Anchorages in review - Isla San Francisco (April 5 - 6)

Time to move on.  Winds were in the 14 knot range from the southwest as the overnight corumel was easing up and the anchorage remained choppy.  The forecast was for a beautiful day with WSW winds in the 9 - 14 knot range.  The sky was clear with just a trace of light whispies overhead.  We were underway by 09:05 with the jib rolled out, into a rolly channel; SV Marionetto followed us out of the anchorage.  Three boats were already underway heading north, likely having left from Caleta Partita; possibly having felt the effects of the corumel more in that anchorage.

SV Marionetto underway 

Abeam of Los Islotes we shut off the engine and let the jib pull us along.  However, the rolly seas were slowing us down to under 5 knots.  We decided it would be nice to have the main up for more stability.  Let's just say it was an interesting experiment and worked out in the end. INTREPID II was sailing in her element, in 3 feet swells from the southwest, with 5 sailboats in the area all on different headings.

We made radio contact with SVs Dune and Mood Indigo while underway and discovered there were only 3 boats currently in the anchorage at Isla San Francisco.  Seven boats had departed that morning.  We advised that there would be likely as many replacing them, ourselves included.  By noon, we were down to 3.4 knots and if we had not worried about getting a good sheltered spot in the south side, we would have kept sailing.  Time to motor-sail and have a choice!  We anchored at 13:10 and sent out a SPOT message to advise once again that 'we are here...and we are fine'.  (24 degrees 49.104 N, 110 degrees 34.061 W).  A four hour trip with 2 hours of sailing - not bad.

Light tower on south shore

SV INTREPID II anchored at Isla San Francisco

Amigas!

Once settled in, we caught up on the VHF radio with SV Tanque de Tiburon and SV Marionetto, who both advised they were continuing on to San Evaristo for the night.  Dogs aren't allowed on the marine park islands and boat dog Skye had not been off Marionetto for a few days.  She would welcome a run on the beach at San Evaristo.  Later that afternoon we spent happy hour onboard SV Mood Indigo.  Margaret and Frank are always gracious hosts and we enjoyed catching up with them (and of course delightful little Mo) and Shelley and Walt of SV Dune.  It had been all of three days since we'd seen each other at Marina Palmira, but we'd chosen separate anchorages along the way and wanted to compare our experiences.

The full moon was a special treat as it rose over the hills of the isla and sent silvery reflections shimmering through the anchorage.

Sunset reflections over the anchorage