After a pleasantly cool night, on March 4, 2016, we raised anchor at Cazadero with light winds still coming from the WSW. As the day progressed the wind stayed light but returned to the more typical NW direction. We had yet another hot day with flat seas, but haze was increasing, signifying a potential change in the weather. A fair current allowed us to motor at a leisurely 1500-2000 rpm.
Critter count: one whale at the northern tip of Isla San Jose. One large pod of dolphin nearby. One leaping shark, about 5 feet long – possibly a mild-mannered tope shark. Three leaping mobulus.
We passed by the anchorages of Punta San Telmo and San Marcial and were somewhat surprised to see only one sailboat in each location. Two other sailboats were underway, southbound. Arriving in the usually-crowded Agua Verde anchorage, we saw…just one other transient sailboat. Was there a memo we did not get?
And do you know how difficult it is to pick out the best spot to anchor, when you're accustomed to anchoring in a certain popular spot among many other boats, yet suddenly find yourself with so much choice?
"What about here? Does this look good?"
"Yeah; let's drop it."
…
"Uhhhh….Maybe it'd be more comfortable a few feet closer to the beach."
"OK; Let's try there."
…
"Uhhhh….Think we'll be too close to the beach at low tide?"
"Yeah; you're right. Let's move. How about a boat's length in that direction?"
"Weren't we just over there?"
"I dunno….Where is everybody, anyway?"
We eventually sorted ourselves out and dropped the anchor somewhere in the 28-to-32-foot depths. But oh, the trial and error involved in finding just the right spot!
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