Puerto Escondido to La Paz

Not too much fresh news on the cruising front as we will just be heading back to La Paz and mostly anchoring at the same spots on the way South as we did on the way North. There are many more people/boats in the Sea of Cortez now as April is definitely the high season. The weather is turning warm and running the gamut of light and variable winds, which then become a sustained 13 knots with gusts of up to 20 knots, so you really never know what you are going to get. This makes Larry’s job of picking an anchorage even more challenging with crazy winds coming from all directions and plenty of boats vying for the best wind protection. But, that’s life on the hook and it is very special when you find that perfect, quiet anchorage with the dramatic and majestic baja mountains silhouetted in the sunset, followed by the stars that burn so bright in the pitch black sky above you cascading all the way down to the horizon. Baja is truly magical place.

Our fellow dock mate at Puerto Escondido. The 75 million dollar superyacht Moonstone (nearly 200 feet long) is owned by brothers Rob and Richard Sands who own Constellation Brands (marketer/producer of wine, beer & spirits). They left the marina a day before us. I thought it was amusing that their yacht takes up our entire salon window!

This is Moonstones’ toy hauler called Shadow. I can’t even begin to tell you the variety of toys on this 180 foot yacht…but on the deck alone there were jet skis, a little sailboat, an amphibious motor/tank-tread landing craft, a wake-board boat and all this is trailed by their tender (the boat with the four huge outboard engines).

We spent two nights at this anchorage at Punto Colorado hiding from some nasty winds, not too far from Puerto Escondido.

Independence and a fellow Nordhavn ‘Seacret’ share the bay at Punto Colorado with us. She is a beautiful 76 foot trawler owned by the very nice couple, Hilda & Jeremy.

Larry in front of Seacret and the Independence at Punto Colorado

A mummified Trigger fish…too often found on the beaches. Their teeth are large and pronounced, designed for chomping on coral.

A pretty crab molt

Morning sun on Seacret and Bella Luna (owned by Deanna and Rob) in Punta Colorado anchorage

Coffee and dogs. Deanna takes Rob and Jeremy and the pack to the beach for a morning run.

Semana Santa (Holy week) is a time when families gather together (often at the beach) to play and feast. Agua Verdi was very busy when we anchored there a few days before Easter.

The little palapa cafe with view of Bahia Agua Verdi and the large sailing ship that anchored for the evening

Didn’t catch her name but she was a beauty

Sunset at Aqua Verdi anchorage

Moon set over the cactus at Bahia Agua Verdi

9,000 Nautical Miles! Cruising Northward towards La Paz