Aboard Astraea

Invest in experiences

November 25, 2016
by Nate

Whale Watching in San Ignacio

We found out about an awesome side trip to see whales up close from our friends John, Cindy and Journey on S/V Namaste. February 16 we rented a car with Theresa and Niko from S/V Savarona and we all hit the road north out of La Paz. In a few short hours of driving we were out of La Paz and passed by many of the scenic anchorages and towns along the Sea of Cortez coast that took us weeks of sailing south to pass. In the late afternoon, we arrived at our nearly deluxe accommodations at Hotel Posada.

Hotel Posada: Basic overnight accomodations with some rooms having hot water 24/7!

Hotel Posada: A simple place to stay overnight with some rooms having hot water 24/7!

IMG_3404

We had dinner in town at one of the two small restaurants and hit the sack early for the morning drive to see whales.

The whole crew loaded up in the panga ready to go whale watching. From Left to right in the back row: Theresa, Natalie, John, Nate (Me), Rose and Cindy. Front row: Sully, Niko and Journey

The whole crew loaded up in the panga ready to go whale watching. From Left to right in the back row: Theresa, Natalie, John, Nate (Me), Rose and Cindy. Front row: Sully, Niko and Journey

IMG_3343

Journey, Niko and Sully in the bow of the panga

Journey, Niko and Sully in the bow of the panga

IMG_3313

Spyhopping nearby

Spyhopping nearby

IMG_3347 IMG_3355

A mother and baby close by out boat

A mother and baby close by out boat

IMG_3373

Sully had fun riding the boat and sometimes watched the whales. Mainly he was interested in eating snacks.

Sully had fun riding the boat and sometimes watched the whales. Mainly he was interested in eating snacks.

Quickly riding the panga back to shore

Quickly riding the panga back to shore

IMG_3380

The large tidal flats

The large tidal flats

IMG_3399

 

The Sully sized door at the Mission in San Ignacio

The Sully sized door at the Mission in San Ignacio

The beautiful Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán was constructed in 1786

The beautiful Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán was constructed in 1786

We piled everyone in one car for a trip to dinner. Everyone under 25 piled in the trunk.

We piled everyone in one car for a trip to dinner. Everyone under 25 piled in the trunk.

Our road trip to San Ignacio took us through weeks of sailing. It was fun to reminisce our cruise through familiar towns like Santa Rosalia.

Our road trip to San Ignacio took us through weeks of sailing. It was fun to reminisce our cruise through familiar towns like Santa Rosalia.

Inside the Eiffel designed church in Santa Rosalie

Inside the Eiffel designed church in Santa Rosalie

IMG_3423 IMG_3425

Driving past Conception Bay and the anchorage at Playa Santispac where we anchored for my birthday the previous fall

Driving past Conception Bay and the anchorage at Playa Santispac where we anchored for my birthday the previous fall

While we were driving through Loreto we saw a familiar boat anchored off the town so we invited Margie and Chuck from S/V Dream Catcher out to lunch. It was cool to see them one last time after meeting them while cruising in Canada in 2011.

While we were driving through Loreto we saw a familiar boat anchored off the town so we invited Margie and Chuck from S/V Dream Catcher out to lunch. It was cool to see them one last time after meeting them while cruising in Canada in 2011.

We made it back to La Paz and continued preparing Astraea for sale and storage at the dock in Marina de La Paz.

June 13, 2016
by Nate

Astraea’s Last Race

It was bittersweet to get a full crew together and race Astraea in a Saturday Veleros de Baja sailboat race. We invited our friends from S/V Namaste, S/V Sea Rover II and S/V Greybeard to hang out and crew for the race.

Underway from the marina and up the channel

Underway from the marina and up the channel

We started the race with a mimosa toast to Astraea’s final race under our ownership.

The good crew, Bill from S/V Greybeard, John, Journey and Cindy from S/V Namaste

The good crew, Bill from S/V Greybeard, John, Journey and Cindy from S/V Namaste

The sea was calm with no wind or waves and Sully wanted out of the cockpit so we put on the tether and harness for some play time on the foredeck

The sea was calm with no wind or waves and Sully wanted out of the cockpit so we put on the tether and harness for some play time on the foredeck

The race start was delayed by 15 minutes because of the calm conditions

The race start was delayed by 15 minutes because of the calm conditions

Soon enough the wind filled in enough to start the race. Gary from S/V Sea Rover II convinced me to fly the drifter so we put it up and were ahead of one other boat in the fleet!

Soon enough the wind filled in enough to start the race. Gary from S/V Sea Rover II convinced me to fly the drifter so we put it up and were ahead of one other boat in the fleet!

Slowly racing down the bay with Karina, Natalie, John and Bill in the cockpit

Slowly racing down the bay with Karina, Natalie, John and Bill in the cockpit

I passed the wheel off to John and enjoyed the slow sail with Natalie and Gary

I passed the wheel off to John and enjoyed the slow sail (and an ice cold Tecate) with Natalie and Gary

After the race I emailed a report to Latitude 38 and they posted about the sail in their magazine and online:

When do cruisers become racers? Whenever two or more of them want to! On Saturday, some habitués of Club Cruceros de La Paz enjoyed a great race after a 15-minute delay for light wind. “Then there was enough wind to fill a spinnaker so the race started,” reports Nate Kraft of the Cheoy Lee 41Astraea. “The Baja ferry came through the middle of the fleet interrupting the wind and downwind courses. As we were coming past the port at Pichilingue the wind quickly picked up. As we entered the channel there was a near pile-up of boats outside the Pemex wharf. The Catalina 42Dad’s Dreams was on a port tack avoiding the shoal while the Cheoy Lee 41 Astraea came trucking down the channel. While passing Marina PalmiraAstraea caught up to the Ron Holland 43 Azure-Te’ and stole their wind, butAzure-Te’ pulled ahead to finish one minute sooner.”

The full writeup is available on Latitude 38’s February 17, 2016 ‘Lectronic Latitude.

Truckin' down the channel towards La Paz.

Truckin’ down the channel towards La Paz.

Sully's buddy and babysitter Journey showed him some pictures she took during the race

Sully’s buddy and babysitter Journey showed him some pictures she took during the race

A blissful moment keeping Astraea in the groove

A blissful moment keeping Astraea in the groove

Getting close

Getting close

Natalie and I were happy to be out for one last sail with friends aboard

Natalie and I were happy to be out for one last sail with friends aboard

Wing and wing with Gary out by the main mast

Wing and wing with Gary out by the main mast

IMG_3237

Getting passed

The race wore Sully out so he took a nap in his berth while we put the boat away.

The race wore Sully out so he took a nap in his berth while we put the boat away

After the race we headed over to La Costa Restaurant for the post race party. It was great to get together with friends we met a year and a thousand sea miles ago back in San Diego for a final sail together Aboard Astraea.