Current Position: 24 3.582’N 109 47.467’W; Course: 133 degrees; SOG: 7.0 kn; BSPD: 8.0 kn; TWS: 28.0 kn; TWD: 305 degree; TWA: 180 degrees; Distance to waypoint (Los de Los Meurtos): 123 nm
Comments: I slept 11 hours and woke at anchor to 25 kn winds from the NW. The stern of the mega yacht Northern Star was dangerously close to me, apparently because it had dragged anchor overnight. I tried to hail on 16 but got no answer. I finally flagged down one of the crew and signaled he need to move the boat forward to give me room to maneuver from a tight spot, pinned between him and a breakwater. They did move the boat and I was able to weigh anchor and turn my boat around. It was 65 nm to the next anchorage, and I got a late start. Once at sea, I found 30 kn winds and steep seas. I deployed half of my Yankee jib, which propelled me downwind at 6 kn. After I had cleared Isla San Francisco/Canal de Dan Jose, the wind backed to the N. See conditions were confused with wind-driven waves from the NW and surge from the N, causing the boat to corkscrew badly. More significantly, the angle was bad to clear Isla la Partida to get into the Cerralvo Channel. I decided to take it on the chin and head SE to get a better angle on the Channel. This meant taking 6’ waves to the port stern quarter. I fired up the engine to minimize the time to the Channel (and my pain). The boat rolled badly 30 degrees. At one point the engine stopped because the sloshing of fuel in the day tank was foaming the fuel and letting air in the line. I kept the engine off long enough to pump more fuel in the tank, then the engine ran fine. During the ordeal, I learned how quickly the scuppers in the cockpit empty the cockpit of water. As I approached the Channel, the seas settled down a bit. No longer confused, I just needed to deal with 6’ waves to the quarter, some breaking due to the wind. The Channel was uneventful, but as I expected, the big waves were back after I turned Punta Arena de la Ventana. Fortunately, it was a short distance to where I am now, Punta Perico, and when I turn it, I will be protected from the waves and wind. Ensenada de Los Muertos will be only two nm away. I should reach it just as it gets dark.
Sent from my iPhone
Comments: I slept 11 hours and woke at anchor to 25 kn winds from the NW. The stern of the mega yacht Northern Star was dangerously close to me, apparently because it had dragged anchor overnight. I tried to hail on 16 but got no answer. I finally flagged down one of the crew and signaled he need to move the boat forward to give me room to maneuver from a tight spot, pinned between him and a breakwater. They did move the boat and I was able to weigh anchor and turn my boat around. It was 65 nm to the next anchorage, and I got a late start. Once at sea, I found 30 kn winds and steep seas. I deployed half of my Yankee jib, which propelled me downwind at 6 kn. After I had cleared Isla San Francisco/Canal de Dan Jose, the wind backed to the N. See conditions were confused with wind-driven waves from the NW and surge from the N, causing the boat to corkscrew badly. More significantly, the angle was bad to clear Isla la Partida to get into the Cerralvo Channel. I decided to take it on the chin and head SE to get a better angle on the Channel. This meant taking 6’ waves to the port stern quarter. I fired up the engine to minimize the time to the Channel (and my pain). The boat rolled badly 30 degrees. At one point the engine stopped because the sloshing of fuel in the day tank was foaming the fuel and letting air in the line. I kept the engine off long enough to pump more fuel in the tank, then the engine ran fine. During the ordeal, I learned how quickly the scuppers in the cockpit empty the cockpit of water. As I approached the Channel, the seas settled down a bit. No longer confused, I just needed to deal with 6’ waves to the quarter, some breaking due to the wind. The Channel was uneventful, but as I expected, the big waves were back after I turned Punta Arena de la Ventana. Fortunately, it was a short distance to where I am now, Punta Perico, and when I turn it, I will be protected from the waves and wind. Ensenada de Los Muertos will be only two nm away. I should reach it just as it gets dark.
Sent from my iPhone