Posted 28 October 2010
The sail to San Benito Islands started with great wind, then no wind and then too much wind. We were surfing down the waves at times at 9.44 knots with only the staysail and 3 reefs in the main. We were doing a constant speed of about 7 to 8 knots. This lasted for about 2 hours and then we took the main down as the waves were too big and push the boat too much on the side for my comfort level. By this time we were quite exhausted by all the hoisting, dropping and putting in reefs, so we settle for the night with only the staysail and was doing 5 to 6 knots. The wind dropped during the night and we did not feel like hoisting the mainsail, so the trip was much longer, took us +- 30 hours to reach San Benito Islands.
During our trip we saw quite a few boats from the Baja HaHa fleet. This year I believe there are 195 boats. We tried to contact our friends on S/V Otter, but they were not within VHF range. We did speak to S/V Music from the fleet and they will pass our regards to Greg and Joyce. We might see them in Turtle bay on Sunday.
We left this morning Thursday 28 October for Cedros Island which is just 21 nm south east. There was no wind so we motored. Cedros Island is the more beautiful Island so far. Dinis had very good propagation on both islands and made a good run on the ham radio.
Friday or Saturday 29/30 October we are planning to go to Natividad Island which is just 15 nm south from Cedros Island and then make our way to Turtle bay on Sunday. We are running low on fresh vegetables and fruit.
From Turtle bay we will make a run to Magdalena bay which should take us between 2 to 3 days.
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I read your reports on Cedros island, and actually, Cedros island population is about 4000 with all services and common needs; pharmacy, internet, hotel, restaurants, hospitals, high school, etc. Maybe you were refering to San Benitos, with few houses for temporary residents from Cedros fishing for the lobster and abalone, but no infrastructure. Supplies are brought from Cedros by a cargo boat during season, but 6-10 people are guards for poachers from mainland.
ReplyDeleteCheck www.cedrosoutdooradventures.com
Hello Veronica and Dinis! We (Neal and Rhonda) met you in Vancouver (False Creek) just before you left. I've just been catching up on your trip down South! Looks like you two are having a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteWe are moored in Roche Harbor (San Juan Island) for the Winter.
take care,
Rhonda
I (at age 47) sailed my Ericson 35 with my 17 year-old daughter from San Diego to the San Benitos Islands to see the elephant seal population. This was back in 1990. I used only dead reckoning and compass, no fancy electronics, and about midnight after 2 days of sailing, thought we should be there but where was the lit buoy marker? where was the lighthouse? I was in a mild panic as we saw all kinds of marker lights around ahead but none of these were on the chart. I got on the radio just to say, "Hello, anyone out there? Where are we?" and a Spanish-accented fellow came on and said in very broken English, "You are in San Benitos Islands but attention! All the lights are on our nets floating over the reefs! Queeeeek! Turn boat to right!!!! and I guide you into safe anchorplace!" I couldn't see any boats around and asked, "But where are you?" His reply: "I am on small fishing boat and learning English as want to be an air pilot. I can see light on top of your mast. Quick, now to the left!" So began a rather hilarious but one of those "Thank-you-God" events in my 7 years of cruising the Pacific with the fellow shouting on the radio, "More to thee left!" then "More to thee right!" and so on until he was able to speak us right into a beautiful little lagoon. Next day, we welcomed the fishermen aboard and were gifted with huge bags of shrimp and lobster. They took us out to the smaller island with the elephant seals and then alerted us to a huge storm headed our way. After 2 days of pure delight, we thanked them and were very grateful that we hadn't heeded the advice of the yachtsmen at San Diego Yacht Club. I eventually left the sea and went to the Ozarks in Arkansas to Eureka Springs, a Victorian artist colony, and started a B&B Inn, Cliff Cottage Inn, which I have been running ever since, regaling guests with tales of the High Seas.
ReplyDeleteSandra/Serenta (now called Barcelonetta as I sold her in Puerto Vallarta)