Two nights ago the weather moderated enough for us to make another hop up the coast.  For this leg our main concern was getting past the island of Cedros.  There’s some controversy amoungst the sailing community on how to traverse this island. Some sailors take the inside route, enjoying the lee of the island from the northwest winds for 40 miles or so, and then round the point, while others, take the western side or the outside route, giving you six miles distance from the funnelling accelerated winds that blow off the cape and also gives you a better sailing upwind sailing angle.  Given our luck with capes, we decided to take the outside route and I’m glad we did. We didn’t feel any of those cape effects, whereas others who opted to take the inside route at the same time as us, endured 30 knots of wind and steep, churned up seas.

Once you round the island, it’s about 70 miles of open ocean, across the Baja’s largest bight (Bahia de Vizcaino) back to the peninsula. For us, the crossing was mercifully light with winds less than 20 knots, but we never get off that easy, the waves and the accompanying wind chop were pretty substantial, which made for a bouncy crossing. I’ve forgotten how pleasant and peaceful it is to sail downwind.

We made it in one piece, but there is a gale expected tomorrow (sustained 35 knots out of the NW), and so we are anchored in San Quitin at the moment, about 110 miles from Ensenada. Although we didn’t make it all the way to Ensenada, we are relieved that we’ve passed all of the major Baja milestones and that from here it should be a relatively easy beat.

I mentioned this guide book in passing, but I want to cite it properly. This book has been invaluable! Not only is it informative, but it’s also pretty funny. * Jim brings a little ray of sunshine to an otherwise god awful passage.

Capt. Jim Elfers, Baja Bash II

You can order it here: Baja Bash II

*I’d quote some classics from the book, but you really have to experience this to get it, I think.