Notes from Underway II

Again with the recap.

Couldn’t pass up a good weather forecast so left Pto. Escondido a day early for a short 15-mi. motor in light air to the SE side of Isla Carmen. Plan: explore a couple anchorages we’d not seen before. 2 blue whales circled the boat at a distance; later a Minke whale surfaced & circled very close by. Wind increased to 10-15kt. as we approached Punta Colorada at noon; wind then died. Anchored in 20’ without incident, backing-down as usual to a maximum 2000rpm. Bay = slightly rolly. However, on 2/23 at 0600, a warm wind came from west (shore) to 23kt with an increased northerly fetch. At 0800, as MS was checking-in with the AmigoNet on SSB, we dragged anchor. First time in 10 years of boating. Unnerving. Should have checked-in as a "vessel underway."

Strength of land breeze & discombobulatinon from anchor dragging = Punta Colorada untenable for us – so moved 10mi. to a better-protected anchorage on NE side of Isla Carmen: Punta Perico. Anchored in cove on S side of point in 22’, 15kt. breeze & low NW fetch, without incident. Snorkeled for 1-½ hrs. on N side of anchorage. Wind dropped at 1400, then rose to 20kt at 2345 and blew a warm wind to 2/24, 0115. Anchor held well, chop was minimal especially compared to Punta Colorada. More snorkeling as underwater topography is textured & varied. Only problem in this private spot – much more sheltered than the more popular Bahia Salinas 1/2mi. away – are the many bobos (non-biting but annoying little gnats). Smoke coils & bug screens on all portholes yielded favorable results.

At 0645, before departing Punta Perico, GB went dinghy fishing on the Punta Perico reef & caught a fine barred pargo about 18”-20” long. After thanking the pargo & Neptune for their gifts we motored in 0-5kt. air for 24mi. around the N side of Isla Carmen to a more popular anchorage, Puerto Ballandra. We’d been there last year & wanted to see it again. Anchored in the S-central portion of bay in 18’ without incident; 4 other boats were on the more popular N side of bay. As on Carmen’s E side, afternoon thermal winds soon increased to 18kt. but anchor held firm as usual & wind died after sunset. Night was rolly w/ fetch but otherwise quiet. Ballandra’s bees & wasps, so thirsty for fresh water, were deterred by smoke coils & bug screens. Next day was boat-cleaning (GB) and beachcombing (MS); the following morning GB caught a burrito grunt while dinghy/reef fishing. Chose to leave for a new anchorage due to continued rolliness. Engine started, but only on the second go – is this a low battery, or something more vital?

[to be continued…]

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