Isla Partida

Our time in Marina Palmira ran out on Dec. 1, so we set sail for some of the nearby islands that are part of Mexico’s national park system.  It took about 4 hours to motor (no wind of course) to Isla Partida, where we anchored in the flooded crater of an extinct volcano.  There were a couple other boats here that we knew, and we of course got together for cocktails.

 We got the kayaks in the water and explored the anchorage and the canal that goes through to the other side of the island.  Lots of lava rocks and cactus.  We found out on our second day there that some high winds were forecast for the next couple of days.  The winds were supposed to start on Monday.  However, when we tried to leave the anchorage on Sunday, the winds outside the volcano were gusting to 30 knots plus with huge breaking seas coming all the way down the Sea of Cortez.  We decided to turn back to the anchorage as it was not safe to return to La Paz.  The weather forecast we picked up on the ham radio (SSB) said the winds were going to increase for the next three days to gale force.  We were stuck.  All the other boats left to move to another nearby anchorage, but we were well anchored and decided to stay put.  There was no swell or long fetch in the anchorage so we felt it was a good spot to deal with whatever wind came down into the crater.  We put out 200 feet of chain in 20 feet of water with double snubbers and our anchor sail.  The gusts coming down from the cliffs around us often topped 30 knots, making sleeping nearly impossible.  We took turns on anchor watch during the daytime.  By Wednesday, we had been in the anchorage for six days, and four days with the whole place to ourselves. 

Finally on Thursday morning the winds came down enough to make an escape.  We motored into the remaining swells about 4 miles north to Bahia Grande where we found another beautiful empty cove.  We immediately threw the kayaks in the water and went for a paddle around the cove.  Our kayaks have a window in front of the seat so we can look at the coral and the fish without even getting wet!  Since the water temperature has been unseasonably cold at 70 degrees, we have only done some short afternoon swims.

Our private cove in Bahia Grande

Hiking through the cacti

Cathy in a lava bubble

We spent three days exploring this nice bay before heading back to La Paz.  We plan to wait for another weather window to head further north and do some more island hopping.  In addition, we need to repair the bow roller, the chafe gear and both snubbers that were damaged during the few days of high winds.