Monday, December 7, 2009
Top of Cerro los Frailes above the anchorage
Nice Hike winding our way up over big rocks and through cactus
Los Muertos
We left Cabo early in the morning to do the 45 miles to Los Frailes. We were sailing on a nice beam reach but wind soon switched to a head wind that soon built to where we were motor sailing to make headway. Soon the wind and waves got so bad we decided to turn around as we knew it would be a lot worse as we rounded the corner to head up the sea of Cortez. Part way back to Cabo, the wind died so we decided to turn around and try again. We passed where we turned around previously but soon the wind and waves were even worse and right on the nose. We were taking huge amounts of spray over the boat, I had to dog a couple of our windows tighter as they were starting to seap water. It was dark now and we decided to turn around again but as we did boat motion was comfortable so we hove to for a 2 or 3 hours and then conditions eased considerably so again turned north towards our anchorage at Los Frailes. We arrived just as it was getting light and as we entered the bay saw two whales at the same time leap complety out of the water and come down with a huge splash, and then every couple of minutes they breached again and again. I guess this was our reward for pushing on.
After dropping anchor we went to sleep for a few hours and went ashore to explore and stretch the legs. We hiked up the local hill scrambling up the steep rocks (see picture)and squeezing around cactuses. Later had a dip in the warm bathtub outside the boat.
Stayed here 2 nights. Then left for los Muertos all rested up, this leg of about 43 miles went easy, calm all day, sailed only about 6 miles of it. Anchored of the sand beach and with many cactuses along it only a dirt road in here and a few resort looking buildings and wow, managed to get a internet connection from the boat again, so I could do this. Should be in La Paz 2 to 4 days.
Info:
Los Frailles anchored in 50ft at 23 22.415 109 25.189 good protection from North winds
nothing here, but a nice hike up local hill.
Los Muertos anchored in 28 ft 23 59.154 109 49.415 tiny resort here, can buy a drink. Otherwise just beach and cactus. Good North wind protection.
After dropping anchor we went to sleep for a few hours and went ashore to explore and stretch the legs. We hiked up the local hill scrambling up the steep rocks (see picture)and squeezing around cactuses. Later had a dip in the warm bathtub outside the boat.
Stayed here 2 nights. Then left for los Muertos all rested up, this leg of about 43 miles went easy, calm all day, sailed only about 6 miles of it. Anchored of the sand beach and with many cactuses along it only a dirt road in here and a few resort looking buildings and wow, managed to get a internet connection from the boat again, so I could do this. Should be in La Paz 2 to 4 days.
Info:
Los Frailles anchored in 50ft at 23 22.415 109 25.189 good protection from North winds
nothing here, but a nice hike up local hill.
Los Muertos anchored in 28 ft 23 59.154 109 49.415 tiny resort here, can buy a drink. Otherwise just beach and cactus. Good North wind protection.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Cabo San Lucas
After 800 miles and 2 stops arrived in Cabo San Lucas last night just after dark. We crept up to the beach under a full moon and dropped anchor in front of the expensive looking hotels.
After leaving Ensenada we did a 260 mile sail to Turtle bay. It was light wind sailing puttering along at 2 to 4 knots with wind from behind except near the end where we got 25 to 30 knots for the last 2 hours before our anchorage, probably motored about a third of the distance and spent 2 nights at sea. Spent 3 days here relaxing and exploring the small dusty town. Hiked up the local hill with large crucifix on top. Hung out a bit with the crew of Arena and also Zeba both Canadian boats.
Left Nov 24 around 1030am after the wind came up For Mag bay about 240 miles. Had good sailing for the first day and a half then wind died and we went back to motoring so got the water maker going and made lots of water. Have only seen one day of rain since we left Vancouver. Motor and sailed off and on until we arrived at Bahia Santa Maria which is 18 miles North of Mag bay, we changed our minds along the way and decided to pull in this bay, a very beatuful wild place. Just before arriving we saw a bunch of rays with about a 4 ft wing span leaping high out of the water and flapping there wings and then falling back in. (see video above) Also saw the odd whale go buy. Used our inflatable kayak to get ashore through the surf and walked a few miles along this incredible beach, no houses anywhere and sand dunes out back of it. there was a tiny fishing camp at one end with a few poor fishermen. Had our first dip in the ocean as it is finally warming up, 75 degrees now.
