Current Position: 24 49.057’N 110 34.128’W; Course: At anchor on the north side of Isla San Francisco; SOG: N/A; BSPD: N/A; TWS: 8.9 kn; TWD: 48 degree; TWA: N/A;
Comments: Strange combination of wind and waves last night made it difficult to use the wind vane. And, even the tiller pilot had difficulties … the off-course alarm went off all night. Eventually, I found it most effective to oppose the jib and main and just run. I set one hour alarms, went to bed at dusk, and did not get up until 4:30 to find winds light and the sea unusually calm. I took advantage by driving from the middle of the sea towards shore, thinking that would by hard later in the morning when the wind/waves pick up … and I would need to gib later to get around Isla Cerralvo. With 9 kn winds from the NW, I was only doing 3 kn with 75 to go. By dawn there was almost no wind. Furthermore, the forecast looks like no wind until Wednesday. I bailed and when to Isla San Francisco (25 miles away) where I arrived about 11:30. The north bay was packed with super yachts. With relatively clean seawater available, I tested the watermaker for the first time, producing three gallons of water with 420 ppm DSM, acceptable for drinking. I celebrated by taking a fresh water shower and rinsing the dishes I had previously washed in salt water. The “propane leak” that set off my detector was actually some solvent. I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking and setting up an iPad with some apps in case I drop my iPhone overboard. I had to do that while I still had Starlink. In contrast to today, the wind will be screaming tomorrow. I will probably take advantage of it to drop down to Ensenada de Los Muertos, the place last year where my engine seized up, and a better jumping off point for the Pacific. There will be zero wind Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday/Thursday looks good for San Benedicto.
Comments: Strange combination of wind and waves last night made it difficult to use the wind vane. And, even the tiller pilot had difficulties … the off-course alarm went off all night. Eventually, I found it most effective to oppose the jib and main and just run. I set one hour alarms, went to bed at dusk, and did not get up until 4:30 to find winds light and the sea unusually calm. I took advantage by driving from the middle of the sea towards shore, thinking that would by hard later in the morning when the wind/waves pick up … and I would need to gib later to get around Isla Cerralvo. With 9 kn winds from the NW, I was only doing 3 kn with 75 to go. By dawn there was almost no wind. Furthermore, the forecast looks like no wind until Wednesday. I bailed and when to Isla San Francisco (25 miles away) where I arrived about 11:30. The north bay was packed with super yachts. With relatively clean seawater available, I tested the watermaker for the first time, producing three gallons of water with 420 ppm DSM, acceptable for drinking. I celebrated by taking a fresh water shower and rinsing the dishes I had previously washed in salt water. The “propane leak” that set off my detector was actually some solvent. I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking and setting up an iPad with some apps in case I drop my iPhone overboard. I had to do that while I still had Starlink. In contrast to today, the wind will be screaming tomorrow. I will probably take advantage of it to drop down to Ensenada de Los Muertos, the place last year where my engine seized up, and a better jumping off point for the Pacific. There will be zero wind Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday/Thursday looks good for San Benedicto.