Rinse and Repeat
Sunset on the hook at Puerto Balandra
That’s what we have been doing lately. We take a 4 day cruise and then return to the marina, rinse (wash) the boat and head back out. This time we are honored to have our east coast friends, Connie and Rich Dancaster, come all the way from Florida to cruise with us. We met Connie and Rich on the loop and are so happy that we still get to see them. After provisioning and prepping we head out with our cruising buddies to familiar anchorages.
Day 1: Tender over from Balandra, snorkel and have the obligatory cerveza at Playa Tecolote
Leaving Balandra we have to check out the massive yacht ‘Lonian’ a 285 foot Feadship Superyacht owned by Lorenzo Feritta. Lorenzo is worth $2 Billion and is Chairman of Fertitta Capital. According to superyachtfan.com, Lorenzo and his brother Frank bought the assets of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in 2001 and then sold them in 2016 for $4 Billion. Now they are private equity investors. The yacht boasts its own glass swimming pool and the translucent bottom doubles as the ceiling of the beach club below. The superyacht sleeps 14 guests and has a crew of 22.
This dual hull ‘Hodor’ (designed by Incat Crowther) is the support vessel for the superyacht ‘Lonian’ pictured above. Hodor is 217 feet long and carries all the toys for Lonian, which include five tenders (the largest being 56 feet), jet skis, quad bikes, a submarine garage, and a helipad for the Airbus ACH145 helicopter. This vessel has a crew of 20.
Day 2: We anchor at Caleta Partida and tender to the Los Islotes (20 minutes north)
These rocky islets are home to many sea lions and snorkelers have been visiting for years
We secure the tender to a mooring buoy and pop over the side for a snorkel in front of the islet
Swimming with the sea lions, Larry captures this image of a female from his GoPro
Two males size each other up. Photo grab form Larry’s GoPro
A male sea lion with part of his harem of females. Photo grab from Larry’s GoPro
Day 3: Back to the sweet anchorage of San Evaristo. Connie and Rich in the tender as we head to shore to walk around the village.
San Evaristo had its own desalination plant. Independence at anchor in the background.
Larry and Rich as we walk up to see the chapel
Chapel San Evaristo at sunset
Looking over the bay from the chapel hill. Independence in the anchorage below.
After anchoring at Isla San Francisco we tender over to see Isla Coyote. A very small village of just a few families that support themselves by fishing.
A miniature statue of the La Paz Jesus del Caracol (from the malecon in La Paz) makes a lovely alter
Yet another fabulous mural
At the top of Isla Coyote (40 feet)
Their little chapel
Larry, Connie and Rich at the top of Isla Coyote
The pescadores clean the catch of the day which was predominantly electric rays (species; Narcine entemedor)
Part of today’s catch
Receding views of Isla Coyote
We anchor the tender and jump in for a little snorkel at the reef in front of Isla Coyote
Day 4: Rich, Larry, Connie and me at the top of Isla San Francisco. Independence at anchor in the bay below.
The beauty of this island is amazing
Cheryl and Bryan Stone just happened to be anchored at Isla San Francisco on their 68 foot Nordhavn “Floating Stones’ (in the background). They kayaked over and had a cocktail on the Independence. So great to see them!