S/V Marissa Update From Uncle Bob
Hello to you all,
Hope this finds you all healthy and happy. Shannon and Mike departed Ensenada this afternoon. I learned of this about 3pm as I was about to drive back to Hemet from City of Industry (near Los Angeles). So I wasn’t tracking them as they departed, but got online about 5pm to see they were about 10 miles South of Ensenada. Sally had told me that Shannon advised her that they planned to stop next at a very small island just a bit North of Cedros Island. I’ve taken a look via Google Earth and Islas de San Benito appears to have a very small group of buildings, likely a fishing village, on the South Eastern side of the largest of the three islands. There is a small cove near the village, where I suspect they will anchor. We don’t know how long they plan to stay there, but they also expect to stop at Turtle Bay (just below Cedros Island), which has a larger town, and they should be able to buy fuel and some supplies there. As I measure the distances, the current passage looks to be about 265 sailing miles, if they are able to sail down-wind all the way. Right now the winds where the boats are, are light and variable. They have generally been moving at a little over 5 knots since leaving Ensenada, but this could change. Here is a comparison of times versus speed. If they can average 5 knots, it should take them about 53 hours to reach San Benito. If they average 5.5, it would be about 48 hours or two days. And if they only average 3 knots, which is about what they averaged between San Diego and Ensenada, then the voyage should take about 88 hours.
Shannon sent me a couple cell text messages tonight about 30 minutes ago via their Satellite connection. They are now traveling with another Tayana sailboat similar to Marissa, that they met in Ensenada. Shannon confirmed tonight that this boat is named Matanuska, a name I recalled from my time in Alaska. I will try to monitor their passage progress every couple hours tonight, likewise tomorrow, and will pass on periodic updates.
Love to you all,
Bob
