The Ships Log - February 4 - 6, 2013

Monday, 4 February 2013 - 1600 hours - We cast off the dock lines from Marina San Carlos with the help of our neighbors on Contez (who also sent us off with wonderful sandwiches) to supplement our passage menu of Polio Feliz, Rice, Beans and Bar-B-Q Asada -- all prepared ahead of departure for our meals underway (who likes to cook if things get wicked out there?).  

7 knots of wind out of the East and we're heading nearly due South (187 degrees).  Air temperature is 65 degrees.  It's a sweet beam reach, so if the wind and waves hold, it should be an easy sail to Isla Carmen (~120 nm @ ~5 nm/hr it should be about a 24 hour passage across the Sea).  Isla Carmen an beautiful big privately owned Island that is due east of Loreto and one we have anchored in her bahias before.  

El Capitan - underway (note we're actually near La Paz in this photo)

Northeast side of Isla Carmen after a wonderful 24 hour sail from San Carlos

Tuesday, 5 February 2013 - 1700 hours - Arrived in the beautiful anchorage of Punte Colorado on the Southeast side of Isla Carmen.  It was a great 25 hour passage mixing motoring and sailing.  One catamaran  is anchored very close to the shore and we were greeted by about 30 dolphins.  We whistled and tapped on the side of the boat and they all came by to check us out.  Here's a little video...

Wednesday, 6 February 2013 - We enjoyed a quiet night at anchor and were greeted by a gorgeous morning.  I had a chance to take a few pictures - here's just a couple...

We checked in on the Sonrisa Net (HAM Radio Cruisers daily network to connect sailors at anchor and underway with each other throughout the West Coast of Mexico.
Daily at 0745, the weather for the region is analyzed and broadcast on this Net by Garry from Bahia Conception/El Burro cove.  We were able to talk with our friends on Adagio to let them know we would be arriving that afternoon in Agua Verde where they were anchored, and happily accepted their invitation for dinner aboard their boat (Janie is a fabulous cook, indeed).

Anchor up @ 0945.  course of 150 degrees to Agua Verde.  Tom had completed his engine check before leaving.  I noticed he spent more time than usual and adjusted a belt.  When asked, he said "it's good enough".  When pressed, he revised his prognosis to "it's good as it gets" so we motored out of the quiet anchorage.  I have the first watch and soon Tom asks if there's enough wind to sail...humm.  "Certainly" and I rolled out the jib as he shuts down the engine and proclaims the house alternator is kaput.  Luckily, the engine alternator was fine and we have enough solar power to keep us going - so I raise the full main and off to the west we sailed as the breeze piped up to 18-20 knots.  We reefed the mainsail and sailed along at a graceful 6+ knots.  

Arrived Agua Verde at on Wednesday afternoon at 1430 and set the hook in this beautiful bahia tucked secretly in behind a big wall of layed rock. 

Wednesday night we enjoyed a fabulous dinner aboard Adagio along with Jeff & Janie (Adagio), Doug & Cindy from Minnesota aboard a San Juan 23 and us.  We brought a salad, beverages, Tom's fiddle and my autoharp (as requested by Janie).  After dinner, we played a little music and the entire harbor seemed to quite enjoy the show.

Next entry -- Agua Verde - a village straddling the old and the new.