North 24degrees 46minutes, West 112degrees 15minutes, November 1st (I know it’s the first, just not sure what day of the week it is!)
We tucked into Bahia Santa Maria last night about 3AM. (Once again, the radar has really been a big help in taking some of the guesswork out of entering a strange harbor in the dark). Had a spectacular run down from Bahia Tortuga. Yesterday I mentioned the Dorado, but that was just the beginning. After that we put the lines back out (two handlines and one pole-we’re running with a cedar plug, a rapala and a squid combo that has four little squid being “chased” by a large one which is where the hook is. This latter is catching most of the fish) and had the most amazing fishing experience I’ve ever encountered. We were running DDW at around 6 knots wing and wing, when I saw what looked like a big torpedo fly out of the water about 50 yards off the starboard bow. Ann saw it at the same time and we both gasped. At was a six foot plus Tuna apparently chasing squid and it leaped at least 8 feet in the air. That was just the beginning. Next there were dolphins AND tuna leaping clear of the water chasing the squid and we sailed right through the chaos. You can guess what happened next; ZIIINNNNGGGG, the reel started screaming and SNAAPPP, one of the handlines got hit. We had hit two fish at once with tuna and dolphin madness all around. Everyone jumped to. We had to slow the boat down RIGHT NOW as the line was already halfway off the reel and if we couldn’t stop soon, the tuna would get to the end of the line and break it. We quickly roller furled the jib and headed the boat up, essentially heaving to. Pulled the handline and a small tuna was on. We had a good amount of fish and a big one still on the pole so we shook the little one off the hook for another day. Now for the one on the pole. What a fight. Turned out to be a 50-60 pounder and it took over an hour to get him on the boat. Biggest fish I’ve ever encountered. The meat takes up all of one of our iceboxes. Geoff’s making some sushi rolls, sashimi and tuna poke for dinner as we speak and we’re going to share much of the rest at the beach party tomorrow.
A little sympathy today for a fellow sailor who got in trouble in our midst last night. At the 0730 roll call we heard of an emergency that happening the early morning hours. Not part of our fleet sailing to Cabo, but a single hander went on the beach a couple miles North of here last night (it was pretty windy). The sailboat apparently is a total loss since it went through the surf and is well up on the beach, the good news is no injuries. A group from our fleet hired a 4 wheel drive truck from Magdelena Bay just South of here and drove up the boat to dismantle and salvage what they could.
Woke up to a nice day. Set up wind scoops on the two hatches to funnel the breeze down below. Very comfortable. Made huevos rancheros for breakfast which were a big hit. Then Ann and I took a hike to the top of one of the hills surrounding the bay and enjoyed a 360 degree view from one side down into the bay where our boats are anchored and on the other side out into the Pacific.
Diane has been enjoying being back here in Baja, having done this sail both from North to South and the other way. She spent the day soaking up the sun and reading on the deck.
Geoff and Jansen did NOT get into any trouble today YET, (there’s a party tonight on a couple of the other boats who are rafting up for the event). Jansen did some scrounging and scored some gas for our dinghy which was low on fuel; he’s looking to see if we can get some water as I think we’re running low and he’s found someone willing to loan he and Geoff a surfboard. They’re planning to get up early (if Sailor Jerry doesn’t keep them up too late) and hike over the hill to the Pacific side and do some surfing.
A busy day. I thought this cruising stuff was supposed to be relaxing.
Oh and the Tequila; once we anchored last night and were sure the hook was set, we adjourned to the main cabin for shots of Tequila to celebrate being in Baja with another fantastic leg behind us. 3AM, Tequila and the promise of a bunk that wouldn’t roll 45 degrees to either side while you’re trying to sleep and hang on at the same time. Sweet!