Tag: sailing

Up the Sea 3.4. Santa Rosalía to Puerto Peñasco.

Up the Sea 3.4. Santa Rosalía to Puerto Peñasco.

When we left Santa Rosalía in the afternoon for Ísla Salsipuedes, we calculated to have favorable winds after the sunset for this overnight passage. First it was flat calm, no wind, no waves, so we were motoring along, used the last bit of cell service, 

Oh My Anchor!

Oh My Anchor!

This was a windy season! Maybe we were always in the wrong spot at the wrong time this spring or that low pressure field over the Pacific was holding out for too long continuously sending winds over the Baja California to the Sea of Cortez, 

In The Sea 3.3. Around Santa Rosalía.

In The Sea 3.3. Around Santa Rosalía.

We left Santa Rosalia with the forecast of winds in the afternoon. That suited us well, we would get through the narrow Craig Channel without too much turbulence and in the afternoon sail down the Bahía Santa Inez.  And sail we did. It was a 

Down the Sea 3.2. Bahía de los Ángeles to Santa Rosalía.

Down the Sea 3.2. Bahía de los Ángeles to Santa Rosalía.

We love Bahía de los Ángeles. It’s so remote in its outpostness, but there is plenty going on. Daily motorcyclists arrive in town. A small group of dirt bikers on a trip across the Baja’s mountain ranges climb off their dusty bikes walking like cowboy’s 

Taking Care of a Lady.

Taking Care of a Lady.

It took us months but there she is in all her restored glory ready for new adventures. Completed as hull #54 on the 7th of March 1969, our Imagine turned 50 this year. Radu discovered on the day that this hull ID number is actually 

Down the Sea 3.1. Puerto Peñasco to Bahía de los Ángeles., sailin g

Down the Sea 3.1. Puerto Peñasco to Bahía de los Ángeles., sailin g

The boat splashed, we turned the engine on and motored away. Not too far, just from Cabrales Boatyard across the harbor to Fonatur Marina. I looked back to see that everyone had come out: the New Zealand/Canadian couple getting their colossal catamaran painted for their 

SV Imagine’s Sail Inventory

SV Imagine’s Sail Inventory

Sails we carry on our Alberg 37. Our #1 Genoa is our hardest working sail, it’s on the furler, easy to handle, very big and at 135% it goes 3 feet past the mast. We often reach 8-9 knots only with this headsail and without 

Up the Sea 2.6. Santa Rosalía to Puerto Peñasco

Up the Sea 2.6. Santa Rosalía to Puerto Peñasco

It was nice to be in Santa Rosalía again. Visiting places several times gives a sense of familiarity to our unpredictable life. Santa Rosalía is a thriving mining town and on Father’s Day Sunday the men of the city were dined at restaurants all over 

Up the Sea 2.5. Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalia

Up the Sea 2.5. Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalia

Puerto Escondido’s natural harbor was beautiful as ever. Sunrises are especially serene there; the morning sky rises framed by two windows formed by hills enclosing the bay. The marina changed owners; a private company bought the land and harbor from Fonatur, a state-run network of marinas. 

Up the Sea 2.4. La Paz to Puerto Escondido

Up the Sea 2.4. La Paz to Puerto Escondido

We had a nice long stay in La Paz this time, we even afforded ourselves the luxury of staying in a marina for a month. From our slip we had a view of Bahia La Paz, the malecon and the town. At night the town 

Tough or My Dad the Sailor.

Tough or My Dad the Sailor.

My dad was born on the Baltic Sea in the Prussian town of Elbing, the Polish Elbląg, and grew up in the nearby port town of Königsberg, now Kaliningrad in Russia. His father was a sailor and captain from whom my father learned to love 

Out of the Sea 2.3. La Paz to Yelapa and Bahía Banderas

Out of the Sea 2.3. La Paz to Yelapa and Bahía Banderas

La Paz lies behind an inlet and a large sandbank. Boats anchored in the bay are protected from swell unless it travels exactly the direction of the channel. The channel also funnels the tides and current, which makes the boats swing at anchor and not, 

Rock Bottom.

Rock Bottom.

They say, when sailing, you will get to know your limits. I have last night! Feels like shit, when you hit it, and everything around you comes crashing down. That is what rock bottom is. On rocky bottom no anchor holds, so you put down 

Down the Sea 2.2. Santa Rosalía to La Paz

Down the Sea 2.2. Santa Rosalía to La Paz

We left Santa Rosalia early after a short night sleep, because I was editing, formatting and uploading pictures and finally posting the last posts around midnight. Radu was preparing the boat, checking systems. On any passage we have a berth prepared for sleeping including a 

Viva La Bilge Pump!

