I made the mistake years ago of attempting a night passage to San Francisquito. Almost every evening, a strong west wind funnels out of Bahía San Carlos, and that crossing turned into a miserable passage. These days, I wait for a calm daytime weather window, and this time, I got exactly that.
If I’m being particular, there was some uncomfortable slamming from wind waves around Cabo Virgenes. But overall, the morning was a steady motorsail, and by midday the sea had settled into calm conditions that held until I dropped anchor at 8:45 p.m. in pitch-black darkness.
The fourteen-hour passage drained me more than I had anticipated. The next day, I kept things quiet and simple. By dusk, I felt ready to stretch my legs, so I paddled ashore for a short hike. The fading light painted the landscape, and I took my time to take in the scenery. That mellow start to my visit felt like the perfect way to settle into an extended stay in this remarkable place.
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