You might expect a boat that never moves from its slip or mooring to have critters make their homes on, under or in it. Mussels and barnacles like the hull – especially the nooks and crannies where no scraper can break them free. Depending on the boat’s location, sea lions, otters, muskrats, mice, rats and/or cockroaches…
It’s about 450 miles on a southeasterly track along the Mexican mainland from Guaymas to Mazatlan. We’d planned to stop at Topolobampo for 5 days after traveling the first 230 miles, to check out at least three anchorages there, plus explore Topo’s Ohuira Bay where it was rumored friendly dolphins roamed amongst coves and islets. …
Some cruising media regularly criticize Mexico’s Fonatur/Singlar marinas, several of which are located on Mexico’s Pacific mainland and in the Sea of Cortez. The pundits seem to complain that Singlar marinas are overpriced relative to the amenities they offer and that’s why they are empty when other marinas in the same area are full. So…
Guaymas. A mere 20 miles, more or less, southeast from San Carlos. Hot, in May. Before arriving there about a month ago we had gunkholed about 10 miles north of San Carlos at Playa Chollado (nice snorkeling when the seas are calm)(which, after 24 hours, they weren't); moved a half mile north to Bandito Cove (great…
We stayed at various anchorages in the San Carlos area for about ten days, having crossed from Santa Rosalia – a 80 mile trip almost directly east across the sea. We came over here a bit earlier than planned and anchored out in what’s left of the Bahia San Carlos anchorage because our toilet busted.…
There are lots of small sport fishing power boats zipping around the Sea of Cortez, taking what few fish remain in these waters. Mind you, some of our best boating friends are power boaters, but we prefer staying out of the way of the smaller, high speed sport craft. So we sort of cringed when…
Isla San Marcos is a short day trip from Punta Chivato and its northwestern side is a mere 11 miles SE of Santa Rosalia. Handy. Its eastern side is steep and deep, reputedly good for fishing for pelagic species like tuna but we will speak no more of such things. There are anchorages on San…
An extremely quick 22 miles due north out of Bahia de Concepcion is an anchorage providing moderate shelter from north winds at Punta Chivato – 27deg.03.920N, 111deg.57.678W. (OK; technically the anchorage is at Punta Santa Inez.) There is a nice-looking hotel overlooking the anchorage that cruisers can visit for a good meal, and the beaches…
There are few secret spots in the Sea of Cortez. No matter – some popular bays are large enough to accomodate lots of boats comfortably. Two such places are Caleta San Juanico at 26deg.22’N, 111deg.25’W; and Coyote Bay in Bahia de Concepcion, at 27deg.03.920N, 111deg.57.678W. Both are on the Baja peninsula side of things. San…
To Mike & Liz Scott on their Cal40 Argonaut; to Tom & Dawn Baker on their Farr 44 Warm Rain, and to all those other adventurers who made the Puddle Jump from Mexico across the Pacific to the Marquesas and points beyond — congratulations on having made a safe landfall. Enjoy the South Pacific, y’all!…