Viva La Bilge Pump!

Since this night I can attest to, that the most important crew on board is the bilge pump. We are motoring, because there is absolutely no wind, unfortunately, because a little while back a seam in our engines muffler box gave out and seawater is 

Down the Sea 2.1. Puerto Peñasco to Bahía Kino and Santa Rosalía

Down the Sea 2.1. Puerto Peñasco to Bahía Kino and Santa Rosalía

11/18-12/12/2016 We left Puerto Peñasco around noon for our about 20 hour crossing of the upper Sea of Cortez to Puerto Refugio, an anchorage at the northern shore of Ísla Ángel de la Guardia. We had spent several nice days in July there and had 

No Wallet for a Week.

No Wallet for a Week.

SV Coastal Drifter’s Debbie calls it ‘having a free day’. When we are at remote anchorages and even if we go ashore there are no people, no villages, no restaurants and we leave the wallet on the boat. There aren’t any tiendas, supermarkets or vendors 

How Much Does It Really Cost to Sail Away?

How Much Does It Really Cost to Sail Away?

Most think that this is an unachievable dream. Not so. It is attainable and will cost as much as you have. Cruisers spend money the same way on water, as they did on land. Some cash out their life on land early, some later. Some 

Up the Sea 1.4. Bahía de los Ángeles to Puerto Refugio.

Up the Sea 1.4. Bahía de los Ángeles to Puerto Refugio.

We skipped Puerto Don Juan, which fooled us not to be a seductive anchorage, instead it looked barren and hot. This bay has only a narrow entrance from the sea and is the best hurricane shelter in the area, so we wanted to check it 

Nobody tells you how hard it is.

Nobody tells you how hard it is.

Getting the boat and outfitting is easy. After leaving comes the hard part. Complaining about life when you live on land is normal. Complaining as a cruiser is just not done. We are out there living the dream, complaining would be heresy. How about the 

My Kind of People.

My Kind of People.

The other day in Bahía de Los Ángeles, we were sitting around with a bunch of cruisers under Guillermo’s palapa when a landlubber from Texas joined our group. He was a young Armenian immigrant to the US close to getting his Green Card and on 

Up the Sea 1.3. Santa Rosalía to Bahía de los Ángeles

Up the Sea 1.3. Santa Rosalía to Bahía de los Ángeles

Santa Rosalía is a lovely town. It was build around a large copper mine and about two thirds of the population of this small town of 12.000 is employed by the mine. There is virtually no unemployment and the town conveys a strong sense of community. The 

Up the Sea 1.2. Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalía

Up the Sea 1.2. Puerto Escondido to Santa Rosalía

We arrived at Puerto Escondido after a wonderful short sail and ride from Bahía Aqua Verde. The port is very hidden, as it’s name described and opened to a large landlocked bay. It is arguably the best protected hurricane hole on all of Baja and 

Critters and Bugs on Board.

Critters and Bugs on Board.

Every region has it own kind of bugs. I don’t mind bugs so much, if they don’t sting, but actually, I would to keep all bugs our of and off the boat. One obvious solution are bug screens. Bug screens are not created equal and 

Up the Sea 1.1. La Paz to Bahía Aqua Verde

Up the Sea 1.1. La Paz to Bahía Aqua Verde

First bay out from La Paz. Left at midday after running the watermaker one more time for two more hours per Bill’s request. Checked out of the port at the marina office with those nice ladies, Cyntia and Martha, got diesel at Costa Baja, looked 

Anchoring Etiquette.

Anchoring Etiquette.

We had heard of them, people anchoring way too close, and now we’ve met one. Actually, this is the second one, but so obnoxious. that it warrants a rant. We come to this empty bay, nice and wide, large anchoring shelf of 27′. We anchor 

Ironing Out the Kinks.

Ironing Out the Kinks.

Most of you wonder probably how does one live on a small sailboat with a partner. And then to go cruising and to be together all day, every day. Especially on passages and at anchor the boat is all you have. You can retreat to 

Civilization Wuss..

Civilization Wuss..

Imagine living in 250 sq feet/ meters with your husband and a dog. Imagine your closet contains 10 T-shirts, 7 shirts, 5 shorts, 5 pairs of shoes, a jewelry box the size of a large shampoo bottle. Most of your clothes are sailing and fleece 

That was a long and hard one.

That was a long and hard one.

Long passages can be like endurance training. When the day is divided into either on or off watch, this feels like work. We are as far away from away from work as one can be, yet we still get used to 30 hours of either 

Today was an exciting day!

Today was an exciting day!

People have been telling us in San Diego that we would have great winds and following seas down the coast of Baja California. I was hoping we would too, but we had been so unlucky the last month with winds right on the nose or