Things seem so easy to plan! We scoured the guidebook, and I knew full well that the first island across the Midriff islands (San Lorenzo) had no protected anchorages. The plan was to stop and look for something interesting there, then continue on to Isla San Esteban for the evening. As my namesake, it would certainly have a beautiful cozy anchorage. After exploring San Francisquito all morning, we put the dinghy away and headed east to San Lorenzo Island.
There are many different winds in the Sea of Cortez, and they all have different names. The Chubasco (a violent Squall), Coromuel (created by cool air from the pacific and blow through the night), Elefante (strong westerlies) and the Great Basin Highs. It seems that the pattern we were experiencing was strong winds from the north in the afternoon. For many days (as in Puerto Escondido for 5 days) we were sidelined due to this pattern and today was no exception. 30 know winds were howling out of the North and the ride was uncomfortable. Barb did the usual pillows in the cupboards and dish towels wrapped around glass bottles, but this only limited the clanking sounds, not the rocking. We moved quickly to San Estaban and found no suitable shelter. We decided to go another hour and a half through the chop to Isla Tiburon. There was some protection there.
We found a small encampment on the shore behind Punto Risco Colorado point that helped protect us from the wind and it was a pleasure to stop and enjoy the calm for the night. It was still a bit rocky but very tolerable. we had hoped to spend time exploring a bit more on Isla Estaban, but I was happy to be anchored.
The next morning, we woke up and made a plan "B". We would just travel around the corner to another anchorage around Tiburon Island before the damn wind picked up again and relax for the day. We left at a leisurely pace for an hour to Bahil de los Perros, Dog Bay. It was a very protected bay, and we did some dinghy exploring and just had a day of relaxing.
This bay was very close to the east side of the Sea, so we were well positioned to turn south again for the first time in nearly two months.
This is leaving our moorage in Bahia Momento and turning towards Bahia de los Perros.
Exploring Bahia de los Perros.
Technical Data:
Time: 5 h 51 m ( 10:48 to 16:39 ) Distance: 38.32 nm
Fuel: 17.07 Gallons Fuel Rate: 2.92 GPH Fuel Economy: 2.25 NM/G
Avg Speed: 7.15 kn Max Speed: 9.68 kn
Engine Runtime Start: 3398.00 Hours Runtime End: 3403.70 Hours Fuel: 17.07 Gallons Fuel Rate: 2.92 GPH Fuel Rate Max: 7.71 GPH Avg RPM: 1203.28 Max RPM: 1576.25 Avg Oil Pressure: 50.22 Low Oil Pressure: 1.16 Avg Temperature: 189.12 Max Temperature: 192.20
Time: 1 h 34 m ( 09:17 to 10:51 ) Distance: 8.41 nm
Fuel: 2.11 Gallons Fuel Rate: 1.34 GPH Fuel Economy: 3.99 NM/G
Avg Speed: 6.20 kn Max Speed: 7.85 kn
Engine Runtime Start: 3403.70 Hours Runtime End: 3405.30 Hours Fuel: 2.11 Gallons Fuel Rate: 1.34 GPH Fuel Rate Max: 2.99 GPH Avg RPM: 992.61 Max RPM: 1222.50 Avg Oil Pressure: 51.13 Low Oil Pressure: 31.91 Avg Temperature: 184.91 Max Temperature: 192.20
