Monday, May 15, 2006
Panorama shot of Ramada Cove, around the corner from San Juanico.
This cove is just a ¾ mile walk from San Juanico. We planned to anchor in San Juanico but the wind direction was such that we were more protected around the corner.
Pan shot of Puerto Escondido (hidden port)
About 80 boats are anchored here. It’s amazing how a sharp boat like Vagari stands out!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Some days are perfect others are even better.
We flew our spinnaker in the channel between Carman Island and the Baja. As you can see she is a beauty.
Responding to Popular Demand.
Well nobody asked, but on the off chance that somebody may be interested in what I described as “one of the most difficult anchorages we have done because of four just submerged reefs” a cruising guide book warning about entering the San Marte anchorage follows:
DANGER
The trouble with San Marte is a couple of hidden offshore dangers on the approach. First, there are a couple of large offshore reefs. Second, there are two house size blocks of rock right by the north entrance for those approaching from Agua Verde or points north. One “house” is only 2 feet down at low tide. The other could be a real keel cracker for a large boat being only about 7 feet under at low tide. These rocks are not easy to see under some light conditions, but by keeping close to Punta San Marte, which has its own little reef off the point, and holding a course of 240 degrees Magnetic from a GPS of 25 30.27 N – 111 0.81 W you should clear right into the anchorage. The rocks are directly south of the point, so once you cross this line, you are safe. A depth sounder does you no good here. The rocks have vertical sides and rise up out of a 45 ft. sand bottom.
The offshore reefs are another matter. They rise up from a deep sand bottom, but they are more the size of half a city block, rather than house size. When approaching from the south, just follow the 30 foot contour along the shore and it will lead you right into the anchorage. If approaching from offshore, you can either head for the point and take the northern entrance, or you can pick up the usually visible pinnacle rock at the east end of the north reef, rough GPS 25 30.00 N – 111 0.46 W one boat length east of the rock. (I didn’t sit on the rock). Then keeping at least half a mile south of this rock, head for the shore and the 30 foot contour. The south reef is entirely covered, unless there is a large swell running and a low tide, you will never see it, but it is there. There are often several pangas anchored over these reefs fishing. A dinghy trip to explore the reefs would give you a better idea of where they are. The area between the two blocks of rock and the first reef APPEARS to be free of danger with sand at 40 to 60 feet, but I have not covered this are on a close grid, so I would assume that where there are two rocks sprouting, there may be more.
So this is what we do for enjoyment! In the fall we used the north entrance. When we got to the narrow point I could see the reef off the point and one of the “houses”. There was so little room for error, and I was right in the center of the channel, that I decided never to use that entrance again.
In the spring I used the south offshore entrance. When we left I used the “track back” feature of our GPS. This saves our exact route and lets us follow that “track” back into the anchorage using the autopilot. Its like leaving bread crumbs without worrying about the birds eating them. Next time we will just follow this known safe track. GPS technology had made cruising much safer. However a few days before we arrive a boat hit the south reef while leaving. They got off the reef without assistance.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Hello from our anchorage in Puerto Escondido on the beautiful East coast of the Mexican Baja Peninsula.
Vagari has spent the last two weeks away from the dock hopping from one picturesque anchorage to another in some of the best cruising country and weather either of us has ever enjoyed.
The pictures will show what we mean.
The best part is that we have another three plus weeks away from the dock to go and that our good friends Bob & Jean Ley will join us during most of May.
In addition we will spend a four-day weekend enjoying “Loreto Fest”. Loreto Fest is a cruisers gathering that features lots of live music by cruisers, seminars on subjects of interest to cruisers (amateur radio, Sea of Cortez weather forecasting, instrument electronics, cooking aboard, current Mexican boating and visa regulations, etc.) and food and perhaps a beverage or two.
We will end the month at our homeport, San Carlos; and should be home starting June 1st for the summer getting ready for next seasons cruise.
Rheas` contribution:
In another month we will have finished our second full cruising season. After almost six months I will be ready to resume my dirt-dwelling life. I miss my children; their offspring and my friends.
We are really looking forward to seeing our friends Bob and Jean Ley. Even through we often buddy boat with the different people you meet along the way. you get lonesome for people from home. If the remainder of the season goes as well as the rest, I’ll be back next year ready to continue my fascination with Mexico; it’s people, and other cruisers we meet. This is certainly a beautiful and most charming country to visit.
Tucked behind Punta San Marte
The entrance to this anchorage is one of the most difficult we have done because of four just submerged reefs. The flip side of the dangerous reefs is the abundant sea life you can enjoy when snorkeling.
The wonders of Photo Shop.
We had tofu patties for lunch but we really wanted lobster. But lobster is illegal for us to buy or even have aboard so Photo Shop made our desires come true.
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