We are now almost caught up with posting our descriptions and photos of the Baja California Sur Peninsula. Hope I don't run out of time and consistent wifi connections before I finish describing our most excellent cruising adventures!
INTREPID II left Santa Rosalia at 4:30 pm MST heading towards San Carlos on the Mexican mainland. We estimated between 13 and 16 hours to travel the 78 nautical mile crossing and wanted to arrive at first light. Weather forecasts were saying it was 'go now" or wait until Thursday or later to do so. That meant we barely had time to welcome SV Rosebud to the dock, as Ken and Linde and Roger arrived from a trip up from Bahia Concepcion. We hadn't seen them since leaving La Paz in late February. "Ships passing in the night..." We also said farewell to the Rutea crew and other cruising folk and headed out into the late afternoon with hopes for a good sail and calm seas.
Our bearing for the trip was in the 60 - 62 degree range and we kept watch all the way, as there seemed to be a significant current setting us off throughout the night. We were only making 5.5 knots, with the wind 6 knots apparent NE, so we chose to keep the motor on. The sun was setting, we had a light swell and it was a somewhat misty evening. The radio crackled and we heard from SV Moonraker -- Jack was over in San Carlos and heard us earlier on the VHF. He offered to monitor Channel 16 during our over-night crossing and check in with us later and in the morning, which was much appreciated! Then it was time for a quick dinner of lentil soup and El Bolea Bakery bread - warm and filling.
We kept track of our position on an hourly basis, as we always do on passage. Our barometer was not moving and the winds had not increased by 18:30 (6:30 pm). The Rutea folks called in to wish us well and ask "how it was going so far". It's great to have fellow cruisers standing by. The sunset was inspiring and we were now writing our log in the dark, with the lights of Santa Rosalia twinkling off the stern.
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| Looking back - sunset over Santa Rosalia |
22:00 hours (10 pm): we had 45 nm to go and were at 27 degrees 34 N and 111 degrees 47.675 W, making 5.2 knots over the ground. We'd tried taking cat naps below, but with little success and were keeping track of various vessels on the radar with no problems about coming too close for comfort.
23:30 hours: wind was finally picking up, so we rolled out the jib - Kelly wanted 5.7 knots or more to keep to our schedule and we could finally throttle back a bit. Dolphins!! Phosphorescence!! a real treat in the night.
01:33 hours: moonrise to starboard - a half moon - large and orange with a cloud running through - we now had some light by which to steer.
02:50 hours: Kelly spotted some lights flashing ahead near San Carlos, some 18 nm away. The cruising guides were not helpful here on describing the height above water, flashing sequence, or anything and the chart book not at all. We were getting more swell and INTREPID II began to roll more, but nothing we hadn't experienced before.
04:00 hours: it was very cool, damp -- the bimini and dodger were protecting us, but were very wet - we were yawning and the moon was exceptionally silvery bright.
05:05 hours: Moonraker called - Jack was up and asking how we were fairing - a welcome voice.
05:40 hours: Jib was finally flogging, so we rolled it in, which didn't help the rolling, but was necessary. We glimpsed first light behind the mountains around Guaymas to the south and San Carlos ahead - pelicans and gulls came out greeting the morning. Land Ho!
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| Pelicans and Gulls flying at dawn |
06:00 hours: A spectacle at dawn as we approach the quite hidden entrance to San Carlos - lots of masts in the distance. Incredible rock formations to admire. Anchorage area looked full - we spot Moonraker, Salish Sea and Vallee Cachet secure at anchor and continued on to check the mooring balls. We had understood there were some public mooring balls available but that is a story for later.
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| Glorious first light over San Carlos |
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| Left (port) entrance to Bahia San Carlos |
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| Entrance view on starboard side |
07:15 hours -- we took 4 tries to get hooked onto a usable mooring ball, still couldn't raise the marina to check in and decided to try to sleep for a brief time.
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| Our destination - San Carlos (courtesy of Posada Condominiums brochure) |
We have taken 14.8 hours to cross and are now on the Mexican mainland, in the state of Sonora.