Left after 2 nights at Bahia saint maira and had a good sail all the way to Mag bay. Anchored off the small village here about 5 miles up from bay entrance. Very poor village here with many of the house without roofs which they lost in a hurrican this year. Hiked up a local hill here with Jack from the boat water dog. Lots of cactus to scramble around on the way up the hill.
Left the following morning as the wind picked up and had one of our best sails yet with the wind from behing at 18 to 20 knots. We were figuring maybe 2 nights to do the 150 miles to Cabo if we sailed rather than motor but we were ripping along at 4.5 to 8 knots all day and night that when the wind died we were only 30 miles from Cabo so motored the last bit to try and get there before dark which we failed to do as had a strong current against us as we rounded the south end of the Baha peninsula. But is a wide open bay with no dangers so went in in the dark with the full moon.
Tried the computer and with our fancy wi-fi booster got on one of the hotels internet so can do all this sitting in the boat rather than a coffee shop and listening to the music coming of the beach. Will spent maybe 2 days here and then move on to La Paz so will be out of contact again for about week.
Info:
Anchored in 55ft at 22 53.297 109 53.283 off Cabo San Lucas We dinghy into boat harbor and left dinghy in there at a dinghy dock.
Mag bay and Turtle Bay Are both great stops and fairly protected. Do not have my anchor positions. They are probably the only 2 safe spots between Ensenada and Cabo.
After leaving Ensenada we did a 260 mile sail to Turtle bay. It was light wind sailing puttering along at 2 to 4 knots with wind from behind except near the end where we got 25 to 30 knots for the last 2 hours before our anchorage, probably motored about a third of the distance and spent 2 nights at sea. Spent 3 days here relaxing and exploring the small dusty town. Hiked up the local hill with large crucifix on top. Hung out a bit with the crew of Arena and also Zeba both Canadian boats.
Left Nov 24 around 1030am after the wind came up For Mag bay about 240 miles. Had good sailing for the first day and a half then wind died and we went back to motoring so got the water maker going and made lots of water. Have only seen one day of rain since we left Vancouver. Motor and sailed off and on until we arrived at Bahia Santa Maria which is 18 miles North of Mag bay, we changed our minds along the way and decided to pull in this bay, a very beatuful wild place. Just before arriving we saw a bunch of rays with about a 4 ft wing span leaping high out of the water and flapping there wings and then falling back in. (see video above) Also saw the odd whale go buy. Used our inflatable kayak to get ashore through the surf and walked a few miles along this incredible beach, no houses anywhere and sand dunes out back of it. there was a tiny fishing camp at one end with a few poor fishermen. Had our first dip in the ocean as it is finally warming up, 75 degrees now.
Left after 2 nights at Bahia saint maira and had a good sail all the way to Mag bay. Anchored off the small village here about 5 miles up from bay entrance. Very poor village here with many of the house without roofs which they lost in a hurrican this year. Hiked up a local hill here with Jack from the boat water dog. Lots of cactus to scramble around on the way up the hill.
Left the following morning as the wind picked up and had one of our best sails yet with the wind from behing at 18 to 20 knots. We were figuring maybe 2 nights to do the 150 miles to Cabo if we sailed rather than motor but we were ripping along at 4.5 to 8 knots all day and night that when the wind died we were only 30 miles from Cabo so motored the last bit to try and get there before dark which we failed to do as had a strong current against us as we rounded the south end of the Baha peninsula. But is a wide open bay with no dangers so went in in the dark with the full moon.
Tried the computer and with our fancy wi-fi booster got on one of the hotels internet so can do all this sitting in the boat rather than a coffee shop and listening to the music coming of the beach. Will spent maybe 2 days here and then move on to La Paz so will be out of contact again for about week.
Info:
Anchored in 55ft at 22 53.297 109 53.283 off Cabo San Lucas We dinghy into boat harbor and left dinghy in there at a dinghy dock.
Mag bay and Turtle Bay Are both great stops and fairly protected. Do not have my anchor positions. They are probably the only 2 safe spots between Ensenada and Cabo.
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