May 20, 2026
With the sun up, the four other boats in the anchorage weighed anchor and headed for Penasco. I wasn’t in a rush since the overnight winds had kicked up the seas, and an early departure would have made for a rougher passage. So I stayed another day, cleaned the bottom of the boat, and started the decommissioning process. The next…
May 17, 2026
More wind was forecast for tonight, and with it came even more shrimp boats anchoring in the bay. I’m confident in my own ground tackle and in single‑handing, so my focus shifted to the buddy boats. First stop was SV Cigano, where I helped Geraldo swap his anchor. He had an excellet Rocna onboard, but for some reason the Bruce…
May 16, 2026
High seas drama, I mean it is cruising so that goes with the territory… The day began with a hike. I’ve explored the area behind the beach before, but only about a mile inland. This time, my goal was to cross to a beach on the west side of the island (I’m anchored on the north side). The hike was…
May 15, 2026
After a low key recovery/boat project day yesterday, I was ready for some real exercise. Hiking around Isla Mejía is a must every time I’m here. Once I finished my coffee and after watching the sunrise from the top of the boat, I headed out. I dinghied over and explored more of the island than I ever had before, including…
May 12, 2026
The night was windy, really windy. There wasn’t much fetch, but the gusts brought plenty of noise. Just before bed, a small cruise ship slipped in to seek shelter and with it came bright lights blazing 24/7. Fortunately, it anchored behind me, so the glow stayed out of my cabin. The forecast called for the wind to ease overnight and…
May 11, 2026
The morning felt perfect for fishing. I’ve always had good luck here, but with brand-new, untested lures, it was anyone’s guess. I motored to my favorite spot and began trolling, back and forth, adjusting depths, swapping lures, waiting for a strike. Finally, I got a hit and landed a cabrilla. Relief washed over me. A few more passes brought in…
May 8, 2026
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…
May 4, 2026
The wind patterns had been steady all week, so I aimed to secure a slip in Santa Rosalia before 10 a.m., if one was available. From Punta Chivato, the 35‑mile run would be tough, so I chose Isla San Marcos instead, leaving a shorter 21‑mile leg for tomorrow. The passage north was manageable, though the first half was a slog…
May 3, 2026
As the sun rose and the morning offshore breeze picked up, I thought, “Hot damn, let’s sail!” So off to Punta Chivato I went. The wind was light, but with only ten miles ahead, I was content with anything over two knots. For about an hour I was making 4.1 knots and feeling good…until the wind died and I had…
May 2, 2026
Back in El Burro, I’d heard that the beachside restaurant in Mulegé, the one that always looks like it could be blown down in the next storm but still serves excellent food, had been taken over by a new family. Checking into it, I lucked out, tonight they were hosting live music. With calm overnight winds forecast, it would be…
May 1, 2026
Up early to beat the heat, I set out on the hike to the hills overlooking the area. I’d done this trail on past visits, but it had been long enough that I’d forgotten how strenuous it was—basically straight up a wash. Much of the climb was over rocks, giving my ankles a workout. I pushed on, stopping only for…
April 29, 2026
The north wind had been blowing hard every day, leaving only calm, quiet nights. The forecast looked a little better, though not great, for a sixty‑mile run. To stack the odds, I set off at 12:30am—just after midnight. With a nearly full moon, it was easy to slip out of the anchorage and make the left turn. For a few…