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

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