Another Ted Flanigan travelogue... sailing in the Sea of Cortex on a 47-foot cutter, an ocean-going sail boat that features two headsails. The adventure begins on board an Alaskan Airlines jet, flying from LA down the rugged Baja, dropping into Loreto, Mexico. We were two-thirds of the way south on the 733-miles long Baja peninsula. Through customers we taxi to the Puerto Escondido marina where we connected with our captain, my dear friend Peter Rumsey.

At the slip we met fellow sailors, notably couples sailing for months with no end in sight. Other cruisers are single... sturdy souls all, "blue water sailing". We provisioned and then set sail for a week... a release, clean air, no TV... instead tuning in to circadian rhythms and the mesmerizing lifestyle of sailors at sea, singalongs with my traveling guitar. A couple we met cherished their espresso maker, and their mill to grind flour to bake fresh bread.. on board!

Warm weather, gorgeous clear skies, we motor out of the harbor, off to Isla Carmen, part of the Bahia de Loreto NationalPark. Whales spout, our first time hearing their inhilations before plunging. The vast sea is wide open, we only see a boat or two... miles away. On board the good ship Makara, with Peter Rumsey at the helm, we visit pristine anchorages, Puerto Ballandra, off Isla Coronados, and in Caleta San Juanico. Some big wind one day, the perfect breeze on several other days. The lull of the boat's rocking at night, the gentle slapping of small waves, sooth our bodies. Invaluable time to chat about the world and our families and friends, our works... Peter an esteemed engineer now balancing profession with passion. He has Starlink on board. How special to drop in... sailing the Sea of Cortez.

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