Cirque’s Unbeaten Path

Louis Kruk and Laura Willerton of the San Leandro-based Beneteau 42s7 Cirque left the Bay to cruise Mexico for a winter four years ago. Now on their fourth season of cruising, the duo has expanded their range.

"The past several weeks have found us traveling a greater distance up into the Sea of Cortez than we had previously attained," Kruk reports. "We went as far north as Bahia de Los Angeles — 29°N. We found cold water, anchorages devoid of boats, and relatively barren land free of people. It was spectacular. But, we suddenly found, at least temporarily, a fascination with the multitude of sea birds.

"The passage into the wilderness of the Sea began in Santa Rosalia, the last relatively large village on the Baja Peninsula. Santa Rosalia is a curious community with a great deal of French influence. The town essentially grew up around the French copper mining operation Boleo. Most of Mexico builds with concrete, but Santa Rosalia is built with wood, with French architecture. The church is a Gustave Eiffel creation, and the French bakery, from the mining days, is still in its original building."

Kruk and Willerton are on their way back down the Sea to Mazatalan, where they’ll haul out for a quick bottom job before delivering the boat to Banderas Bay for the summer. Their northern foray acquainted them with pecularities like the 3 a.m., 40-plus knot Katabatic winds and a 90-year-old expat gold prospector, but for more about those you’ll have to wait for Changes in Latitudes in the June issue of Latitude 38.