Day 7 - Isla San Francisco

Ridge walk looking north to Isla San Jose

We started the day looking for weather reports on the HF radio. For some reason I could not hear Don Andersen at the AmigoNet session but I was able to hear Geary a few minutes later on the Sonrisa net. His report confirmed what latest previous GRIB file had indicated: strong winds down the length of the Sea of Cortez on Wednesday (tomorrow) and Thursday. The winds will be gale force in the northern half of the sea and up to 40 knots in the southern half. However, most importantly the GRIB file indicated lighter winds at Pachuca's position - 15 to 20 knots.

Returning from ridge walk

We then went for a walk on the island. Brenda resumed her bird watching and I took the well beaten path along the ridge at the eastern side of the bay. I got back to the beach before Brenda so decided to walk to the western end to gauge the layout of the boats strung out along the rock face. On the way I struck up a conversation with someone doing some rod and reel fishing off the beach and it turned out to be Ed, the man who had impressed me with his cool approach to his anchoring position so close to the wall. As I had expected, Ed knows the area well and this is his 12th year cruising these waters. I asked Ed about the weather prediction and he quoted the expected 40 kt winds, though he wasn't sure of what the wind speed in our location would be. However, he told me that the closer that we got to the wall the better. After the morning's boat movements there was a convenient position available and I persuaded Brenda to indulge me in yet another (second) movement of the boat. We executed the move quietly and efficiently and at last I was satisfied and promised Brenda that there would be no more movements. The boat's position at the moment is 24N49.298, 110W34.279 and the sounder is reporting 6.4 meters of water.
Before lunch I made more preparations for the blow: lifted the outboard motor from the Zodiac and mounted it on the stern rail, assembled and chained up the 50 lb Swarbrick anchor and left it on the foredeck ready for quick deployment, and moved 3 halyards from the mast to the inner forestay to reduce clanking. This is all probably over reaction but the practice is good and so is the prudence, because you never know.

Looking north

After lunch I went into the water with a snorkel and cleaned the growth around the waterline of the boat. I dived and had a good look at the propeller, shaft and anodes, and all looked well.
Late in the afternoon Bruce from the small yellow hulled boat next to hours dropped by and told us that he has seen 45 knot winds in this bay. He's a carpenter who has been escaping the cold winters of Colorado for the warmth of the Sea of Cortez for the last 30 years.
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