We woke mid morning to the roll of incoming swell. With the sun shining brightly we raised anchor and headed back across the bay to better protection and closer to Kirby. The boat we about took out in the dark had left. As we motored closer Kirby meet us out on the stern of the boat with coffee in hand. We were invited over as soon as we got anchored. Heather and Barron on Remedy was there as well. We met them on the docks of Santa Rosalia and were looking forward to getting to know them better.
We anchored and paddled over to Kirby. Enjoying hot coffee we shared our passage stories. Asking each other if they seen the same dolphin and if the Chubasco got them. What kind of wind we all had. It is so interesting that in that little of space and traveling the same direction we 1: don’t see each other and 2: can have such different experiences. The dolphins visited each boat. But the wind and chubasco was a different story. While Heather and Barron got hit with high winds, lightning, and rain Kirby had about the same experience we did. Little to no wind.
We enjoyed a few days in San Fracisquito. A moderately sized bay giving you decent protection from the prevailing south winds this time of year. Made for gentle days and good night sleeps. One night we had dinner Lodos as we watched dark clouds build off to the west. Those clouds suddenly turned towards us and sent us scrambling back to our boats dodging lightning. Rain so hard that we were soaked before even getting into the dinghy’s. I guess you would call that a proper shower.
We were getting along so well that we all decided to cross the channel over to Isla Animas for our next spot. The charts document rocks and hazards and also a strange icon that we later understand as “area of high current”. We watch the tides, check the weather, and set sail. Soon the wind dies and the sea is calm and flat. Up ahead we start noticing small areas of swirling water. It was strange. They didn’t seem to bother Hiraya’s direction. Not long after the areas of swirling water grew in size. There was a noise in the air of rushing water. It was strange and interesting. Left us a little unnerved.
We continue toward our destination but I start noticing that in order for my gps to track us toward our destination I was basically sailing 70 degrees off of my route. This made it appear that I was aiming at the bottom half of the Island South of Isla Animas. Sam not being at the helm couldn’t understand why I was doing what I was doing. While trying to explain and understand each other the rushing water sound turned into a loud rumbling. Our speed slowed. Still able to go in the direction of my choosing we sailing and slipped our way North while pointed South. But never really going back wards. It was truly a weird sensation. Took a while to wrap by head around it.
Lucky for us the wind had picked up and we sailed the last little bit. Making us forget about the opposing tide. We attempted to anchor under sail with the dinghy motor on but in neutral. We ended up bringing the head sail in to soon taking away all our speed and had to resort back to pushing Hiraya around with the dinghy. Kirby rushed out to help but we were under control by the time he got there. Safely anchored we headed over to Kirby’s for drinks and chatting. He had already been anchored for hours before us. Pretty sure he had even gotten a nap in. Will we ever get use to being the last ones to arrive at every party?
Isla Animas is an uninhabited island. Pelicans have turned it into a rookery and there are hundreds of them. The bay is full of fish and reefs surround the entrance and Eastern side. We are in the Channel Islands. And can easily see the neighboring islands. Friends of Kirby’s are anchored to the island North of us. We will meet them in the morning when Kirby has the coffee on.
Heather and I take a hike from the beach up to the top of the island. As we make our way to the top we begin noticing hundreds of pelican nests and pelican carcass laying about. The smell of decaying flesh floats through the air. We walk careful to stay up wind. It seems that something came through and killed a lot of birds at once. The carcass appeared to all be in the same stage of decay. Reaching the highest point we were able to take in the magnificent view surrounding us. As we stand there taking in the view and chatting something catches my eye.
I freeze and turn slowly until I see a large reptile leg pull under a rock and I realize that a very large lizard is staring up at me from under the rock. He may have died from the screaming that soon followed. Heather jumped as I lept toward her and we laughed as she almost caught me as I flew through the air.
SV Perspective who we met in Santa Rosalia along with SV Alegria and SV Dogfish arrived by dinghy over from the other island for coffee on Kirby’s boat. We spent the better part of the day chatting and getting to know each other. That would be the fun part of having a larger boat, accommodating so many friends at one time and comfortably. After coffee Kirby moved on. Heather and Barron had already left shortly after our hike so Sam and I were left alone in the bay to wait for wind.
During that time we hiked, snorkeled, and paddled some more. We watched the sunset and the stars come out. Trying to relax and let the stress and unknown worry us. We spent countless hours in conversation or in silence. We talk about our fears and worries. But also our successes. A few days later the wind soon filled in and we made our way out. Our plan was back across to the peninsula. Bahia Animas. Yes there are so many bays and islands that hold the same name.