Ocean Echo 1: Santa Rosalia to BLA and Refugio, Mexico

Dear friends.

It was definitely hot summer in Northern part of Sea of Cortez – Gulf of California. Temperatures reached 38 – 40 C most of the time. Hurricane season turned out to be very mild for us this year, we have been lucky!! This is a second year without any major cyclonic activity landing on Northern part of Pacific coast and Baha peninsula of Mexico. Southern mainland of Mexico has a lot of thunder storms and rain squalls during summer hurricane season. Most of hurricanes develop offshore South of Acapulco and travel NW towards Socorro Islands.
I have sailed from Santa Rosalia to San Francisquito Bay over night. Approaching S. Francisquito B. at night turned out to be tricky. Luckily I have noticed that current drift towards the land was really strong pushing the boat to the port side instead of forward. Clear night sky and moon definitely helped me to notice current drift. Next leg was to Animas Island with very powerful rip tides, which actually generated it own surface wind and steep waves. Isla Partida was an other stop for me before traveling to BLA – Bahia de Los Angeles. BLA is a small village with a few stores, gas station and small hotels. Internet is available, but it is provided by satellite, which is not too good for uploading pictures or data. BLA is famous for summer gathering of Whale Sharks the Gentle Giants. I was very lucky to swim and snorkel with a few of them. Some of them even hang around my boat while on anchor in the bay. It is a lifetime experience to swim with and watch 10 M (30 foot) Whale Shark feeding on plankton (largest fish in any ocean).
I have made 3 trips from BLA to Port of Refugio during August and September. Beautiful Port of Refugio - Puerto Refugio was my hide out for most of the summer. First 2 trips to Refugio turned out to be difficult with strong SW,W winds reaching 40 knots. Going back to BLA from Refugio can be tricky against these winds and very powerful rip tides, which reached wave heights of 2.5 - 3 M (8 - 10 feet). Refugio was my most Northern point in the Sea of Cortez. Fishing and snorkeling was very good there. Sea life was quite interesting with turtles, baby manta rays, dolphins, steller sea lions, and whales. Snorkeling with Steller Sea Lions was a lot of fun. I was quite careful, since I have been bitten by them a few years ago. Sea water visibility has been around 10M (30 feet). There were a few kinds of soft coral, similar to S. California coast.
I have experienced a few Chubasco winds created by fast-moving thunder storms or squalls. They do not last long, but winds can reach 70 knots without warning. One of them in Animas Slot cove made me to set second anchor to stay clear from nearby island. I have not seen rain in 12 months, until a few days ago.
Too much heat is not good for the body. I have developed heat rash during hottest months, which was quite annoying even painful. Skin gets plugged up with sweat, salt and dust from desert.
At the end of September I have decided to sail from Refugio to Guaymas at Mexico mainland for haul out of the boat and bottom painting. It was getting too difficult to clean bottom of the hull every week.
I have to admit, that I have now much more respect for offshore sailors/cruisers, then before. Cruising life is full of “highs” and “lows”. It is definitely not holiday trip. Dealing with a lot of different issues all the time can be difficult and stressful. On the other hand it is very interesting and rewarding.

Maintaining this blog could by complicated time to time, because Internet signal/connection for uploading pictures, will not be as good/fast as it is in large cities/communities. Please, excuse my poor writing skills and grammar. Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
I hope, that you will find something interesting in this blog – enjoy.

Jara (JJ) Holcman sv. Ocean Echo 1

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I have uploaded 7 short videos with Whale Sharks and Steller Sea Lion on YouTube. Here are the links for anybody interested to look at them. Enjoy

Whale Sharks:

http://youtu.be/IoojMfB8mmw

http://youtu.be/8AdPX2RBc_Y

http://youtu.be/MPbEKGCz8mw

Steller Sea Lions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XksamAyV3jA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccp7sqCkiTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LXIJCFiflQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egRGY_mHjho

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Isla Partida Norte

Blanca rock

Sunset at Isla Partida N.

BLA - Whale skeleton

La Ventana - The Window

Isla Calaveras

Sail rock - near Refugio

Sail rock - happy face

Port of Refugio - West Bight anchorage

Puerto Refugio - W. Bight

P. Refugio - East Bight anchorage

P. Refugio - E. Bight

Pelican - the kayaker

Looking for shade and water any where

P. Refugio - church/shrine

P. Refugio - West Bay anchorage

P. Refugio - West Bay

P. Refugio - Isla Granito (home to Stellar Sea Lions)

P. Refugio - Middle Bight

P. Refugio - Middle/East Bight

P. Refugio - East Bight

P. Refugio - E. Bight

Sunset at P. Refugio

P. Refugio - Roca Blanca

P. Refugio - W. Bay anchorage

Whale Shark - at the boat side

Whale Shark

Whale Shark - see the water flow

Whale Shark - The gentle giant

Yellow tail tuna under the boat

Life under the boat - floating reef

BLA - El Limona

Animas Slot

Animas Slot - the tunnel

Animas Slot - anchorage

Animas Slot

Steller Sea Lions

Stellar Sea Lions - Isla Granito

Isla Granito

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I have uploaded 7 short videos with Whale Sharks and Steller Sea Lions on YouTube. Here are the links for anybody interested to look at them. Enjoy

Whale Sharks:

http://youtu.be/IoojMfB8mmw

http://youtu.be/8AdPX2RBc_Y

http://youtu.be/MPbEKGCz8mw