La Paz, BCS, Mexico
After two nights at San Evaristo, with promises of moderate northerly winds, we got an early start (8:15 AM) for our longest passage since hitting the Baja coast - a 40-mile sail to Puerto Balandra, just 12 miles north of the city of La Paz.
The northerly winds did not materialize. In fact, this was the calmest, lightest conditions we have seen on this entire journey this year. We had a very light SE breeze for most of the day, never more than 2 to 3 knots, which completely died in the afternoon. We motored the entire way until we had to cross the dreaded San Lorenzo Channel - the last few miles before our planned destination at Puerto Balandra. The winds did pipe up to about 17 knots for a couple of miles, just in time for us to have to take the mainsail down in order to enter the anchorage.
On the plus side, we did see whales, sea lions, dolphins and lots of flying rays on this passage.
When we were closing in on the anchorage at Puerto Balandra, the winds were still increasing and the place did not look all that sheltered to us. For that reason, we decided to continue on for another 2 miles south and soon found ourselves in a cozy little bay called Caleta Lobos, where we put the anchor down at around 4 PM. In this bay, it was dead calm, not a ripple on the water and the temperature quickly climbed to over 30 degrees. Coupled with a influx of bobos (very small annoying flies) coming from the nearby mangroves, we were forced to stay inside with the hatches closed until nightfall (good thing we have good screens on all of our ports).
Around 10 PM, the nightly Coromuel wind came up, and blew all night from the south. Fortunately for us, we had excellent protection in that direction and the winds never got as high as 20 knots. In fact, the cooling effect of the wind was a great relief from the heat.
Yesterday morning, we got a lazy start and motored the 10 miles into La Paz, where we snagged a slip at Marina de la Paz. The temperature in the dead calm air of the marina rose to 37 degrees - factoring in the humidity made it feel like 42. We were cooking in our own juices, wondering why on earth we came here. A short stroll on the Malecon in the evening was all we managed for exercise
Last night, the winds came again and the temperature dropped till we needed blankets on the bed. The weather report says that yesterday was the hottest day expected and it will get better over the next week. So far, it is pretty nice today, still under 30 degrees in the early afternoon. Time to do some shopping.
{GMST}24|9.3042|N|110|19.6152|W|La Paz, BCS, Mexico|La Paz, BCS, Mexico{GEND}
{GMST}24|17.8746|N|110|19.908|W|Caleta Lobos, BCS, Mexico|Caleta Lobos, BCS, Mexico{GEND}
When we were closing in on the anchorage at Puerto Balandra, the winds were still increasing and the place did not look all that sheltered to us. For that reason, we decided to continue on for another 2 miles south and soon found ourselves in a cozy little bay called Caleta Lobos, where we put the anchor down at around 4 PM. In this bay, it was dead calm, not a ripple on the water and the temperature quickly climbed to over 30 degrees. Coupled with a influx of bobos (very small annoying flies) coming from the nearby mangroves, we were forced to stay inside with the hatches closed until nightfall (good thing we have good screens on all of our ports).
Around 10 PM, the nightly Coromuel wind came up, and blew all night from the south. Fortunately for us, we had excellent protection in that direction and the winds never got as high as 20 knots. In fact, the cooling effect of the wind was a great relief from the heat.
Yesterday morning, we got a lazy start and motored the 10 miles into La Paz, where we snagged a slip at Marina de la Paz. The temperature in the dead calm air of the marina rose to 37 degrees - factoring in the humidity made it feel like 42. We were cooking in our own juices, wondering why on earth we came here. A short stroll on the Malecon in the evening was all we managed for exercise
Last night, the winds came again and the temperature dropped till we needed blankets on the bed. The weather report says that yesterday was the hottest day expected and it will get better over the next week. So far, it is pretty nice today, still under 30 degrees in the early afternoon. Time to do some shopping.
{GMST}24|9.3042|N|110|19.6152|W|La Paz, BCS, Mexico|La Paz, BCS, Mexico{GEND}
{GMST}24|17.8746|N|110|19.908|W|Caleta Lobos, BCS, Mexico|Caleta Lobos, BCS, Mexico{GEND}
No comments:
Post a Comment