April 30, 2024-Moving Southward

wingssail images-fredrick roswold Sailing Upwind

Upwind work with winds in the 13-15 knot range, Wings going fast, and with gorgeous scenery and beautiful blue water and skies all around. Even a bit of salt spray splashing on our faces was fun. This is what Wings was made for and what she does best. It is glorious sailing, we’re having a blast, sailing in waves and tacking up the San Jose Channel.

It was challenging though with varying currents, with us and then against us, and some wind shifts too. Early on we had great tacking angles and then later when the current turned against us, not so great, as the track shows.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Our track up the San Jose Channel

I even got to demonstrate some racing tactics to Sarah even though there were no other boats to race against.

“Why are we overstanding the island?” Sarah asked.

“Putting money in the bank.” I answered, and a wind shift later showed why.

There were about 10 other boats out there that day, all going downwind, nobody sailing upwind and only one of them appeared to be sailing at all, the rest were motoring, some with the main up but sheeted amidships, and several with no sails at all. Sad in a way; we thought they didn’t know what they were missing because we were having a glorious time

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Sarah

We’ve started the leg back south to La Paz where Sarah will disembark after we’ve had some fine cruising together in the southern Sea of Cortez, much of it in the beautiful Loreto/Puerto Escondido area.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Fun on Wings

After a couple of great days exploring Los Gatos with Jim and Deb from Brain Wave we had nice evenings with them and previously with Dave and Eileen on Striker. It is fun to run into friends wile cruising.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Los Gatos, Sarah with Jim and Deb

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Sensous Sandstone on Los Gatos

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Hiking on Los Gatos

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Los Gatos Desert

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Cactus Forest on Isla San Jose

Now we are back at Isla San Francisco and we will have a couple more stops before we get back to La Paz.

I’m not sure what’s next, Liz does not arrive until June, but I’ll keep you posted.

Click here for many more photos.

Fred Roswold, SV Wings, Sea of Cortez