Catalina Island, USA to Bahia de Tortuga, Mexico

Our second night at Catalina Island was spent on anchor at Catalina Harbour. There is little anchoring space left but plenty of moorings to rent. We were asked to move from our spot as a barge was coming in, so we went to Little Harbour nearby. It’s a lovely cove but there is a rock in the middle of the bay and the swell comes in round a reef at the entrance. We put out bow and stern anchors.

Catalina Harbour

We left Little Harbour on Thursday 4^th January at 1515. Our destination was San Diego. It was a calm, moonlit, overnight motorsail. As we neared the inner end of the entrance channel to San Diego Harbour, we stood by and watched the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinsen pass us on its way to its tour of duty in the Pacific Ocean. Many of the 6,000 crew lined the decks. It was an impressive sight. We dipped our ensign. How did they know we were coming? What a welcome for Sal Darago!

Grand welcome for Sal Darago

This sight prompted us to visit the USS Midway Museum, where we spent a whole day following their excellent audio tour and talking to knowledgeable docents, many of whom served on the preserved aircraft carrier in her past, glory days. Her last assignment was as lead ship in Operation Desert Storm and she had previously been in Korea and in Vietnam.

Latest recruit

We spent 5 nights in San Diego. While we were there it rained for the first time since last February. Further north, mudslides destroyed homes and blocked highways. Fifteen people lost their lives. The same area had been blighted by the Thomas fire just before Christmas. We counted our blessings.

Flight deck USS Midway

We checked out of the USA downtown at the office of Customs and Border Patrol. The next day, Thursday 11^th January, we motorsailed the 65 miles to Ensenada, Mexico, in light winds.

Steering USS Midway

We returned to Baja Naval Marina. Carmina in the marina office was very helpful preparing all the paperwork needed for entry to Mexico. All the officials we had to see were located in one building. First was Immigration – cost 1,064 pesos for two persons. Second was the Port Captain – cost 288 pesos. We had to return later for a letter from the Port Captain. We were free to leave.

San Diego waterfront

As we had been to Ensenada before, we soon found an ATM, laundry and supermercado. A local mother and daughter gave us a lift in their car to a bank as the closest ATM had no money. Mostly, people are very kind and helpful.

Colourful fountain display at Ensenada

We cast off from Baja Naval on Sunday 14^th January, motored 4 miles to the Pemex fuel berth in Marina Coral and started our journey to Bahia Tortugas, arriving in the afternoon of Tuesday 16^th January. The highest windspeed recorded the first 24 hours was 5.2 knots. The calm weather gave us many opportunities to see whales blowing and breeching, their tails disappearing gracefully as they dived. The second day gave us a brief blast of 13 knot winds and we were able to sail for two and a half hours. We used our Hydrovane for the first time this trip. Later, when we were motoring again, our autopilot, Neco, went into a strop, objecting so much to the pull of Heidi’s rudder, that he threw a grub screw and stopped working. Jeremy gave him lots of tlc, adjusted his turning circle and replaced his grub screw. Apart from one further glitch, he behaved impeccably for the rest of the trip.

Huge Mexican flag flying over Ensenada Harbour