Go the Wrong Way: Bahia Santa Maria

We are anchored in Bahia Santa Maria on the outside of the Baja (near Magdalena Bay) after a series of daytime and overnight passages from Ensenada. Our initial run from Ensenada was downwind and overnight with boisterous north winds. We ran under reefed main and the autopilot handled the helm but ran down the batteries.

Meal time on Raven

After a rest day we departed for Turtle Bay on another rolly downwind passage this time under jib with the new Monitor wind vane steering. In Turtle Bay we had a day in the town and met a few cruisers off other sailing boats who are mostly headed south. Steve on a 70+ foot schooner was single handing and bound for the Marshall Islands. We wished him luck but hope he is able to find crew to help with handling such a formidable boat. We had false killer whales visit us in the anchorage here as well as Brant's geese.

Bouncy panga ride from the boat to the lagoon

From Turtle Bay we made a day trip to Asuncion and then on to Abreojos where we hoped to arrange whale watching in the San Ignacio lagoon. We had to wait a couple more days to do this and moved the boat over to near the lagoon entrance. We arranged for a panga to come out to the boat with a guide and take us to the lagoon where we had the most wonderful morning surrounded by Gray Whales including a mother and calf who cam so close we could touch them.

Gray whale alongside

Baby gray whale - attracted to Rani pouring water from a bailer

Gray whale poking ts head up

Our next passage was an overnight run to Bahia Santa Maria where we anchored off the fishing village. We sailed most of the way with main and jib drawing us along in light northerly airs. We had a day ashore today on the amazing beach that stretches for many miles.