We left Punta Abreojos at 8:15 am 4/9/20 after a rolly night and a quick
breakfast. We planned a passage of two full days and two nights underway
to Bahia Asuncion, so the difference between a crack of dawn roll-and-go
and a leisurely departure didn'€™t seem important.

We set sail within a half hour of raising the anchor. It was a pleasant
sail with all working sail for the first hour. As I came on watch at 10,
the wind was starting to build, so we furled the jib to the 2nd reef
mark and tucked a reef into the main. I checked out the chart and saw an
anchorage indicated at Hipolito. In our guide book (Charlies Charts) it
got a one sentence mention: "€œAnchorage may be taken off the village
which is reported to vary from fair to good, depending on sea
conditions."€ Wind and waves were from the west, with the wind predicted
to be over 20 overnight. Doable, but not pleasant sleeping. Some quick
math showed that we could just make Hipolito in daylight and defer the
overnight to another day.

We headed for Hipolito as the wind continued to build throughout the
day. The jib was furled, then a second reef was tucked into the main,
and by the time the wind got to 20 we had the third reef tucked into the
main and with the staysail we were still making 5 knots. The wind waves
also grew to about 6 feet for a rough ride down below (no naps) and a
couple of splashes made it past the dodger into the cockpit.

Sunset was at 19:57, and we got the anchor down at 20:00. The anchorage
was well protected by a point, and in the conditions prevailing, it was
excellent. There’s a tiny village on the point and no other signs of
humans as far as we can see down the bay. A pelican and a cormorant
landed on the boat overnight, with the evidence discovered in the morning.

We'€™re taking a rest day here, relaxing and doing boat chores. The
prevailing pattern is for the wind to build to around 20 in the
afternoons and then drop in the evening and morning. By stopping at
Hipolito, we have 24 miles left to Asuncion. We'€™re thinking of an
evening departure in a day or so to take advantage of the lower wind and
calmer seas.

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