Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Spring in the Sea of Cortez - 2016

On our wish list this season was to sail further north into the Sea of Cortez. We anchored overnight several times on the way, arriving at Bahia Concepcion, about 200 miles north of La Paz. Bahia Concepcion was our furthest northern point during our first season in Mexico. We anchored at Posada Concepcion to meet up with our friends Rob & Nancy on SV Shindig and Rob's parents Bert and Alice on MV Elegante. 


Posada Concepcion - Elegante, Shindig & Agave Azul

Bahia Concepcion is a very large and narrow bay, about 20 miles long. We've experienced a lot of wind here, but with some good protection from waves. On this trip we experienced one of the largest dolphin pods we've ever seen and watched them jumping for about 30 minutes. 


Dinner on the beach with Shindig & Elegante
Katie, Nancy & Alice at Armando's

After a few days in Bahia Concepcion, we started north into new territory. The first stop was just 20 miles north at Punta Chivato. 


Punta Chivato anchorage

Kathryn enjoys searching for unusual shells and Punta Chivato is a great place to find them. Due to whatever combination of wind and waves, the beach is covered with shells a couple feet deep. Kathryn limited herself to just one bag full of shells. 


Shell collector heaven

After a couple nights at Punta Chivato, we sailed 30 miles north to Santa Rosalia, one of our favorite places to stop when we are driving back and forth to La Paz (where Agave Azul is berthed during hurricane season). The marina is small, with room for about 15 boats and it has the last gas dock as you sail north on the west coast of the Sea. There is also a dock for the ferry that sails between Santa Rosalia and Guaymas, which is on the eastern side of the Sea.


Santa Rosalia marina

The day after we arrived, the wind picked up. The marina has a large breakwater but it was still blowing 30 knots inside the marina. We were glad to be pinned to the dock rather than on the water outside.

Blowing 30 knots inside the marina

Some cruisers told us there was a great taco stand in town and we were glad we found it. We didn't try the tripe, but the shrimp and fish tacos were excellent. The guy who owns the stand makes it fun for all who stop to eat there. 


Our favorite taco stand … shrimp, fish & tripe

Santa Rosalia was developed after copper was discovered and the French Compagnie du Boleo received a long term lease (1884-1954) in exchange for building the town, mine, port and establishing the Guaymas ferry. After the French left, the mine and the town went downhill until a Canadian and Korean joint venture reopened the mine in 2010.


Boleo mine

Compagnie du Boleo locomotive

More Boleo mine relics

Santa Rosalia has a church that was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris Exposition. It was acquired a few years later by Companie du Boleo and rebuilt in Santa Rosalia in 1897.


Gustave Eiffel's steel church


Iglesia de Santa Barbara interior

We hoped to head a couple hundred miles further north from Santa Rosalia, but after waiting out the storm and other previous delays, it was time to head slowly south back to La Paz. The anchorage 50 miles south of Bahia Concepcion is San Juanico. We spent a few days here and enjoyed the beautiful anchorage and hikes in the hills.


San Juanico anchorage

A couple weeks later we met up with cruising friends at Isla San Francisco. This is one of the most picturesque anchorages in the Sea, with water so clear you can see your anchor on the bottom in 30' of water.

Isla San Francisco Hike with Marne & Brett - SV Liahona

Yes, we did a lot of hiking this season. At Isla San Francisco, we bushwhacked over the scree one day and hiked a ridge trail the next.


Kathryn with Lynda & Mike - MV Trinity Rose

Isla San Francisco anchorage

Mike and Lynda provided their boat, and Bret and Marne provided hand-caught lobster for a memorable dinner before we all departed for different destinations.

Mike & Kathryn aboard Trinity Rose

The best Langosta I can remember!

After another stop at Caleta Partida, we headed back to La Paz for 2 weeks of preparing the boat for hurricane season. Here is Kathryn saying good bye to Agave Azul until next season.

Adios Agave Azul … we'll be back in October!