We untied the dock lines in San Carlos, Mexico at 6:09am.
Before that, I did a quick scramble to a Barracuda Bob’s, the only coffee shop in the marina, to use the WiFi even though they were still closed. It was a rush to get my last Instagram post out: Off The Grid. And the stress to get it posted made the thought of no WiFi for a while even sweeter.
I got back to the boat by 5:49 am and Chris was just waking up. I unloaded my backpack, secured items in the galley, and readied the cabin for the trip ahead.
6:09 am strikes and we’re off.
As we near the fuel dock we realize we forgot to set up the chart plotter, a GPS system for boats that also tells you the depth so you don’t run aground.
Muy importante.
We stall out for a few minutes while Chris hooks it together and I take charge of the tiller to steer clear of anchored boats in the bay.
Motoring out of the harbor, we also notice we haven’t reefed the mainsail yet. (Reefing the main allows us to adjust the sail depending how strong the wind. Also, muy
But it’s cool. This is sailing. Learning what you need to do at the momement and doing it. Usually, at the last minute.
It will take us over 24 hours to get to Puerto Yavaros.
Yavaros is the next town South that will have a good holding for us to anchor in for the next several days as the “Nortes” or Northerly winds build and shoot down the Sea of Cortez.
Wind gusts can get up 30 – 40 knots, way too strong for me, a traveler-who-sails (as opposed to a sailor-who-travels.)
A cool, steady sail at about 12-15 knots is my happy place. I learned that after tackling a gnarly windstorm (25+ knots) around Isla Natividad off Baja, Mexico last cruising season.
What’s the point in going out in gnarly weather? We’ve got nothing to prove. We’re in Mexico. We’re on a boat. Todo bien.
Chris decided to unfurl the jib and we motor sailed for a while before adjusting the mainsail.
And after the reefs were fixed in the main, we hoisted her up, waved goodbye to San Carlos with big smiles on our faces as we breathed
