June 15 2012 Isla Danzante:
To close for comfort!
8:00 p.m. The south east wind that’s been steady for the last few day’s switches and grows and grows to a strong westerly, with reports of gust to 40 knots. Magic Carpets being blowing into the rocks. Dark has set in our CQR was holding tight! But the new westerly direction was changing our relationship with the Isla Danzante. It was time to get out there, engine was started, inflatable (Aladdin) was smuggled close to the mother ship (we do not want to foul the prop). The Admiral at the helm, the Captain on the bow cranking in the anchor & 5/16 chain road (hand windless). Magic Carpet hovers ready to shot out of the anchorage as soon as the hold is broken. The engine was soon but in gear with just enough rpm to stand our ground. As soon as the anchor is on deck the rpm is increased and Magic Carpet charges into the dark of night on her preplanned escape course. 10:00 p.m. Where do we go? Basic rule on Magic Carpet is not to enter any anchorage after dark. We are in a reef infested area of the Sea of Cortez, hoving to and drifiting into one dose not sound like a good idea. So we decide to brake our rule and head for the hidden harbor of Porto Escondido. Boy hidden harbor is a good name for it, because both the Mexican Navigation lights and channel markers lights were out! So with the Admiral now on the bow and the Captain at the helm Magic Carpet creeps into a safe anchorage in the dead of the blackest night we have ever seen. With our hand held VHF both on channel 17 the admiral calls a little to port now to starboard and on it goes like that with little cockpit visibility the Captains guides the helm from the bow calls of the Admiral. Team Magic Carpet eventually drops the hook safely protected from the strong westerly wind. All is well in the peaceful quite waters of hidden harbor.