The Big Crossing

Baja Ferry at Terminal near La Paz

Passing Isla Cerralvo

Heading Across the Big Sea

We departed Bahia Falsa near La Paz at 9am on December 12^th to begin our long sojourn across the Gulf of California, more commonly called the Sea of Cortez. As we departed, we noted that a Baja Ferry was in port. The ferry service from La Paz takes 12 hours to reach Mazatlan cruising at 15 to 20 knots. It will take Got d’ Fever 31 hours at 7 to 8 knots! - A new record of long continuous motoring for the Landon crew of two! From La Paz we navigated through the Canal Cerralvo, a passage between Baja and the Island of Cerralvo which leads to the open Sea. After a day’s motoring with no land in sight and no other ships to be found, the sun set and the blackness of night closed in on us. Our self-contained little capsule of light moved through the darkness accompanied by shooting stars streaking through the night sky. Finally around midnight we spotted another ship coming from the opposite direction at 15 knots; our AIS identified the ship as the Mazatlan Star, a luxury ferry headed for La Paz. The clouds began to roll in at 4am and the wind followed agitating the Sea. Most of the stars were hidden from view except for a narrow band of clear sky to the east. After a couple of hours the light of dawn appeared, bringing a playful pod of Dolphins to welcome Got d’ Fever to a new day. Leonard spent the daylight hours sanding the cap rails in preparation for a new coat of varnish and I cleaned out the galley cupboards and baked a batch of cookies. I also spent time reading a book on the fascinating history of Mexico which I had purchased back at La Paz. The second day passed almost as quickly as the first day and culminated in our arrival at Mazatlan on December 13^th at 4pm. Another challenge was waiting for us however. Upon reaching Mazatlan, we entered a very narrow, shallow channel headed for Marina El Cid and our assigned slip. The current was so strong it was sweeping us sideways down the channel, Leonard skillfully maneuvered the boat into the slip and thankfully several people were on the dock ready to receive our lines; we had made it at last! It began to rain that evening, the first real rain shower since leaving Seattle in April; I stretched out my arms to soak up the rain and to smell the dewy air, a welcome gift and reminder of home.