Anchorages in review - Bahia Santa Inez (Punta Chivato) (April 23 - 24)

Slowly working through the logbook and wx (weather) notes and enjoying revisiting our recent cruising experiences.....)

Dolphins swimming by

Sunday's Sonrisa weather forecast for Monday's planned departure was 'brisk:  NNE 15 - 19, with Tuesday promising NNE 13 - 17 knots.  Both days' wind offerings were to be 'right on the nose' for a crossing over to San Carlos and Guaymas. Stan's forecasts suggested Monday would be W 10 - 15 and Tues NW 10 - 15; better for a crossing, but 'on the nose' for continuing up the peninsula towards Santa Rosalia.  Flip a coin!  Later that hot, muggy afternoon, several boats left to anchor near the mouth of the bay at Santo Domingo for a brief rest before making their crossing.  We waited for the expected ENE 11 -14 late afternoon winds.  By 16:45 however, INTREPID II shifted position and winds filled in to N 14 -15, cooling us off somewhat.  We made our preparations to leave for 'somewhere' in the morning.

Monday morning the engine was on at 07:00 and we were away at 07:12 in the quiet, still morning.  As we turned north to head up Bahia Concepcion we were greeted by dolphins who kept us company, then bid 'adios' as we tuned up the SSB for the early bird net.  No success checking in, but we managed to do so by asking for a weather fill from Geary. That provided a chance to thank him for his hospitality when we stopped by a few days earlier.  He was predicting winds NE 9 - 11 for the morning, increasing to NNE 15 - 20 for the afternoon. This made a south facing anchorage a good option for the moment - 23 nm further.

Weather guru Geary and Kelly - visiting at El Burro Cove

Once we were passed Santa Domingo and the protection of land to the east, we felt the full effect of NE swells. The NNE winds had started blowing much earlier out in the centre of the Sea.  Kelly took over hand steering as our auto-pilot was not at its best in the roll and chop of these swells, trying to maintain a 333 degree heading.  We had the main up, jib on starboard tack and were making 7 knots. At 10:00 hours our GPS noted we had reached 27 degrees 00.10N.  We were now in the "North Sea" which is an arbitrary distinction for weather purposes.  Apparently there is a marker on shore noting this geographical spot.

Heading towards Bahia Santa Inez mid-morning

With all the 'to-ing and fro-ing, pitching and yawing' INTREPID II was experiencing, we decided to head in to the anchorage ahead to see conditions for ourselves.  Otherwise it would be a very long slog to Santa Rosalia.  This spot is known for a great shelling beach along the west side and we'd wanted to explore it.  Shortly after, we were hailed on the VHF by a voice who inquired if we'd heard the weather forecast and were familiar with this anchorage.  His information was that the wind might shift around to the SE in the evening and we would be on a lee shore.  Once we motored in behind the low headland on which a hotel is located and watched the swell and winds, we decided to stay and tucked in at 13 feet over a sandy bottom.  Engine off at 11:03 and mark the spot:  27 03.967 N 111 57.666 W.  SPOT message sent - time for lunch!

Anchored with hatches wide open - still very hot days

Hotel on south-east point

Boat launch and nearby home

That afternoon SV Content followed our track and chose to join us in the anchorage; stopping by later for a chat from the dinghy as they took Max and Emma ashore.  The helpful radio contact fellow also rowed out;  he is a local resident who enjoyed boating and tried to alert cruisers to the local conditions.  Ed had kind and admiring words for INTREPID II and joined us in the cockpit for a glass of wine as we traded stories and enjoyed the view.  

Friendly resident rowing over to visit

Disappointed, we postponed our trip to the shelling beach as we anticipated having to leave very early the next day.  Our evening was quiet, the wind stayed in the N - NE quadrant and we rolled to only a slight swell.  One ear open for shifts.   A pleasant place in the right conditions.