On Wednesday (August 24), the alarm went off at 0500 am. We got up Kosmos ready to go. We untied at 0600, before the first light of dawn. When we were already sweating at 0515 am, we knew it was going to be an especially hot day. Here is Santa Rosalia in the early light of dawn and the sunrise. We couldn’t believe how bright the crescent moon was!
It was an uncomfortable 13.5 hour run to Bahia San Francisquito. The seas were somewhat confused and the waves surprisingly large. We rate the run “very rough” seas by Sea of Cortez standards, but “not bad” by Pacific standards. Quite honestly, the seas conditions were what we typically went out in in San Diego, but we’ve become spoiled by the smooth seas we’ve had lately here in the Sea of Cortez.
The wind was 15 knots on our tail You’d think that the following winds would add speed, but the current was strong and against us most of the day, so we were moving slow. Slow progress is always frustrating when the seas are uncomfortable.
What was hardest to deal with, though, was the oppressive heat. By the afternoon, it was 94 degrees Fahrenheit with 68% humidity. Our clothes were wearing were sopping wet from all the sweating.
When we arrived in the anchorage, Eric chose a spot near a lovely looking beach. The spot was exposed to the wind/seas at the moment, but would be protected in a few hours when the wind shifted. We were almost immediately greeted by bees.
Eric put out one of the flopper stoppers, but it was still rolly and uncomfortable. We turned on the generator and ran the A/C long enough to cool down the boat, then went to bed.
Here is the sunrise on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, the anchorage conditions were much better than they had been Wednesday night. There was still a swell, but we’ve had to deal with swell at most of the anchorages we’ve been to so far in the Sea of Cortez. As the day progressed, the swell very slowly and steadily smoothed out and by evening, the anchorage was calm.
We spent most of the day running the generator, making water and enjoying the A/C. Once the water level was high enough, we visited with the neighbor in the anchorage and then headed to the beach for a walk onshore. On our way in to shore, we saw several rays. Onshore, there were tons of crabs, and we saw a few large crabs playing in the surf.
After the walk, we went for a swim around the boat. The water clarity wasn’t good, so we didn’t see much.
In the early evening, Eric went for a dinghy ride to the other side of the bay to an inlet that led to a bay within a bay. Here is the entrance.
He scouted out the little bay. It looked very protected, but it was also relatively shallow, so under normal circumstances, it was questionable as to whether it was safe for Kosmos. Considering it was a new moon with extreme tide swings, there was no taking Kosmos in there now.
Christi tried to sit outside to watch the sunset, but the bees and wasps were too aggressive and she had to go back in. She did manage to snap a photo, though.
