23.5N 109.5W. Ensenada de los Muertos, BCS, Mexico. As always, we are keeping a keen eye to weather. As of last night, Tropical Storm Kiko was predicted to keep to mainland and blow out in about five days time. As of last night it was looking good to set sail this morning, head south to Los Frailes and then onward to Los Cabos. Once the Northers let up and the north swell backed down a bit for that coastland passage, we would set sail north to Bahia Santa Maria. As of this morning, however, things look different... Kiko is now predicted to become a hurricane by most, if not all sources, but predictions vary her position between the mainland (our vote!) and the Baja area. So, we are staying put for now....where we can proceed onward when the weather clears and remain close enough to La Paz to make a run for it, if Kiko starts to head this way.
As for places to be "stuck," Ensenada de los Muertos is a great one. We are the only boat at anchor here, though there are a few sport fishers on moorings. The water is warm and we have already enjoyed a few swims to check out the reefs. There is a little swell making its way in the anchorage...but not enough for surf...though, if Kiko makes the right move, Steve may get a little surfing in before we leave.
UPDATE: 22 October 2007. Kiko is heading west and is, by most sources, no longer threatening the Baja Peninsula. We were going to head out this morning but decided to wait one more day to let the south swell from Kiko lie down a bit ... and the same for the Northers that are making their presence known for the first time this season in the Sea of Cortes. One much larger boat left the anchorage this morning, only to return within the hour... so we are thinking that we made the right decision. The day here in the anchorage has been on the windy side...but we like the "free electrons" charging up our batteries via the WindGen. In spite of the fact that the wait here has been a bit of a trial, the extra time has been spent to some advantage. "Patience" after all is a virtue...especially on a sailboat.
