The winds really kicked up on Sunday afternoon and unfortunately most of day 2 of Loreto Fest was canceled. Many of us stood on shore looking out at the boats wondering, "Do I really want to go out to my boat?". Winds were a steady 25-30 with gusts to 35 and 40. We thought it would blow hard in the afternoon and chose to take the panga taxi into shore instead of our dinghy. Others weren't so lucky and had to battle their way back to their boat against 30 knot winds. Mike on So Inclined tried to make the trip but his motor conked out and he struggled to paddle back to the dinghy dock. We ended up helping him lift his dinghy out of the water and walked it around the corner where it was more protected. He left it there for the night and took the panga taxi back to his boat.

We saw one dinghy, a large rib, flip in the water. The driver was sitting too far back and we saw the bow go higher and higher until it went over. Fortunately, others saw it as well and he was rescued in short time. We also saw a dinghy gas can floating in the water but that was recovered quickly too. I lost my pillow overboard. I had it wedged under the forward hatch to air out and the wind took it. I should have known better. We also heard reports of various canvas pieces flying off boats. I'm sure we will hear other stories tomorrow. The boat is riding well on the mooring line and you wouldn't know it was blowing 30 knots when down below in the cabin. Tomorrow's forecast is for even stronger winds. We plan to go into town. Veterans of the Sea of Cortez say that it is late in the season for these northerlies to blow. Just our luck. I hope this is the last one.