Anchorages in review - Ensenada Grande (April 3 - 5)

In late April we listed all our anchorages between leaving La Paz and arriving in Santa Rosalia, with good intentions of rounding out the descriptions separately and adding a few more pictures.  It is now mid-June and "better late than never".

Southern lobe near Fishermens' Cross 

Ensenada Grande is a three-lobed anchorage on Isla Partida and a favorite of many of our cruising friends. Leaving the docks at Marina Palmira is always a strange sensation, as it becomes 'home away from home' so quickly. We backed INTREPID II out of Dock 4, fueled up and said 'adios' to the marina staff.  This was  just before 9:30 for the 27 nm journey, in light winds and overcast skies which soon changed to sunshine and north winds in the 9 - 12 knot range.

Once through the La Paz channel and nearing Bahia Pichilingue, we rolled out the jib on a starboard tack and shut off the engine.  An hour of sailing time, which didn't last as we lost the wind and moved into light NE chop in the San Lorenzo Channel.  On with the engine.  By 12:45 we were heading straight into a 12 knot headwind; more like bucking into the headwind.  The ride was a bumpy one past Isla Espiritu Santo and northward to Ensenada Grande.  We were anchored in the south lobe by 14:30 in 22 feet (24 degrees 33.482 N, 110 degrees 23.944 W).  Bizarrely, a sailboat was racing up on our starboard side and crossing in front of us only to anchor far to our port side.  What was all that rush about?

Anchored in southern lobe of Ensenada Grande

We spotted SVs Starship and Born Free who were travelling together and were later joined by SV Maronetto.  Various larger power vessels came and departed, along with their toys, jet skiis, which are not permitted in the marine parks.  They are useful in harassing the pod of dolphins which visited the anchorage.

A marine park panga and crew stopped by later in the day to ask if we had our permits; there had been none available in La Paz. We'd been advised to buy day passes from the park staff.  To show our good intentions, we produced the passes from a previous year and asked for day passes, but the crew didn't have any available!  So they moved on to other boats and we wondered if they would return the next day with passes, but that didn't occur.  Every year there seems to be a supply issue with providing permits to cruisers.  Perhaps next year it will all come together.  Cheers!













On Wednesday, April 4th, we celebrated our anniversary; a sunshine filled day with an abundance of boat, kayak and panga activity.  Dolphin visits, jumping fish and our first turtle sighting. The evening topped off with a bbq dinner and spectacular sunset.

The Corumel started about 23:30 pm; with the flopper stoppers in position we slept quite well.   A lively anchorage but one to which we will likely return.

Just another spectacular Bajan sunset