We left La Paz and motored across the Bahia de La Paz to Partida, north of Espíritu Santo. We were here last year. This was a great first stop to get some miles in, make water, and test out Starlink in our first remote location as we are not using the Irridium Go this season. We had calm winds so did not do much sailing but it was a very pleasant first day on the water. Once the anchor was down at Partida, we started making water and jumped in for a swim. Three hours later the tank was full, we barbecued, and soaked in the bliss of being back out at anchor. During the night we woke to a sea lion taking a loud breath at our stern and coming around to rub on the anchor chain.
The next morning we had calm seas again with no wind and so we motored up to San Evaristo. This is where we left off last year before getting turned around due to engine issues, so we made quick time to get right back on course. We met another couple at the one restaurant on shore, Lupe’s, who are from Vancouver, Canada and are headed north in the sea all the way up to Puerto Penasco to haul out. As the sun got lower we headed in to make a curry for dinner and relax on the bow to watch the sun set behind the Sierra de la Giganta mountains.
We left San Evaristo for Los Gatos the next morning, excited to be progressing further north into the sea. Another day of calm conditions. We arrived at Los Gatos early in the day and were the only boat in the anchorage. This is a remote anchorage with no structures or services – only beach, cactus, rock, and lots of bees. We had some recyclables in the cockpit and water in the galley sink, which they quickly found and we quickly learned both were an unfortunate oversight. Luckily all the screens were on the hatches and portlights so we just needed to put up the bug net over the companionway; then we swatted and cleaned and ran and hid until they gave up and left. We hiked around the rocks on shore and swam from the boat. By sunset, seven more boats came in including an Island Packet 379, of which we were told only one was made. Other than a change to the swim step, it looks identical to our boat (an IP370). We spoke with the couple onboard as well as a few other cruisers in the anchorage. We watched another fabulous sunset before dinner and, after a restful night, were back in the cockpit with coffee for sunrise the next morning.
SV Solitude 