16th Annual Sea of Cortez
Small Boat Cruise

June 17 - June 22, 2010

There is a marina in San Felipe and storage for vehicles and trailers. We will explore and raft up in areas hardly frequented by man, even today. Testing a hot springs if the tide is right and doing some wonderful fishing and diving in pristine areas, and of course our raft up’s, are just a few of the things planned.

Some may want to caravan to Calexico on Thursday, June 17 and spend the night in the parking lot by the Holiday Inn Express. Across the way is a Super Walmart for last minute needs and a couple of nice restaurants in town for breakfast. Cross the border and head down the improved highway to San Felipe; about a two-hour drive.

We’ll meet Friday, June 18 at Hotel El Cortez Restaurant (011-52-686-577-1055 or cortezho@telnor.net) in San Felipe at 6 p.m. for last minute details and dinner. We’ll launch Saturday, June 19, secure our rigs, then cruise 52 miles south to Puertecitos. You may gas and launch on Friday if you wish and secure an overnight slip - make sure you check the tides. We’ll cruise south and spend the night in North Bay or Bahia Cristina, depending on wind. We may go in for dinner at the fine Puertecitos Restaurant or just raft up. Contact “Panama” for local information.
The next day, Sunday, June 20, we’ll pull anchor and head 50 miles to Gonzaga/Willard, exploring the Islas Encantadas for fishing and diving, cruising on the way. We’ll have dinner at Alfonsina’s or on board. There’s a possibility here for getting fuel - don’t forget your containers.
Leaving the protected Gonzaga/Willard Bay on Monday, June 21, we will cruise into “Hell” as described in earlier explorations to Puerto Refugio on Isla Angel de La Guarda, one of the most fascinating places on the Sea of Cortez. On Tuesday, June 22, we will cruise back into civilization at Bay of L.A. - 80 miles from Gonzaga.

At this point, we are planning to spend a day to clean up and relax at Casa Diaz. The “Padre” Lucas Yellowtail Tournament is Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 24-26.

Afterward we may head out to Don Juan Cove for a raft up. From here we could head north to Partida/Estanque /Puerto Refugio on Sunday, June 27; revisit Gonzaga/Willard on Monday, June 28 - the long way or just retrace our route north; the regular way. We’ll cruise back to Puertecitos/San Felipe on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 29-30 and pull out.

The trip south from San Felipe to Bay of L.A. will be about 180 miles and there is gas at Puertecitos, Gonzaga and Bay of L.A. if we go home the long way, 200+ miles with the wind. Some may want to continue south to Bahia Francisquito or Loreto. If you want to join us contact Vag HQ at (800) 474-2252 for reservations. For more information or clarification contact Ron Reinhardt Black Knight.