Days 5 and 6, Isla San Francisco

Los Islotes

Yesterday, 30 January, we motored out of Ensenada El Cardonal on Isla Partida at 9 AM. We had a 21 mile crossing ahead of us, in gentle conditions. We ran the engine at 2300 rpm and made 5.8 nm over the ground. Along the way we had a good look at Ensenada Grande, which is indeed large, comprised of three lobes. Then off the north end of Isla Partida we got a good look at rocky Los Islotes, renowned for its sea lions and great snorkeling.
We dropped anchor in the middle of the Isla San Francisco anchorage at 12.40 PM in 7 meters of water. There we saw Murray Grey with Jim and Bonnie on board, and later had two chats with them. Like us, Jim and Bonny weren't sure how long they would stay before pushing on to Evaristo and we were all going to play it as it came. After the usual lunch and nap I lowered the outboard motor onto the Zodiac (I never tow the Zodiac far with the outboard motor mounted.) and soon we were off to explore the island. Brenda headed one way bird watching and I headed up a hill to have a look around. That night I got a 3-day GRIB wind prediction file which indicated 20-25 kt northerly winds beginning on the afternoon of Wednesday the 2nd of February. That night we watched "The Dam Busters", a black and white classic that we both enjoyed very much.

Panoramic of Isla San Francisco

This morning we got more confirmation of the impending winds and Jim advised us to move closer to the rock wall on the western side of the anchorage. We decided to do this sooner rather than later, when it was likely that more boats would arrive; and we did move the boat, but not as aggressively as some of the hardier and probably more experienced souls. By 4 PM there were 5 boats snuggled against the rocky cliff. The 5th boat was a long steel one that showed some real class by motoring between the existing boats and the cliff the dropping his anchor amazingly close to the rocks. From Pachuca it looked like if the wind swung to the south he'd be able to step off his transom and do some rock climbing. The wind piped up to 13 kt and Brenda reminded me that in Western Australia a 25 knot sea breeze is a common and ordinary event. So what is the big deal about a 20-25 kt northerly when we are only 200 meters from a beach that protects us from anything coming from the northwest to southeast, anchored in good sandy holding ground?
Before lunch Brenda and I went ashore and she bird watched for two hours while I climbed a hill to take some photos the returned to the boat to finish cleaning the oil from the bilge. (Ugh!) During her walk Brenda saw Jim and Bonnie sailing out toward San Evaristo. After lunch we spent 90 minutes taking inventory of the starboard side of the boat. My spreadsheet now documents 352 items in 121 categories. The first line records 2 x 425g cans of chilli beans in the blue container on the port side, and the last line records 2 bottles of dish washing liquid under the galley sink. The inventory includes 22 x 140g cans of tuna, 11 x 345 ml tins of evaporated milk, 52 ziploc bags, and 17 rolls of toilet paper.
Brenda and I decided to remain at this anchorage until after the strong northerly winds have passed. This could mean 5 or 6 days in Isla San Francisco, but Brenda likes the island, with its easy access to good walks, and I am of the opinion that Pachuca will be safer and more comfortable here than in San Evaristo, where the northerly wind flipped the Zodiac upside down, outboard motor and all.
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