island. We’ve got to beat north 6 miles before we can turn west and broad reach to Isla Coronados. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to make the 23 mile journey starting mid day.

Motor sailing we made Punta Lobos by 2:30 to avoid arriving at our anchorage too late. Rounding the point, unfurling the jib, the furler spool fouls and now the wind is at 18 and seas have increased. No worries, sheet in the fouled mess and we’re fly towards Coronados at 8kt sail only. The seas have the crew a little edgy. Murril’s not the best since he had a rough night last night. After things settle a bit Darren works to clear the rats nest but the strong winds have set the line firmly into the swivel below the spool. We’ll have to lower the jib after we get in the lee of Coronados. The jib luff needs some repair so this is a perfect opportunity to do some hand stitching. With the jib removed, the rat’s nest is easily cleared.

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Isla Coronados

Life is good as we make the north Coronados anchorage. There’s not many boats here probably because the north wind may roll into the anchorage tonight. I didn’t tell Murril about this possibility of having another rolling night. A little beach time after our hard afternoon is a good place to decompress.

 

 

Boats facing Northwest in the anchorage with wind still up at sunsets. No rollers… Murrils’ happy.

Darren was inspired to fix a big shrimp dinner thanks to Jeffrey & Lynnie who left some for us. He has  become the resident chief making one awesome meal after another. Actually the crew is a finely tuned machine by now.

Rally boats were couple hours behind us and anchored on the south shore of Coronados so we won’t see them until tomorrow.

The Rally plan is have all the boats join us tomorrow in the north anchorage and use the grill on shore for our weenie roast. Good night Baja.

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Friday May 9th – Kurt brought OutaHere’s dinghy over and we made a run 7 miles into Loreto for supplies early before north winds expected mid day. BTW we hit the Super Lay Express that had a great selection of fruits / vegs… And yes, Beer.

Weenie Roast

The beach on Coronados is a perfect place with the palapas, benches, tables and one of the most beautiful setting in the area.

 

Eric &  Guy left. Darren & Nell right pose with the Seawind fleet behind them.

 

 

Below the Rally Weenie Roasters

 

Nice change to have a grill for the feast. Ralph “the boy scout” built a great fire with the briquettes we bought from Super Lay. What a feast, appropriate for our last night for the Rally boats. We love the fellowship from our Seawind friends.

OutaHere will head for La Paz at day break tomorrow, eventually heading back to BCS for the summer. Kurt will be driving back to San Diego with their car.

After tomorrow’s French toast breakfast on MoonDrifter, Kat Kan Do will be heading home to La Paz. MoonDrifter and Peid-a-Mer will be hanging the Loreto area for a few weeks yet.

Gato Loco will head up to San Juanico for a day to show the crew that beautiful anchorage before returning to Puerto Escondido to ready the boat for a crew change. Bill, Brian, Heather & Michelle will cruise the area next week.

Until the next Update

Another fun Rally crew  shot capped a fun evening.